David Yates

David Yates (born 30 November 1963) is an English director and producer of film and television, best known for directing the final four films in the Harry Potter franchise. His first two Potter films (Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince) became the highest-grossing entries in the series since the first instalment, which was later surpassed by Yates' Deathly Hallows - Part 2, making him the most commercially successful British director in recent years. He achieved international attention for his award-winning short films early in his career, which led to him becoming a prolific television director with credits including the BBC costume drama The Way We Live Now, the acclaimed political thriller State of Play and the BAFTA-lauded two-part drama Sex Traffic. Due to the success of these dramas and subsequent projects, Yates is considered as one of Britain's most celebrated directors of film and television. His work on the Harry Potter series brought him critical and commercial success along with accolades, such as the British Academy Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing. Yates won the Directors Guild of Great Britain Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for the six-part political thriller State of Play (2003). Throughout his works, Yates uses hand-held cameras to visually provoke the subject matter; the technique is noted as one of his directorial trademarks. Yates is married to Yvonne Walcott, who is the aunt of Arsenal football player Theo Walcott.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Action-packedFantasticalAdventurousClever

As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven. Harry suspects perils may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle fast approaching. Together ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Tom Felton

As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven. Harry suspects perils may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle fast approaching. Together ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Tom Felton

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

CleverThought provokingAction-packedBeautiful

Harry, Ron and Hermione walk away from their last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for immortality. But with Harry's beloved Dumbledore dead and Voldemort's unscrupulous Death Eaters on the loose, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Emma Watson  •  Rupert Grint  •  Helena Bonham Carter

Harry, Ron and Hermione walk away from their last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for immortality. But with Harry's beloved Dumbledore dead and Voldemort's unscrupulous Death Eaters on the loose, the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Emma Watson  •  Rupert Grint  •  Helena Bonham Carter

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

AdventurousInspiringFantasticalIntense

Returning for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts, Harry is stunned to find that his warnings about the return of Lord Voldemort have been ignored. Left with no choice, Harry takes matters into his own hands, training a small group of students to defend themselves ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Michael Gambon

Returning for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts, Harry is stunned to find that his warnings about the return of Lord Voldemort have been ignored. Left with no choice, Harry takes matters into his own hands, training a small group of students to defend themselves ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Michael Gambon

The Girl in the Café (2005)

Lawrence, an aging, lonely civil servant falls for Gina, an enigmatic young woman. When he takes her to the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, however, their bond is tested by Lawrence's professional obligations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Bill Nighy  •  Kelly Macdonald  •  Meneka Das  •  Anton Lesser

Lawrence, an aging, lonely civil servant falls for Gina, an enigmatic young woman. When he takes her to the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, however, their bond is tested by Lawrence's professional obligations.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Bill Nighy  •  Kelly Macdonald  •  Meneka Das  •  Anton Lesser

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Alexander Skarsgård  •  Margot Robbie  •  Christoph Waltz  •  Samuel L. Jackson

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Alexander Skarsgård  •  Margot Robbie  •  Christoph Waltz  •  Samuel L. Jackson

The Young Visiters (2003)

The Young Visiters, written in twelve days by nine-year-old Daisy Ashford in 1890, is a surreal blend of naiveté, precocious perception and inadvertent social satire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugh Laurie  •  Lyndsey Marshal  •  Bill Nighy

The Young Visiters, written in twelve days by nine-year-old Daisy Ashford in 1890, is a surreal blend of naiveté, precocious perception and inadvertent social satire.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Jim Broadbent  •  Hugh Laurie  •  Lyndsey Marshal  •  Bill Nighy

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Action-packedEmotionalEpicBeautiful

Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Alan Rickman

Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Rupert Grint  •  Emma Watson  •  Alan Rickman

Rank (2002)

A street gang crosses Glasgow to witness the arrival of a group of Somali refugees. A closely observed portrait of racism, friendship and adolescence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Brian Dunn  •  Christopher Gorman  •  Ian Jarvie  •  William McLachlan

A street gang crosses Glasgow to witness the arrival of a group of Somali refugees. A closely observed portrait of racism, friendship and adolescence.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Brian Dunn  •  Christopher Gorman  •  Ian Jarvie  •  William McLachlan

The Tichborne Claimant (1998)

Based on a true story, set in the late 19th century: Lord Tichborne, the ninth richest nobleman in England, disappears after a South American shipwreck. Some years later his erudite Afro-English valet, Bogle, is sent to investigate rumors that Tichborne survived ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Robert Pugh  •  John Kani  •  Stephen Fry  •  John Gielgud

Based on a true story, set in the late 19th century: Lord Tichborne, the ninth richest nobleman in England, disappears after a South American shipwreck. Some years later his erudite Afro-English valet, Bogle, is sent to investigate rumors that Tichborne survived ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Robert Pugh  •  John Kani  •  Stephen Fry  •  John Gielgud

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

CuteEnjoyableFantasticalAdventurous

In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America with a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Ezra Miller  •  Katherine Waterston  •  Alison Sudol

In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America with a magically expanded briefcase, which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When the creatures escape from the briefcase, it sends the American ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Ezra Miller  •  Katherine Waterston  •  Alison Sudol

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore. However, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Jude Law  •  Johnny Depp  •  Katherine Waterston

Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore. However, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Jude Law  •  Johnny Depp  •  Katherine Waterston

Winter, the Dolphin that Can (2013)

A baby dolphin caught in a crab trap rope is rescued, beginning a series of events that has become one of the most inspiring stories of our generation. Travel behind the scenes of Winter’s amazing story. See footage of the rescue, and follow her through the trials ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Cozi Zuehlsdorff

A baby dolphin caught in a crab trap rope is rescued, beginning a series of events that has become one of the most inspiring stories of our generation. Travel behind the scenes of Winter’s amazing story. See footage of the rescue, and follow her through the trials ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Cozi Zuehlsdorff

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Jessica Williams  •  Jude Law  •  Ezra Miller

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne  •  Jessica Williams  •  Jude Law  •  Ezra Miller

Fantastic Beasts 4

The fourth installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' series which follows the adventures of Newt Scamander.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne

The fourth installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' series which follows the adventures of Newt Scamander.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne

Fantastic Beasts 5

The fifth installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' series which follows the adventures of Newt Scamander.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne

The fifth installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' series which follows the adventures of Newt Scamander.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Eddie Redmayne

The Weaver's Wife (1991)

Set in rural Wiltshire in the late 16th century, the film tells the story of Miriam, a young peasant girl, whose parents have arranged her marriage to the older village weaver. Focuses on her dread at the prospect of marriage to a man she does not love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Josie Ayers  •  David Ericsson

Set in rural Wiltshire in the late 16th century, the film tells the story of Miriam, a young peasant girl, whose parents have arranged her marriage to the older village weaver. Focuses on her dread at the prospect of marriage to a man she does not love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Josie Ayers  •  David Ericsson

When I Was a Girl (1988)

A story about a young girl, Anne, growing up in Swindon just after the Second World War and how she faces the adult world, parental fighting and her father's death and the awakening of her own sexuality.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Katy Smith  •  Kim Thomson  •  Peter Woollaston

A story about a young girl, Anne, growing up in Swindon just after the Second World War and how she faces the adult world, parental fighting and her father's death and the awakening of her own sexuality.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Katy Smith  •  Kim Thomson  •  Peter Woollaston

Pain Hustlers (2023)

After losing her job, a single mom falls into a lucrative but ultimately dangerous scheme selling prescription drugs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Emily Blunt  •  Chris Evans  •  Catherine O'Hara  •  Jay Duplass

After losing her job, a single mom falls into a lucrative but ultimately dangerous scheme selling prescription drugs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Yates
CAST:  Emily Blunt  •  Chris Evans  •  Catherine O'Hara  •  Jay Duplass

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022)

An enchanting making-of story told through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eran Creevy  •  Giorgio Testi  •  Joe Pearlman  •  Casey Patterson
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Emma Watson  •  Rupert Grint  •  Helena Bonham Carter

An enchanting making-of story told through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Eran Creevy  •  Giorgio Testi  •  Joe Pearlman  •  Casey Patterson
CAST:  Daniel Radcliffe  •  Emma Watson  •  Rupert Grint  •  Helena Bonham Carter

(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story (2021)

A young actor is stabbed to death just days after filming his big break in the Harry Potter franchise.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aaron Truss
CAST:  Robert Knox  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Tom Felton  •  Ray Winstone

A young actor is stabbed to death just days after filming his big break in the Harry Potter franchise.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aaron Truss
CAST:  Robert Knox  •  Jim Broadbent  •  Tom Felton  •  Ray Winstone
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