All 8 Harry Potter Movies Ranked from Worst to Best
Want to know which Harry Potter film is best? Where does your favorite movie stand in the rankings? Here is our compilation of every Harry Potter movie ranked from worst to best.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
Although altogether the final two movies tell an incredible story, as a standalone movie, Deathly Hallows Part I just can’t compete with the other complete narratives on this list.
What it gets right, however, is exploring darker depths of the main trio than has been allowed in any of the previous films, and we finally get to see our favorite wizards grow up into actual adults.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Not a bad film, Order of the Phoenix, however, is tasked with translating the longest book in the series into the shortest film in the series. A lot of what goes on in the book is internal. We see Harry struggling with identity and dark thoughts – and even possession – in a way that just can’t fully be translated onto the screen.
Although it really is a fantastic film, its dower tone and darker themes make for less fun visual fair than the other entries in the series.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
A childhood favorite, and the movie that brought the stories of Harry Potter to an even wider audience than the best selling books of all time could, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is not just a movie – it’s history.
Despite being a fantastic film, it serves as more of a pilot to the Harry Potter World than anything else. On rewatches, some of the imperfections standout, such as weaker CGI, a central cast of characters who are very, very new to acting, and a somewhat superficial view of the world we will come to love and live in in subsequent films.
Still, this movie’s importance can’t be overstated.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
An utterly faithful adaptation (to a fault) of the book, Secrets is the last Harry Potter film to try and condense everything from the story into the films. And while it’s cool to see so much of the book enacted on screen, this movie suffers from the fact that the source material is perhaps one of the worst books in the series.
Be that as it may, Secrets is an important installment in the saga of Potter as it explores very dark themes that won’t come up again in full until much, much later in the story.
And while the film may be overly long (it’s the shortest book and the longest movie), it does a lot to set up what’s to come in the later Potter films, and takes a much deeper look into the Wizarding World than what we are able to see in the first movie.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Although this film is home to some of the cringiest moments in the series, it’s also a lot of fun. From an adventure flick standpoint, it’s probably the most gripping. In one film we get battles with Dragons, Mermaids, and the rebirth of a famous dark wizard. Oh, and awkward, teenage angst.
For a lot of people, Goblet of Fire is their favorite Potter book. So of course the film adaptation never really lived up to it for them. And, what’s with everyone’s hair?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
An epic conclusion to an epic series, Deathly Hallows Part II might be one of the only Potter movies to actually best the book. While the final book suffers a bit from Rowling being out of place without her typical school year formula, the movie takes advantage of being freed from those restraints.
High adventure, epic duels, and beautiful conclusions to the character arcs of our favorite wizards give us just what we need to forever want more.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
As bouncy, charming, and fresh as its source material, Half Blood Prince gives us a much needed break from the Voldemort drama and looming conflict for a bit of late teenage fun. It’s actually a normal year for Harry, and he gets to hangout with friends, fall in love, chill with an ancient wizard (Dumbledore) one on one, and even have a few laughs as he curses old rivals (Draco).
However, all of that is shot to heck when Dumbledore dies right in front of Harry’s eyes.
This kid just can’t catch a break. Either which way, it’s a fantastic film.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Prisoner of Azkaban was a turning point in the film series. And while it’s considered by many to be the best Harry Potter book, it is also hailed by the critics as the greatest Potter film. Made by an incredible filmmaker, this film takes creative license with the story, grows up the characters enough to be more relatable, and also realizes that in order to make great movies, you don’t need to treat your source material like the bible.
In many ways, Prisoner is the peak of the Harry Potter series. It revels in the magic that the first two books established, without being as bogged down by the grimmer realities to come in later books. It also benefits from taking a deep dive into a favorite aspect of Harry Potter lore for many fans – that being the Marauders.
