Michael Gambon’s 10 Best Moments as Dumbledore, Ranked

#10 Saving Draco Malfoy in Half Blood Prince

Fans of the books will remember how controversial this scene was. Is Dumbledore really dead? Is he going to pull a Gandalf and come back to life stronger than ever? No. He won’t. Rowling sends a clear message here about about Dumbledore’s own humanity and mortality. He may have been one of the strongest wizards ever – but even he isn’t greater than death.

Gambon perfectly captures those final words from the great sorcerer. “Severus. Please.”

#9 Defending Harry Against Corrupt Wizard Officials in Order of the Phoenix

Harry doesn’t have a lot of people in his corner. He grew up with people who hated/resented him. For a while, the wizard world loved him and was on his side. However, it was not meant to always to be that way. Eventually, he would become an enemy to the world that once loved him.

Still, in the face of this reality, Dumbledore enters those dark chambers and expertly defends Harry thanks to his mastery over wizard law.

He may refuse to look at the young wizard, but his presence is indeed welcome in such a dire moment.

#8 Having a Heart to Heart with Harry at King’s Cross – Deathly Hallows II

Dumbledore can be quite Machiavellian, and ultimately that’s the thing that tarnishes his good image more than anything else. And it’s a reality that Harry has to grapple with for much of the seventh book. However, this scene helps bridge the gap between who Dumbledore really was, and who Harry thought he was.

Ultimately, Harry forgives the great wizard for his imperfections and manipulations, as evidenced by the fact he named his son after him.

#7 Showing Umbridge He’s Boss – Order of the Phoenix

The Order of the Phoenix sees our favorite characters backed up against the wall several times, and without fail Dumbledore shows up to save the day. In this scene, while Umbridge may be gaining more and more, terrifying administrative power, it’s nothing compared to the personal power that Dumbledore carries with him. It’s interesting to see the way that Gambon carries this burden visibly in this movie, made more austere in his own refusal to acknowledge Harry.

#6 Rescuing Harry From a Bad Fall – Half Blood Prince

Up until the third film, we’ve only heard tell of Dumbledore’s incredible power. What makes this scene so remarkable is that it’s the first real display of Dumbledore’s considerable magical talent that we get to see. Thankfully he was there. Otherwise Harry Potter wouldn’t be the boy who lived anymore. He’d be the boy who died.

#5 Orchestrating Sirius Black’s Release – Prisoner of Azkaban

What I love best about this scene (and Gambon plays it excellently) is Dumbledore’s almost giddiness at being able to play around with time like it was putty in his hand for the shaping. Of course, his plan would not only impact the events of this movie – they would impact the entire Harry Potter world from then on. We just didn’t know it yet.

But did Dumbledore?

There’s a fantastic moment where he’s in Hagrid’s house with the Minister of magic and pulls his attention away from Buckbeak out the window conveniently as the kids are about to save the creature from death.

I think it’s safe to say Dumbledore had the whole thing planned all along, and it’s the first time we get introduced to his mastermind self. He is not simply a grandfatherly old wizard there to help you out the way he appeared in movies one and two. He is a dedicated tactician always playing an angle. We’re just lucky he’s on the side of good.

#4 Meeting Tom Riddle and Seeing Right Through Him

Dumbledore and Voldemort have a complicated relationship. But Dumbledore’s the only wizard in existence who isn’t afraid of Voldemort, and he’s certainly the only one who has the habit of calling him “Tom” (until Harry copies him later).

Here, we start to see why. Voldemort was just a kid when Dumbledore met him. And he sees right through him. He may not be able to tell that the kid is going to grow up into the greatest dark wizard of all time, but he knows he’s a snot nosed little brat who likes to steal things from other kids.

Unfortunately, Tom never allows Dumbledore to become the father figure to him that Harry did. He sort of rejects Dumbledore, and kind of hates him. The one person who might have been able to understand and help him.

#3 Telling the Minister of Magic He Wouldn’t Go Quietly

This is probably the most badass scene of all for Dumbledore. We see here quite plainly that Dumbledore isn’t just a tough wizard – his powers put him absolutely outside the confines of the law. When it comes down to it, he is unwilling to go along with the wiles of the corrupt ministry. However, when he comes back around…well…just be glad you aren’t a death eater.

#2 Teaching Tom Riddle a Little Respect in Order of the Phoenix.

Not only is this one of the best duels of all, it’s really the moment we were all waiting for. Everyone was sort of hyping up this confrontation, and the movie pulls it off pretty well. The book does it better (it’s pretty clear Dumbledore has the upper hand in the book whereas in the movie it looks more like a stalemate). Regardless, it’s not only one of Dumbledore’s greatest moments in the movies, but one of the greatest moments of all.

#1 Facing his Demons and Overcoming Them in The Half Blood Prince

It’s kind of crazy that up until this scene in the books and movies, you really don’t know a whole lot about Dumbledore. And it doesn’t get revealed to you until you unravel his backstory in the seventh book. But during this scene, we begin to realize that there’s a lot more to Dumbledore than we might have realized. The dude is carrying some serious guilt. Guilt for what he used to be. Guilt for what he did to his sister. And probably some guilt for what he intends to do for Harry.

Gambon plays it all off masterfully – every heartwrenching emotion, and emanates power when Dumbledore rises like a Phoenix to save Harry afterwards.