There's One Movie Every Harry Potter Fan Must Watch – It's a 97%-Rated Tragic Documentary

The Harry Potter series has become one of the most successful fantasy franchises in history, launching the careers of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. However, there is a tragic story behind the scenes that few people know about – the story of David Holmes.

Holmes was Radcliffe's stunt double on the set of Harry Potter – he was injured and paralyzed during the filming of Deathly Hallows. The documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived tells his story.

What Happened to David Holmes?

David Holmes first appeared on a film set at age 13. Stunt coordinator Greg Powell was looking for a stunt double for the child actors in Lost in Space and chose Holmes. Then came Bedazzled, followed by Harry Potter.

Despite the age difference – Holmes was six years older than Radcliffe – the two quickly got along. David became not only Daniel's stunt double but also his friend.

David starred in all the movies and participated in all the action scenes. On the day of the incident, the stuntmen were rehearsing the scene in which Nagini hits Harry in the stomach with her head. Potter then breaks through the wall with his back and flies into the next room.

Holmes had already performed this stunt the day before, and it had gone well. This time, however, someone made a mistake, and Holmes broke his neck. The injury could have been fatal, but the ambulance arrived in time.

The doctors were able to save David's life, but he was left permanently paralyzed. Even worse, he developed a spinal syrinx, which is causing his condition to gradually worsen.

'David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived' Is a Touching Journey Into One Man's Life

The movie turned out to be very emotional. It contains footage of a young, strong Holmes. His fellow stuntmen considered him invulnerable, which contrasts sharply with his current state.

At the same time, David has not lost his thirst for life. He still tries to enjoy it to the fullest and does not harbor any anger or resentment toward anyone.

The most difficult footage, however, is an interview with Greg Powell. Powell was the senior on the set that day. Although he did not make the mistake that led to the tragedy, he still blames himself for it.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived'?

• David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived has 94% from critics and 97% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.7/10.

Where to Watch 'David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived'?

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is available to buy or rent on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.