<P> Harry Potter and the Half - Blood Prince is a 2009 fantasy film directed by David Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures . It is based on the novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling . The film, which is the sixth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, was written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman and David Barron . The story follows Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts as he receives a mysterious textbook, falls in love, and attempts to retrieve a memory that holds the key to Lord Voldemort's downfall . </P> <P> The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger . It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is followed by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Part 1 . Filming began on 24 September 2007, leading to the film's worldwide cinematic release on 15 July 2009, one day short of the fourth anniversary of the corresponding novel's release . The film was simultaneously released in regular cinemas and IMAX 3D everywhere except North America, where its IMAX release was delayed for two weeks . </P> <P> Half - Blood Prince was a major commercial success, breaking the record for the biggest single - day worldwide gross . In five days the film made $394 million, breaking the record for highest five - day worldwide gross . With a total gross of $934 million, it became the 8th - highest - grossing film of all time and 2009's second - highest - grossing film (behind Avatar). It is currently the 45th - highest - grossing film of all time worldwide unadjusted for inflation . It is the fifth - highest - grossing film in the franchise . </P> <P> The film remains one of the best reviewed instalments within the series among film critics; at the time of its release, it became the third - highest - rated Harry Potter film on review aggregators Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic . It was praised for Yates's direction and its performances, cinematography, musical score, and "emotionally satisfying" story . The film was nominated at the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and the 63rd British Academy Film Awards for Best Special Visual Effects and Best Production Design . </P>

Who plays 'harry' in 'harry potter 6'