If you’ve watched the recent reunion film on HBO max, it’s no wonder why Harry Potter is back in conversation. The all together wonderful production brought teary eyes and warm hearts to display. Being able to see how much this movie franchise affected those involved in the making of these films was so endearing. But, just as much, if not more, this franchise has meant so much to the fans. With that said, here is each Harry Potter movie, ranked worst to best:
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Chamber of Secrets feels like an awkward attempt to maintain the nostalgia that the first movie has, but falls short. The introduction of Dobby the house elf is perhaps the best addition of this film, though he only appears for a few minutes and reappears to save the film in the end. All around, this movie fails to find a good follow up to the first movie, possibly because the first movie was so collectively loved. This movie also has the worst Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Alastor (Mad-Eye) Moody, which ruins the viewing experience.
7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
As the third installment of the franchise, this movie is respectable but still is very awkward in its own right. The movie displays an alternative to Voldemort as the main antagonist, instead the ultimate foe of the storyline is Sirius Black, who is framed as a terrible serial killer. While it’s sort of refreshing to see a new plot line not centered around the fear of Voldemort, it almost feels as if they didn’t have enough within this movie to make it fully embody a very serious addition to the franchise.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Sorcerer’s Stone is an all-time classic, and it’s one that will be remembered as the pinnacle of the film collection for a long time. This movie is refreshingly nostalgic, as the glimmer of hope still flickers in the eyes of the children. They have no idea the darkness they will encounter in the next films, which is something that makes it so interesting. I think the film as a whole does a wonderful job of encapsulating the nuance that is required in the first movie of a powerful franchise. The movie embodies the naïve nature of Harry, but the acting is still fairly rough and the storyline isn’t deep enough to rank it higher.
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two (2011)
This take might get some heat, but the first Deathly Hallows is better produced and executed than the second, tenfold. Simply put, the second tries to pack so much detail in that it becomes overwhelming for the viewer. The battle scene is by far the highlight of the film, which certainly makes the film move along. The beginning of the film is very boring and drawn out, so the fight scene at the end is appreciated to help the movie seem more interesting than it is.
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
The Order of the Phoenix is not necessarily the best film of the bunch, but it is the most heart-warming. The audience is finally able to see Harry’s life seem the most complete and his character seems so content with his life in this film. The introduction of Sirius as a father figure for Harry is endearing, because we finally get to see Harry have someone that he can look up to. As well, the order surrounds Harry with love and it’s evident to see their love for them, which bolsters the heartwarming feeling in this movie.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One (2010)
The first Deathly Hallows film is far superior to the second, because it shows the journey of the friends as they try to unveil the horcruxes. This movie has arguably the best acting in the whole franchise, and the main trio provide some really heartfelt dialogue that is believable and shapes the main characters’ relationships. The three friends go through an unbelievable amount of turmoil within their relationships together, which makes the storyline all the more real. It’s also what propels the sentimental quality at the highest level throughout the film.
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
This movie is heartbreaking, yet so intriguing for so many reasons. It is arguably the darkest movie in the franchise, which makes it so interesting to watch. The best aspect about this film is the character arc of Draco Malfoy as he struggles with becoming a death eater. The overall feeling within this movie is gloomy and depressing. The joy of the previous movies is lost, which makes the film appear more serious in nature but also more dark.
1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The best movie in this franchise is Goblet of Fire. This film perfectly encapsulates the awkwardness of being a teen, and translates it to the fictitious wizarding world. This movie is so happy and joyful in its display of the competition, yet it doesn’t create an unbelievably fantastic atmosphere. Although the competition is very fictitious it doesn’t feel fake. The audience is brought to believe that the stakes are high and it draws them closer to the story to become more engaged.
