Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or the Philosopher’s Stone if you are a Harry Potter purist, came out in June of 1997, almost 22 years ago. Since that time, the Harry Potter books were turned into movies, that have become the third top grossing movie franchise of all time, right behind Marvel and Star Wars. I am here today to tell you what I think about these movies, and more specifically rank them from worst to best. Just because a movie is at the bottom of the list doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it; I would still enjoy watching it, but in comparison to the other movies of the franchise, it just doesn’t match up.
8. Chamber of Secrets
Now don’t get me wrong, I still very much enjoy this movie, but the thing is it’s 161 minutes long. That’s over 2 and a half hours, and if you’re telling me that you’ve seen a 2 hour and 44 minute movie without slow scenes, you’re lying. To be fair, Chris Columbus, the director, tried to make the first two movies fit everything from the books in them, which didn’t exactly work. This movie was quite a bit darker than the first, and not to mention quite a bit more plot heavy, and while it is a bit long, and I feel as if the story is meandering in some places, there are still many things I love about this movie: First and foremost, Dobby. Dobby may be a bit of annoying in some parts, but he is also just funny and mischievous enough for the audience to love him. And another reason to like this movie is how they handle showing us the dark history of Hogwarts. The difference in the color correction, the dark mist, everything about the flashbacks gives the eerie and dark vibe that let us know that some messed up shizzle is happening. While I enjoy The Chamber of Secrets, I mean I’m pretty sure I would enjoy literally anything that was set in the wizarding world, when it’s compared to the other films, it just doesn’t hold its own.
7. The Sorcerer’s Stone
Okay, I know this was kinda expected, putting the first movie far down on the list, but, like, what do you expect? This movie did an incredible job of setting up the Harry Potter universe for the remainder of the series, but it is the first in the series, so of course there were some issues. The majority of the actors and actress in this movie were 11 years old, so of course the acting wasn’t the best. It is clear they were still getting used to their roles, but besides that, it is still an incredible movie. This movie is based on the point of view of an 11-year-old, so of course the tone is going to be a bit more lighthearted than the rest. This movie had a big job of not only introducing all of the characters and the whole Harry Potter universe, but they also had to set up lots of details that would lead to big things later on in the series like the confrontation with Voldemort. Despite its flaws, it still is a wonderful movie, its sets everything up well and is just a nice light hearted movie.
6. The Deathly Hallows Part 1
Deathly Hallows Part 1 is only half a story, but alas it was made into its own film, so we must treat it like its own story. I’m sure most people know why this movie is so low: It’s because it’s boring. I’m sorry, but it needed to be said. Trust me, I’m not the person who hates a movie simply because there is no action; I understand how important the build up is for the story line, but at certain points in this movie I get so frustrated at the pacing. But, despite being only the first half of the story, it still has some incredible scenes, like when Harry and Hermione are dancing in the tent. In that moment, the audience remember that they are just kids, they are 17/18-years-old, and they have been tasked with saving the entire world. From the time they were 11-years-old they have been dealing with Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and many other things young kids shouldn’t have to deal with, but that was nothing compared to what they are dealing with now. They had all lost so much, and they know there is still more bloodshed to come. They don’t even know if they will make it out alive, but in that moment, they are just two teenagers. It’s like the weight of the world momentarily lifts off their shoulders. One of the other scenes that I absolutely adore is the deathly hallows scene. The striking animation and the coloring of the entire scene gives off the perfect, eerie, mystical vibe. And not to mention the quick tonal shift when the golden trio finds out the Xenophilius Lovegood, Lunas father, has betrayed them and sold them out to the Death Eaters in order to save Luna.
Then this brings us to a heart wrenching string of events as this movie comes to close. We see Draco, who clearly gets manipulated into being a Death Eater, who clearly doesn’t want to go down this path, attempt to identify Harry after Hermione puts a disfiguring charm on him. Draco can definitely tell its Harry, but instead of exposing him to the Death Eaters, he tells them he can’t tell. Then we see Hermione being tortured by Bellatrix, having the word mudblood carved on her arm. Then the most heart wrenching event happens when Dobby comes to save Harry and his friends. Dobby sacrificing himself to save Harry, then dying in his arms in such a beautiful scene, and if you didn’t cry during it, you are a monster with no emotions. At this point not only has Harry lost his parents, but also Cedric, Sirius, and Dumbledore, and now he has to add Dobby to his ever growing list of dead friends and family.
While I clearly did enjoy some aspects of the movie, there were still some things I didn’t enjoy plot wise. The main thing being Ron. Throughout basically the entirety of the movie, Ron is being the most annoying, whiny, psycho little brat that he could possibly be. I understand this was kind of necessary for his character development, but seriously couldn’t they just have made him a little less angsty and annoying? But then again, he is about 17/18 in this, and being angsty and emotional is a requirement of being 17
5. The Order of the Phoenix
A majority of people, when they first hear the name “The Order of the Phoenix,” think of Dolores Umbridge and are immediately turned off from this movie, but I really think they are looking at it all wrong. While Umbridge is a horrible individual and her presences on screen is bound to make the audience angry, Imelda Staunton’s performance as Umbridge is one of the best parts of this movie. Despite her all pink everything, she gives off a terrifying presence that competes with the likes of Voldemort. Plus, in this new movie, not only do we get to see characters like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black again when The Order comes to get Harry, we are also introduced to characters like Nymphadora Tonks, a badass Hufflepuff that is a metamorphmagus, meaning she can transform her body at will. Another thing I enjoy about this film is Dumbledore’s Army. We get to see these students, who up to this point had maybe one competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in their entire school career, learn how to protect themselves without the help of any adults. And during the Dumbledore’s Army scenes we get to see one of my favorite moment in the film, when we see that a picture of Cedric is hung in the room of requirement and Harry talks about how they have to learn how to defend themselves because Cedric would have wanted them too.
During this film we also get introduced to Luna Lovegood, who is an icon by the way, and we get to see Harry and Luna talking about and meeting the thestreals, who Harry can see now because of Cedric’s death. Then of course the entire Ministry fight scene slapped, like every part of it was incredible, and it also gave us one of the saddest scenes in the entire film. Harry has lived his life without a father figure or real family of any kind, and finally he has his godfather Sirius, but just as quickly as he enters his life, he leaves it. When Sirius is killed by Bellatrix, the audience can see the smile leave his face as he falls through the veil, and the instant loss is such a gut-wrenching change from his previous state. When Harry sees this, he immediately goes to run towards Sirius, the only family he has ever known who is suddenly taken from him right before his eyes. But before Harry can run to Sirius, Remus Lupin grabs him to stop him, and while you can see Harry screaming and crying in pain, you can also see the pain on Lupin’s face. Lupin had lost James and Lily, he had been betrayed by Peter, and he had only just reunited with Sirius, but then Lupin had to watch him die. The last of Lupin’s friends dies in front of him, and as badly as he wants to mourn, he can’t because he knows he must protect the children. And despite just having to watch his godfather die, Harry was able to resist Voldemort’s possession because of the love and compassion he feels for his friends, and the emotion in his Harry’s voice when he tells Voldemort that he is weak because he has never known love is such a strong compelling way to end this intense battle scene.
4. The Half Blood Prince
The reason The Half Blood Prince is good is that it brings the audience to a variety of emotions. From Slughorn’s goofy, but not too over the top nature, to Harry and Ron attempting to interact with girls, this movie has some of the funniest scenes of the whole franchise, but this movie also contains some of the darkest. We see Draco being forced into becoming a Death Eater because of his family’s involvement with Lord Voldemort, the Horcrux scene when Dumbledore and Harry go to get the Salazar Slytherin’s locket and must deal with the inferi, Harry almost killing Draco, and, of course, Snape’s betrayal. This is what makes the movie so good, perfect tonal balance; from one second the viewer can go from laughing to crying, and honestly that’s what a good movie should be able to do. One of my favorite scenes from this movie would have to be when Ron accidentally ingests a love potion meant for Harry. This of course results in Ron kind of turning into a blubbering fool while Harry takes him to Slughorn. After Slughorn cures Ron of the love potion they celebrate by cheersing mead, which promptly poisons Ron. That is one of the great things about this film, it can go from being funny and light hearted, to quickly filling the viewer with fear and worry that a beloved character is about to die.
3. Goblet of Fire
Goblet of Fire is one of the best books in the series, so it only makes sense that the movie holds a similar status when it comes to ranking them. This movie introduces the viewers to some of the other schools of the wizarding world, and they do it in a really great way that shows us just how different these schools really are. The Triwizard Tournament has some of my favorite scenes of the franchise. Lets not forget Cedric, a badass that deserved way better than he got. While the Triwizard Tournament and all the other amazing magical scenes are amazing, something I love about this movie is how it somehow manages to stay somewhat relatable. Just in the fact that they are these 15-year-olds, one of the most awkward stages in your life, and they are just trying to figure out themselves, and the people they like. The movie gives us the first romantic storylines for the golden trio, and the awkwardness that ensues because of it. This movie also gives one the saddest scenes, the first time that Harry has to watch someone he cares about die in front of him. We see Harry crying over Cedric’s body when they portkey back to the starting line. Then we see Cedric’s father screaming and crying over the death of his only son.
2. Deathly Hallows Part 2
Deathly Hallows Part 2 does an incredible job of wrapping up the series; it’s almost nonstop action, and emotion payoff from what has been built up throughout the past 7 movies. We see Snape shift from villain to hero, Harry dying, and of course the Battle of Hogwarts. We get to see McGonagall be a badass and step into the role of Headmistress of Hogwarts. There are so many emotional scenes in this movie, it truly tugs at the viewers heart strings while keeping them invested in the life and safety of these characters they’ve grown to love over the past 7 movies. We get to see the aftermath of the battle, the grieving and celebrating that go hand-in-hand in the victory of a war. Not to mention we get to see Neville save the day, killing Nagini and destroying a Horcrux. We finally get to see Ron and Hermione express their feelings for each other after destroying a horcrux. All in all this movie is incredible; it does good job delivering a pay off on all of the build up that has been happening throughout the franchise. This movie ends the franchise in the same way it started, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione on Platform 9 and ¾ looking towards their future.
1. Prisoner of Azkaban
Prisoner of Azkaban is one of the best movies of all time, not just the best Harry Potter movie. It’s a pretty universal opinion throughout Harry Potter fans that POA is the best movie for a reason. The cinematography of this movie creates beautiful imagery, really encapsulating the magic of the world we are being shown. Also this movie introduces two of my favorite characters of the whole series, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, Harry’s first connection to people that really knew his parents, not just as students or acquaintances, but as friends. The entire concept of the time turner is done incredibly well, showing this incredible magical device and all the incredible ability it possesses while also emphasizing the danger of them being seen by their alternative selves. We get to see Harry bonding with Sirius, Harry having his first opportunity to have a family with his godfather. How they handle Peter Pettigrew is great, from his disappearing from Rons’ cage to getting dragged into the the whomping with by Sirius. Also, in his animagus form, we get to see how weak-willed and pathetic he is. Also the werewolf transformation scene is so freaking good. Yes it used to scare me growing up, but now i’m able to appreciate it for how truly incredible it is.
In Conclusion, watch the Harry Potter movies. It would be better if you read the books, but I know some people don’t like to read or don’t want to spend the time, but at least watch the movies. If you haven’t scene Harry Potter before, go watch it; it’s life changing. If you have seen Harry Potter before, go watch it again and experience all the magic and adventure one more time.