Revisiting the Weasley’s Flying Ford Anglia

Wonder Woman 1984 premiered on Christmas Day, and while watching it in my local, socially distanced movie theater, one scene reminded me of an iconic moment in the Harry Potter series: The Weasley’s Flying Ford Anglia! 

SPOILERS FOR WONDER WOMAN 1984 

Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) have to steal a jet to travel to Egypt, but are quickly pursued by the security team at the Smithsonian. To get away from the oncoming law, Wonder Woman uses her powers to cloak the jet and turn it invisible, thus introducing her iconic Invisible Jet, which was first introduced in the 1940’s.

While the Invisible Jet might have premiered in print long before Harry Potter, the scene is nonetheless reminiscent of the flying Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry and Ron use the car to get to Hogwarts after the miss the Hogwarts Express, and use the installed cloaking device to not be detected by Muggles on the street.

While the invisibility works in Wonder Woman 1984 and the two main characters are not subsequently arrested for stealing a Smithsonian jet, the two Hogwarts best friends are not so lucky. Not only do dozens of Muggles see the car flying through the air, but it makes the front page of The Daily Prophet.

Harry and Ron also miss the Opening Feast, as the car crashes into the Whomping Willow, sped off into the Forbidden Forest, and then the boys were promptly called into Professor Snape’s office.

All in all, their adventure with a flying object was nowhere near as successful as what Wonder Woman did, but it is still a joy to watch on the screen.

Have you seen Wonder Woman 1984? Did the Invisible Jet remind you of the flying Ford Anglia? Let us know in the comments below!