Key Takeaways

• Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban revamped visuals for a more realistic world.
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a great setup for the final film
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a character-driven masterpiece with a dark ambiance.

The Harry Potter films are an iconic staple of the early 21st century, and just like the books they are based on, they are loved around the world by fans of multiple generations. There are a number of ways to judge the best Harry Potter movies, based on criteria such as story, acting, book accuracy, visuals, and much more.

This list will attempt to rank every Harry Potter film based on overall quality, considering as many factors as possible. Of course, all of these movies have a special place in the hearts of want-to-be wizards and witches, and it must be remembered that some of the shortfalls of the first few films were a product of technology at the time.

8 Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone

Nostalgic & Cozy, But Forever Hapered By Poor Child Acting & Outdated Visuals

The first Harry Potter film is a nostalgic classic that introduces fans to the wizarding world, and it almost exactly follows the book it was adapted from. It is a feel-good film perfect for rewatching at Halloween or Christmas, and for a younger audience, it is a thoroughly magical experience.

However, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone does have its fair share of drawbacks. For starters, the child acting is far from the best in this film, but thankfully, it did improve throughout the series. Secondly, the visuals and overall design of the first two films missed the mark, especially in regard to the exterior of Hogwarts and the castle grounds. The world looks much more realistic and lived in from the third film onwards.

7 Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

A More Advanced Plot & Higher Quality Than The First Film

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was a marked improvement from the first film, with improved acting from the young stars and a darker, more complex plot. Additionally, the way in which Dobby the house-elf was brought to life was truly remarkable for the time, and the character still looks great compared to modern standards.

While there are still a few cheesy moments or awkward directing decisions, it should be remembered that the first two films in particular were made primarily for children. The plot of the film also takes on another level of importance when it is revealed that Tom Riddle’s diary was one of Lord Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes.

6 Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

A Good Film That Could Have Been So Much Better

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is an entertaining film full of action, but it could have been so much more and that is what pains fans. Multiple key characters were cut, as were subplots, and also an important explanation about the sacrifice of Barty Crouch Jr’s mother. Another letdown was the Quidditch World Cup final being cut, especially with how brilliantly it was described in the books. It would have been great to see the best Quidditch players battling it out on the biggest stage.

Despite these drawbacks, the film does plenty right. The visuals are great, both the start and end are incredibly strong, and the character of Mad-Eye Moody was absolutely nailed.

5 Harry Potter And The Death Hallows Part 2

An Overall Great Film Marred By An Unsatisfying Ending

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the last in the series, comes under a lot of flak for the ending, but this often distracts fans from the rest of the film, which is pretty great. The problems with the ending relate to the weird CGI trips Harry and Voldemort go on, as well as the fact that upon death, the Dark Lord’s body disintegrates. In the books, Voldemort’s greatest fear is realized, and he dies a mundane mortal death, his corpse feeble and shrunken.

Overlooking these problems though, the rest of the film completely delivers. The Battle of Hogwarts is epic, the deaths are sad, underappreciated characters such as Neville, Professor McGonagall, and Mrs. Weasley have their moments, and then there is the profound reveal about Snape’s love for Lily. The music is also some of the best in the series, especially Lily’s theme.

4 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

A Solid Addition To The Series With Few Mistakes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a film that gets few things wrong but often goes under the radar for not delivering as many epic or iconic moments. Arguably, one of the things that both the book and film do too well, is have Professor Umbridge be such an unbearable character, that to a certain extent, the reader or viewer is just as annoyed as Harry and everyone else at Hogwarts.

One of the highlights is the Dumbledore’s Army meetings, as there is a huge sense of camaraderie, and it is one of the first times Harry adopts a grown-up role by leading the group and teaching them everything he has learned. While at this stage in the movies, Neville has been given more screen time and his character arc is in full swing, it would have been great to see his heartbreaking moments with his parents at St. Mungo’s. This is one of the best book scenes missing from the films.

3 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

A Great Setup For The Final Film

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is one of the more interesting films as it is the first to take place away from Hogwarts, while still visiting iconic wizarding locations in Britain. The quality is consistent throughout, starting off with the memorable scene of seven Harrys.

The dynamic between the three heroes camped out in the woods is terribly sad to watch unfold, as they are driven apart by a Horcrux and the daunting mission they face. However, Ron’s heroic return is perfectly executed and hope is temporarily restored before Dobby’s tragic death. Some of the most beautiful scenes include the story of The Three Brothers and the graveyard scene in Godric’s Hollow on Christmas Eve.

2 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

A Character-Driven Masterpiece With A Dark-Brooding Ambiance

When looking at the best Harry Potter films, the Half-Blood Prince is right up there and can be considered a masterpiece in many ways. It is arguably the most character-driven story, with Draco Malfoy’s tragic task shining new light on the otherwise typical bully. Harry also battles with grief for Sirius, a sense of looming threat in the coming war, all while on the verge of having to become an adult at such a young age.

The Tom Riddle flashbacks are another highlight of the film, and the moments shared between Harry and Dumbledore make the ending even sadder. The ambiance of the film is dark and brooding but punctuated by moments of happiness and plenty of humor. This balance feels perfect for the last film to depict life at Hogwarts.

1 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Revamped Visuals Created A More Realistic World For This Perfect Story

The changes made for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban were truly inspired and set the film and series up for even more success. Firstly, the castle of Hogwarts was finally surrounded by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and heading down to Hagrid’s hut with the castle in the background makes for some beautiful shots. The rest of the world also feels more realistic thanks to changes in the art direction.

Even small things like the students having their shirts untucked make Hogwarts feel more lived in. While the passing of Richard Harris was of course sad, Michael Gambon’s performance took Dumbledore to new heights, making for many humorous and thought-provoking scenes. With improved acting across the board, a superior soundtrack, and directing at its finest, it’s easy to see why this is many people’s favorite Harry Potter movie. This is all on top of a perfect story, that works as a stand-alone, and one of the best depictions of time travel. Alfonso Cuaron truly did wonders with his only Harry Potter film.