It goes without saying that the Harry Potter franchise is one of the most popular in the world, and that’s largely due to the novels’ and films’ incredible storytelling and world-building. Every book (and almost every movie) takes place over the course of a school year, where Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) get into trouble in various ways. It’s always important for stories so broad in scope to spend a little time that’s somewhat outside the purview of the central plot. After all, every film covers an entire school year’s worth of events and connects several narratives that run the gamut from funny to horrifying to heartwarming. You can’t rush these kinds of stories, which is why the Harry Potter movies’ typical two-and-a-half-hour runtimes aren’t just forgivable — they’re necessary. Moreover, I’ve always found the better movies are so good that the time flies anyway. For those who think no movie should be longer than 90 minutes, good luck making that case for this franchise.
These films aren’t just about Lord Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) return and that annual threat against Harry’s life; they’re about growing up. Together, they make up a coming-of-age that portrays the highs and lows and lessons of childhood. Like so many others, I grew up reading the novels and watching their big-screen adaptations. And, like most, I have my opinions. Most of the films are good enough to enjoy time and again, but they each have their pros and cons. They each have a plot hole here or there, but it’s hard to care or even notice them when the movie is immersive enough. Without considering how faithful they are to the books, my list below reflects how I think the movies succeed in and of themselves. Nostalgia will probably play a factor in this, but I’ve tried to be as objective as possible. I base the rankings on how well they balance the various events and conflicts of something as vast as an entire school year, character development, how significant or noticeable their faults are, and how well they demonstrate the wonder, whimsy, and heart that makes the franchise so lovable to so many fans (or at least this one).
8
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) faces Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.Image via Warner Bros.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest book in the series, but it’s the second-shortest movie (only two hours and eight minutes without the credits)—which is a bonkers choice to me. Over-edited from the beginning, the movie’s quick pace and awkward transitions feel off from the start. Why is a hug from Hermione used as a jump-scare? And those Voldemort hallucinations are weird without being ominous. The script feels off, too, such as that silly (and cheesy) moment when Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) punches Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) in the face. Notably, this is the only screenplay in the franchise not written by Steve Kloves.
Another big issue for me is the lack of side-plots. Hermione and Ron have nothing to do, and Cho Chang’s (Katie Leung) plotline is barely noticeable beyond that kiss scene. It’s essentially the government vs. Hogwarts the entire time, which feels like an oversimplification. Meanwhile, the overused score, bizarrely short scenes, and inferior cinematography fail to absorb us in the action. Imelda Staunton is great as Umbridge, and that duel between Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Voldemort is gorgeous, but the plot has never felt more contrived, emotionally hollow, and dull.
7
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ (2010)
Harry, Ron & Hermione stop in their tracks in Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1Image via Warner Bros.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the greatest of the novels, so it’s a bit disappointing that it was torn into two movies that could have been a three-and-a-half-hour masterpiece. All the more regrettable since, of all the successful films to surpass the three-hour mark, the final movie in this enormously popular fantasy series would surely belong in the class of box-office behemoths. It also started a terrible pattern of two-part finales, but I won’t even get into that.
This first half is widely considered the inferior of the two halves, and I agree. It’s not that it’s bad, per se; it’s just too long and relatively uneventful. The three heroes struggle as they live on the run. The Deathly Hallows animated story sequence is cool, and Ron at least has a coherent arc by the end of this movie. A few of the deaths are felt almost as deeply as in the books, too, but this narrative still feels like merely a preparation for something greater.
6
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (2011)
Maggie Smith, Alfred Enoch, George Harris, Devon Murray, Chris Rankin, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, Oliver Phelps, Clémence Poésy, Katie Leung, and Domhnall Gleeson in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011).Image via Warner Bros.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 immediately feels like it’s not a complete story, since it starts with the very end of Part 1— as if we forgot what happened. But at least this movie has the benefit of having lots of tension from the start. The conversations with Griphook (Warwick Davis) and Ollivander (John Hurt) are very good, and there’s also a decent amount of humor to be had. Hermione saying “Good morning” as Bellatrix (Helena Bonham Carter), Harry explaining his lack of information about something he needs to find — these are welcome points of levity in an overall bleak film.
But not every joke works, like Mr. Filch (David Bradley) bursting through a door in a jarring shift in tone, or McGonagall (Maggie Smith) saying she always wanted to use a spell that would only be needed under terrifying circumstances. I have other nitpicks, but the visuals are still spectacular: the dragon sequence is sensational and the Battle at Hogwarts is beautifully done. There’s also the completion of Snape’s (Alan Rickman) arc and the lead-up to Harry’s death. Despite its flaws, I’m still moved by the story’s strongest moments and consider it a satisfying finale.
5
‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) looking terrified while flying the car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsImage via Warner Bros.
Director Chris Columbus returned for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and he practically did just as well the second time around. The introduction of Dobby (Toby Jones) is concise and fun, and Harry’s escape is a riot. From a barred owl flying into a glass window to Harry’s failed attempt to pronounce Diagon Alley to the inability to charge through a column, the first act still makes me laugh while building excitement for the bigger conflicts to come.
As for the bulk of the film, there’s too much to comment on everything. Professor Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) is a very charming character, and that Basilisk slithering through the pipes and petrifying the students proves a chilling idea that’s well-executed. Even when you watch it again, the camera’s position as Harry walks along a wall helps convey what’s happening in a way that’s arguably just as creepy as when you first watch the movie and haven’t pieced it together yet. Along with the mysterious diary, the spiders (“Can we panic now?”), the iconic Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson), and the dark climax, this film recaptures the balance of wonder, friendship, humor, and eeriness of its predecessor.
4
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the one that started it all, and it’s no surprise that it took the world by storm. There are so many things to love here that it will unfailingly spark nostalgia in those who grew up with it and capture the imagination of those who haven’t already witnessed its grandeur. Michael Gambon proves worthy of the role when the time comes, but there’s nothing quite like Richard Harris‘ turn as the Hogwarts headmaster. There’s also the original score, a classic that would set the bar for the rest of the franchise.
Watching Harry discover he can speak to snakes is just as compelling and amusing on screen as it is in the novel. Some of Hermione’s most iconic scenes can be found here, including and especially when she explains how to pronounce “Wingardium Leviosa.” I think pretty much everyone’s introduction here is perfect, really. Scenes like Harry’s interaction with the Mirror of Erised are heartbreaking, and the darkness that lurks in this world can still bring a chill down your spine. I’ve always loved it, and there’s definitely a case to be made for why this could be your favorite.
3
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
Harry and Dumbledore in the Astronomy Tower in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DumbledoreImage via Warner Bros.
I personally prefer the darker material, though—when it’s done well, anyway. In my opinion, it was an odd move that David Yates got permission to direct another Potter movie after he bungled Order of the Phoenix. Even weirder is that he actually did a great job with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. No doubt the return of screenwriter Steve Kloves and the willingness to make a two-and-a-half-hour movie were instrumental to this drastic difference in quality. The characters get to breathe this time, and it feels once again that an entire school year is going by.
The color for this one definitely sticks out, employing a darker tint that distinguishes it visually from the rest of the movies and fits the source material. Taking a closer look at Voldemort’s early days, we’re presented with a backstory that enriches and complicates our understanding of the story’s lore. Meanwhile, Harry’s attempt to get into Professor Slughorn’s (Jim Broadbent) good graces provides the mystery with the franchise’s signature humor and playfulness. Along with Dumbledore’s mysterious relationship with Snape and dramatic death, we get a fantasy sequel that marks a return to form in the franchise.
2
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort with his hands up near his head in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.Image via Warner Bros.
Without director Alfonso Cuarón at the helm, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was unlikely to be quite as strong as its predecessor. However, director Mike Newell nevertheless managed to come out with something that comes as close to perfect as you could hope for. I’ve always admired how Columbus and Cuarón were able to adapt the first three novels, but they were considerably shorter than the final four. Newell was the first to take on one of the big boys, so he (and everyone else who worked on this) deserves extra props for proving the chunky novels could be adapted well, too.
Given this is the year of the Triwizard Tournament, the structure of this movie stands out as a consistently entertaining thrill ride. As Harry goes through challenge after challenge, the time spent in-between them often involves trying to figure out how to approach them. Meanwhile, his name was illegally tossed into the Goblet of Fire — so he also has to deal with the mystery and social repercussions that come with that. Along with the extremely dark return of Lord Voldemort, this movie does an excellent job of showing us that things just got serious.
1
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and Rupert Grint in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.’Image via Warner Bros.
And yet I still love Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban the most. Alfonso Cuarón has shown incredible range and an impeccable cinematic eye throughout his career, from Y Tu Mamá También to Gravity to Roma, and his crack at the third installment in the Potter franchise is no exception. Every single frame feels natural every time you watch, the pacing is perfect, and the inventiveness of the music here rivals that of the first movie.
Sirius Black may die in the fifth movie, but he’s also watered down in it. Compare that to his character here, introduced in a way that evokes the same level of fear as Voldemort himself and sets up a wonderful twist that subverts our expectations in more ways than one. The campus looks strikingly different, but in a way that elevates the scenery and makes Hogwarts feel more magical than ever. Along with the unique time travel plotline, the tremendous Buckbeak, the introduction of the Dementors, and the warm but complicated aura of Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), Azkaban just hits the hardest for me.
