How Daniel Radcliffe Really Felt About Quidditch In The Harry Potter Movies

Some of the most unique elements of the "Harry Potter" franchise are the visually stimulating Quidditch matches. Invented by "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, Quidditch is a sport which places teams of witches and wizards on a set of brooms, forcing them to score points by throwing a ball called a Quaffle into any of three different hoops on either end of a Quidditch pitch. However, there are more than a few twists to these seemingly simple rules.

In addition to avoiding a Bludger (a dangerous ball with a life of its own that often manages to knock players from their brooms), contestants must keep an eye out for the Golden Snitch, a small and elusive ball that much of the most exciting gameplay is centered around. The team that manages to catch it is automatically awarded 150 points, often tipping the scales in their favor. While the game is certainly a lot of fun to watch on screen, the stars of the "Harry Potter" franchise have been very open about the difficult process of filming scenes while on brooms.

So, what did "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe say about it?

Radcliffe has repeatedly stated that shooting Quidditch scenes was not a particularly enjoyable experience for him. "Quidditch is right up there with the least fun things I've done on 'Harry Potter,' certainly," Radcliffe said in 2009 (via DigitalSpy). "It's not a pleasant experience, it does hurt quite a lot, and it's not something I would rush back to do."

As the movies progressed and the children at the center of the series grew into adults, screen time dedicated to the magical sport shrunk. However, riding a broom remained a near constant thorn in Radcliffe's side (or, more likely, another piece of his anatomy) during production. Of the eight films in the series, only "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" did not require the actor to mount a broom. Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton, on the other hand, was elated to say goodbye to such scenes after "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (though he did briefly ride piggyback on a broom with Radcliffe in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"). "I'm so glad I haven't done it since the second film," Felton said, during the same interview with Radcliffe.

Despite the success of the recent "Harry Potter" reunion at HBO Max, it seems unlikely that cast members will be especially eager to rush to another Quidditch match anytime soon.