In 2001, Potterheads were introduced to JK Rowling’s wizarding world on-screen when Warner Bros. released the first Harry Potter movie. Ten years of magic followed as the studio rolled out sequel after sequel, and fans were saddened to see the franchise end with 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
Videos by ComicBook.com
The fans’ grief has lessened over the past year since an influx of brand-new Harry Potter media has hit shelves. The first Harry Potter play hit London’s West End in July, and readers flocked to buy its novelized screenplay. And, most notably, JK Rowling rolled out the first film of a prequel series known as Fantastic Beasts.
To celebrate the long-running series and its awaited return, ComicBook.com is looking back at the film franchise to rank each entry. Our users have spoken and conjured each Harry Potter movie with a composite score. So, if you want to find out which film caught the golden snitch, then you can seek the answer in the slides ahead.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
To kick-off our ranking, we’re taking a look at the most recent Harry Potter entry, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The film debuted in November 2016, and Potterheads were eager to revisit the wizarding world.
The film is set in 1926, acting as a prequel to the original Harry Potter series. Fantastic Beasts follows a quirky, introverted Magizoologist named Newt Scamander after he arrives in America. The wizard has been writing a textbook on fantastical beasts, but things get decidedly complicated when several of his creatures escape. Newt and his new friends must them wrangle the escapees, but the search is the least of his problems. Soon enough, Newt becomes embroiled in an international wizard scandal that threatens the peace of both magical and non-maj folk.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
After the first Harry Potter film debuted in 2001, Warner Bros. was quick to follow up with a sequel. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets crept into theaters in 2002 and saw its titular hero undergo all sorts of magical trials.
The second film follows Harry as he returns to Hogwarts under duress. A house elf by the name of Dobby is bent on keeping the boy wizard from returning, and Harry soon learns why. The school of witchcraft and wizardry is being plagued by a mysterious beast which petrifies its victims. Determined to prevent further bloodshed, Harry and his friends try to discover the location of the Chamber of Secrets in order to stop the monster. But, when Harry begins discovering how closely connected he is to the chamber’s twisted creator, he begins to wonder whether he’s to blame for the whole ordeal.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1
In 2010, the beginning of the end hit theaters for Harry Potter fans. JK Rowling’s final novel was split into two features, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 apparated into cinemas with a dark flare.
The first half of Deathly Hallows painstakingly follows its source material and Harry, Hermione, and Ron find themselves on the brink of war. The group are tasked with finding Lord Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. With the dark wizard in control of the Ministry of Magic, Harry and his friends must leave the safety of Hogwarts and venture out into dangerous territory.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In 2007, Harry Potter left its wholesome image behind and embraced an increasingly dark aesthetic. The shift made itself known when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix hit theaters, and fans were sent reeling by the film’s edgy tone.
The fifth film starts off like any good horror film as Harry finds himself hunted by dark creatures known as Dementors. The soul-sucking monsters preface Harry’s horrifying year at Hogwarts where he is doubted by the Ministry, tortured by the new Defense of Dark Arts teacher, and estranged from his godfather. The movie shows fans the real consequences of Lord Voldemort’s war, and Harry wasn’t the only one left in tears when the thrilling film ended.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
In 2001, Warner Bros. finally capitalized on JK Rowling and her bestselling Harry Potter series when they released their first film adaptation of the novels. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone debuted to eager audiences of all ages and introduced fans to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in real-life.
The film follows Harry as he discovers his magical roots and is sworn into the underground wizarding world of Britain. The orphaned boy is welcomed into Hogwarts for his first year of schooling, but Harry’s education doesn’t go quite so smoothly. The hero and his new friends learn that a mystical object is being closely guarded at the school, and their curiosity pushes them to seek it out. However, they are not the only ones interested in the Philosopher’s Stone, and Harry runs into plenty of problems when he learns a massive, three-headed dog guards the artifact.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone2001
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
On the heels of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, fans were given little reprieve from the franchise’s darkness. The sixth film swung into theaters in 2009 and left moviegoers grief-stricken over a major character’s death and an unexpected betrayal.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince sees Lord Voldemort’s terrorizing reign seep deeper into the wizarding and non-magical world. Harry finds himself growing increasingly paranoid about enemies like Draco Malfoy. The movie also sees the chosen wizard work alongside Albus Dumbledore as they try to find a way to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But everything comes crashing down with one of Harry’s arch-nemesis betrays the pair.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Before things in the Harry Potter universe became too dark, fans were gifted a fun, ensemble flick with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The 2005 film was the last breath of air moviegoers were given before they were plunged into Lord Voldemort’s nefarious plots.
The fourth movie follows Harry after he’s mysteriously chosen to enter the dangerous Triwizard Tournament. The event brings two new wizarding schools to Hogwarts, and the onslaught of new students give Harry and Ron anxiety while Hermione gets an admirer. Since he was selected to be champion, Harry must partake in several difficult challenges to prove his magical worth, but things turn sour when Lord Voldemort’s loyal Death Eaters interfere with the event.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In 2002, Potterheads finally watched as Harry Potter transformed from an awkward preteen into an angsty teen. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban saw the boy wizard being hunted by a murderous prison escapee and brand-new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
In the third film, Harry and his friends find themselves haunted by two threats: Dementors and Sirius Black. The former creatures are stationed at Hogwarts by the Ministry to find the former, but they seem to enjoy tormenting Harry. The wizard consults his new teacher Remus Lupin about how to fend off the monsters, but Harry learns the professor may be leading him straight to Sirius Black, a so-called murderer who was imprisoned for selling out James and Lily Potter to Lord Voldemort.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2
After a decade of waiting, fans were finally treated to the final Harry Potter film in 2011. The second half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows marched into theaters and left moviegoers emotionally drained by the time its end credits rolled.
The seventh movie follows the sixth and stands as one of the franchise’s darkest installments. Harry, Ron, and Hermione have finally managed to destroy one of Lord Voldemort’s Horcruxes, but they’re being chased by dozens of zealots who are out for blood. The trio cannot run forever, and it is Herimone’s encounter with Bellatrix Lestrange that leaves his forever changed. When the friends finally make it back to Hogwarts for a final showdown with Voldemort, the three raise their wands with every intention of dying for peace – and many good witches and wizards do perish in the fight.
