Riot’s Rankings: The Harry Potter Series
Anyone even remotely involved in pop culture or literature is aware of Harry Potter, the novel series, its film adaptations, and as of late, the laughably ridiculous controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling. Most recently, news outlets and social media were inundated with coverage and articles about the “boycott” that never was in regards to the Hogwarts Legacy video game. Currently, online buzz over a Harry Potter TV series has the hornet’s nest riled up all over again.
Putting all of that outside nonsense aside though, a question exists whether or not the TV series should even be made in the first place, with a lot of proponents of the original films voicing the opinion that remakes shouldn’t be considered since it might taint the original works. As it stands, I’m torn. Gun to my head I would probably have to vote in the “leave it alone” camp.
When considered as a whole, I could be swayed for a number of reasons. First, the technology limitations of the films (especially the early ones) is something that could be remedied. For context, I was a Sophomore in high school when the first Harry Potter film came out in theaters and was in the midst of being convinced that we had achieved the peak of video game graphics with Halo. Second, a television-style series could allow for more time to flesh out the many details from the novels that didn’t make it into the final cuts of the films (this will actually come into play for my ranking). Finally, it would give a brand new generation an opportunity to fall in love with the Wizarding World.
All the chatter got me itching to re-watch the films and throw down my opinion of worst to best of the Harry Potter** films. Enjoy!
** I will be ignoring the Fantastic Beast films, because outside of the first one…yikes….
8) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: This movie certainly felt like the Sophomore Slump coming to life. Chamber of Secrets was an admirable attempt to fit as much of the novel as possible into movie form, which likely explains why the second installation had the longest runtime of the bunch. Unfortunately, the audience starts to feel the effect of it. It’s endearing to have so many classroom scenes that really expand and give life to this world. But with too little consequential sequences to keep people involved, it’s difficult to maintain interest at times. I imagine working with child actors (and so many of them) provides an extra level of challenges. As each movie comes and goes, you can actually see the characters start to come into their own talents. The brutal honesty is that early on it’s sometimes hard to watch and the longer you extend the run time, the more you increase the dialogue, the more opportunities there are to come out with awkward/misdelivered scenes.
The introduction of some new characters had its highs in Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy and Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, and its rough lows in Toby Jones as Dobby. Harry Potter had its own Jar Jar Binks problem and while Dobby would get his redemption arc much later in the series (much like Ahmed Best would), his introduction was tough to get through. At the end of the day, the significantly better special effects (which advanced at an insane degree given only one year difference) that were put on display during the Quidditch match and the Tom Riddle’s diary scene weren’t enough to keep the entertainment running.
7) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: There are a couple things I remember outright from the fifth installation of Harry Potter. The first, is that the corresponding book was the biggest of the series, therefore having the highest danger of leaving out details that made the story what it was (and this certainly happened to the film’s major detriment). Second, Order of the Phoenix was director David Yates’ first go at the franchise. This carries with it the inherent risk of a baby bird’s first flight (something the previous two directors handled shockingly well) type of storytelling. Finally, Order of the Phoenix had the second shortest runtime of the series and only because the final book was split into two separate films. How then, could so much information be distilled properly into a functional film?
Well as it turns out, it couldn’t. The fifth iteration suffered from the exact opposite problem of Chamber of Secrets, where far too much “fat” was trimmed instead of packing in the details. Since this is especially the youth’s story, due to being surrounded by an entire world of shockingly inept adults, the interpersonal drama and dialogue opened the door for a number of awkward performances. Order of the Phoenix also was surprisingly plagued by some awful CGI, including the nonsensical alteration of Sirius Black in the fireplace and a flying scene through modern day London that was truly awful. Lastly, from the start there is a noticeable issue with the color saturation of the movie, like it was desperately attempting to hang onto a more upbeat outlook of the Wizarding World that had been clearly abandoned at this point.
Order of the Phoenix was not without its positives. We got an incredible performance from Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge, who proved there was a character even more despicable that Voldemort. We were also introduced to the pleasantly quirky Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood who provided the majority of levity throughout the film. Content-wise, the exploration of the dangers of authoritarian bureaucracy and the fascist elements (including the unholy marriage of propagandist media and the government) that lead to it is a worthwhile lesson. Visually, the film wasn’t a complete failure in two major ways: the set design of the Ministry of Magic and the undeniably epic battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort. But at the end of the day, isolated scenes aren’t going to fix an overall issue of awful pacing and a training montage that took far too long and had such little payoff.
6) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1: I think I was most reluctant in the positioning of this film, mostly because the content of the story was something I thoroughly enjoyed in both the book and movie. The concept of the Horcruxes and their systematic destruction felt original and compelling. The first half of the Deathly Hallows story had elements/scenes that really set it apart from the rest of the films: Harry’s harrowing escape to the Weasley Burrow, the unbelievably intricate and cleverly designed animation explaining the Hallows’ origin, and the dramatic sacrifice of Dobby are a few standouts. Hallows Pt. 1 also framed the growth of acting skills in the main three characters, particularly in Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermoine Granger), the latter of which I think arguably stood out before but really came into her own in this film. Voldemort’s return to a prominent role also brought the level of entertainment and suspense up a major notch.
So how does this film find itself so low on my list? In a word, pacing. Hallows Pt. 1 struggles mightily to figure out its rhythm, which is exemplified most in its wild swings from thrilling action/special effects to long, unreasonably drawn out scenes as the trio of wizards journey by foot in search of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Watching this film, I think about the phonetic joke, “the emphasis is on the wrong syllable.” Time is spent putting details into what I would argue are the wrong things. All this setup is necessary of course, but without the payoff in the second film, it’s hard to say this was a quality stand alone. They could have spent more time dealing with the significance of the individual Horcruxes, or expanding more on Dumbledore’s torrid history. Instead we were given scores of interpersonal drama (along with an awkwardly placed “adolescent” nude scene), drawn out walks with an easily ignored audio overlay (the scenery was nice though), and a final conflict that didn’t really make much sense.
As a side note, I am particularly irked by the horrible misuse of an actor like Bill Nighy, who’s narrative impactfully opens the story only to have his character come to an end off screen. I believe this similarly happened in the book, but I think it would have been significantly more interesting to have at least some scenes involving the Ministry’s downfall included. At the end of the day, dividing the Hallows into two parts was certainly the proper move, but there could have been a little more care given to which storytelling elements were included and where the emphasis was placed. There was a clear attempt to get the audience in the emotional state that a film like The Empire Strikes Back did, but instead of a desire for the conclusion to the story, we were left more in a state of panic, anxiously awaiting a potentially botched finale.
5) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Initially when I was compiling this list, I assumed I was going to rank the introductory film of the series higher up. But when placed against the background of the later works, it’s hard to argue that this film is fundamentally better. What’s really ironic about it coming in at #5 is the fact that I don’t really have many major complaints about the movie (or at least less complaints than ones that rank higher up). One of the biggest things going for Sorcerer’s Stone is simply its nostalgia factor. It was our introduction to the Wizarding World and the means by which non-readers came to love it and readers to love it even more. It’s been many years since I read the books and while I’ve forgotten most of the finer details of the story, I distinctly remember Sorcerer’s Stone being almost a word-for-word adaptation of the book. This made it endearing and helped people overlook the limitations of the times in regards to special effects (particularly some of the owl scenes and the dungeon troll encounter). Even with its limitations we were treated to some delightfully magical shots like the nighttime boat ride to Hogwarts and the introductions to the schoolgrounds. The film’s major detriment is a lackluster final confrontation with Prof. Quirrell (Ian Hart) that can’t be saved even with elements like a fantastic (and continual) performance by Alan Rickman. The film is cheesy, but in all the right ways and takes the audience back to what feels like simpler times.
4) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Prisoner of Azkaban I think could find itself all over the place in other ranking lists. This would be director Alfonso Cuaron’s only go at the series. The third installment of the franchise starts off the ever darkening decent of the opening sequence and continues on with the series’ increasingly darker themes. Considering these kids almost die quite literally every movie, it’s hard to imagine why they would have any upbeat moments at all. Azkaban has what I would argue to be one of the worst starts to a Harry Potter film. The ballooning of the Dursley Aunt, while emotionally satisfying, is far too silly for the gravity of the situation. The scene is immediately followed up with an off-the-wall triple decker bus ride that didn’t feel magical nor necessary and is injected with slap-stick comedic elements that don’t really land well. Once Harry is on board the Hogwarts Express though, the story really takes off. The introduction of the dementors and the special effects surrounding them are a particularly good addition and the latest characters brought in (Gary Oldman as Sirius Black and David Thewlis as Professor Lupin) elevate the film especially at its climax. Thewlis in particular is shown to be amongst the most competent of the Hogwarts teachers. This is exemplified strongly in his interactions with Harry as well as the cleverly done sequence with the shape-shifting Boggart.
There was also another “new” face involved in the story, since the role of Albus Dumbledore had to be recast when its original actor (Richard Harris) tragically passed away. With all respect due to Harris and his performance, bringing in Michael Gambon ended up benefitting the role in the long run, especially once Dumbledore was required to start playing an actual, active role in the events of the story. Round three of Harry Potter brought about one of the most significant jumps in CGI advancements as well, exemplified best in the sprawling shots of Hogwarts and the infinitely clever scenes involving The Marauder’s Map. When all is said and done, my biggest complaint about Azkaban simply involves how nonsensical it is that there could even be a case of mistaken identity, false accusation, and criminal indictment of Sirius Black. The films subsequently involve magical items or potions or spells that would all very easily prove Black’s innocence. The entire conflict of the story is therefore made incredibly thin and logistically takes you out of the moment. This is obviously a problem with the source material, but the film sequences serve to highlight the plot holes. Luckily for the creators and fans alike, the performances of the actors loans credibility to the situation. Ending the film on a freeze frame was probably a bad call, but the intensity of the scenes involving Lupin and Black, coupled with the significant advancement in special effects makes Harry Potter’s third iteration memorable.
3) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The sixth installment of the franchise finds itself amongst the top three titles for its ability to finally/fully lean into the darker overtones of the story. In direct contrast to his previous title, Yates flipped the color saturation, favoring the blues, greys, and blacks of the settings. One of the biggest examples of this is the altered animation for Dumbledore’s pensieve, which went from this vortex of shining silver memories to streaking blots of black ink. Along with the more muddled colors, the comedic elements dial was turned down in favor of serious conversations, highlighting the gravity of the expansion of Voldemort and his Death Eater’s influence on the world. As I stated before, the benefits of Dumbledore’s required recast began to really show in this film as Gambon’s interaction and influence on Daniel Radcliffe and the overall story became clear.
The movie also benefits (as it usually does) from another new face in the form of Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) who puts on a brilliant performance as the slightly cowardly but incredibly knowledgeable man with a secret. Half-Blood Prince focuses highly on the degradation of its character’s spirits and how evil’s influence begins to alter their lives. With Harry, it’s through his happenstance tutelage of what he thinks is Voldemort and his nearly uncontrollable connection to the evil wizard. Outside of Harry, I particularly enjoyed watching Draco (Tom Felton) slowly and reluctantly bend under the expectations of his family. Inevitably, once everything comes to a head with Harry and Draco, their brief battle is an intense, high-risk situation that catches you off guard and lets you know just how far Harry’s resolve has begun to be. The intensity of the film really kicks off once the discovery of the horcruxes is more fleshed out, culminating in a visually and emotionally striking sequence with Harry and Dumbledore. The final confrontation, the death of Dumbledore, and the symbolic tribute of the students and teachers to the Headmaster is really where the film shines.
Half-Blood Prince isn’t without its negatives, but I would argue they weren’t enough to really degrade the movie in the ranking. The interpersonal/high school drama between the characters slows down the movie a bit and there still remains a level of adult ineptitude that pushes too hard against the lines of believability (even in a magical world). Voldemort’s nearly complete absence from the film also doesn’t do it any favors, leaving the actions of the Death Eaters to be the only real clues into how they are “advancing” their influence. Their kidnapping of Olivander for example isn’t fleshed out but is used as an excuse to film a sequence of the destruction of a pedestrian bridge in London. The effects in the scene are amazing, but it was a lot of effort to not really ad to the gravity of the situation. This was also the first movie in which the everyday classroom setting scenes actually seemed to hurt the progression of the film. Regardless of these elements, the complete product was entertaining and left a strong impact for the upcoming conclusions to the series.
2) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: I’m certain there will be plenty of dissenters on this pick for #2, especially for the main reason I think this film belongs in one of the top slots. In a few words, Goblet of Fire set the standard for visuals in the HP franchise and new director Mike Newell (who unfortunately didn’t return) definitely showcased his skills. They come fairly straight out of the gate with the hike to the portkey, the effects surrounding that teleportation, and nearly everything involved with the Quidditch World Cup (I was particularly fond of the camera trick involving the Weasley’s tent). Goblet of Fire not only displayed some of the best cinematic shots of the series, it came out hard with the more advanced CGI this title needs. Everything from the entrances/exits of the two visiting schools, to the various challenges from the Tournament (obviously Harry’s trial with the dragon gets the gold star). Adding to this, in my opinion, is some of the best costume and set design work of the entire series. This particularly applies to everything involving the Tournament and the winter ball.
Outside of Azkaban’s insertion of Lupin and Black, Goblet of Fire introduced four of the most consequential characters of the entire series. The first (and less consequential) of the notable additions was Miranda Richardson as Reeta Skeeter. Although the character herself would be demoted to a background/reference character in the later films, fans understand the consequence of her involvement from the books. It’s partly because of this character that an important running theme happens in the movie: the unholy marriage of media and government (ringing any bells lately?). Skeeter not only helps enforce the propaganda that nearly leads to the downfall of the Wizarding World, but she also provides another antagonist to despise. Second, and likely the biggest fan favorite, was Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory. Harry’s Tournament rival, even without any previous introduction stood out as a well-liked, clearly compassionate Hogwarts student. I remember readers being re-traumatized by Diggory’s death, knowing full well what was coming. Pattinson’s performance, though not extensive, brought the empathy out in people, making his demise just as tragic as any established character. Third, Brendan Gleeson as “MadEye” Moody. The implications of this character are continually felt until his offscreen death in Deathly Hallows Pt. 1. Gleeson’s performance in Goblet of Fire is exceptional for a number of reasons and is particularly experienced during his class lecture on the three unforgiveable curses. While Newell’s biggest mistake was making this obvious, the big reveal at the end of film still felt shocking enough that it is something most fans will affectionately remember. Finally, Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort doesn’t require much explanation. His encounter with Harry in the graveyard is unforgettable.
1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2: It would prove untrue for me to say that Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is a perfect film and without its flaws. For instance, I would certainly argue that the Gringotts sequence ran far longer than it needed to even whilst putting on a pretty fantastic show special effects-wise (the Ukrainian Ironbelly being a low point of the encounter). Coupled with the journey to the Room of Requirement, the writers continued with the mistake of not giving enough service to the actual significance of the Horcruxes. That unfortunately wasn’t the end of the movie’s storytelling issues, at least in regard to the novels. The film’s ending, while an emotional tribute, came off as incredibly awkward. Aging up the very young actors didn’t play well and glazing over their continued development as witches/wizards just added to the unease of the scene. Finally, (and probably the gravest mistake as it relates to the source material) the complete disregard of Neville’s (Matthew Lewis) significance to the story and slightly glazing over his role in Voldemort’s defeat is simply one of those mistakes they can’t take back. Maybe this will be remedied by the television show?
Outside of its (what I would consider) minor mistakes, I think the biggest argument for Hallows Pt. 2 finding its way to the number one slot is that the film is satisfying. Re-watching it, I remembered the trepidation of wondering if the filmmakers were going to be up to the task of portraying The Battle of Hogwarts. Luckily for the audience, the CGI of the time was up to the task. Everything in the film and especially surrounding the final battle is visually stunning. The filmmakers and actors did a phenomenal job of highlighting the gravity of the situation. They didn’t shy away from the deaths of established, cherished, and important characters, allowing the audience time to grieve for the people lost in the battle. The legitimate chaos of the encounter was reflected properly in the practical and special effects and the audience was treated to face offs that they had been looking forward to. Molly Weasley’s (Julie Walters) resounding defeat of Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) was particularly satisfying, regardless of how brief it was. Harry’s faceoff with Draco and his cronies in the Room of Requirement also served to put the advancement of CGI on full display as the out of control Fiendfyre spell destroyed everything around them, including brutally killing its caster, Goyle. The encounter was the right kind of climax to finally push Draco over the edge and convince the rest of his family to wash their hands of the situation. While the emotional journey of the Malfoys could have been handled with a little more care/detail, I think the visuals of their physical degradation was more than subtle and queued the audience into the shame/regret they each experienced for their actions.
Storytelling wise, we were treated to the all-important (likely the most significant subplot of the entire series) backstory of Severus Snape. His death and sacrifice was gut wrenching in all the right ways, even for those uninitiated non-readers. It certainly served to remind me of what an incredible actor Alan Rickman really was. While the writers unfortunately glazed over Neville’s importance to the story (and the overall prophecy from the books) they did a significantly better job handling Harry’s side of things. The emphasis on his story really allowed Daniel Radcliffe to shine in this movie and was exemplified in a number of scenes: his conversation with Dumbledore while in Limbo, nearly every confrontation scene with Voldemort (admittedly, I thought their merge while apperating was a little weird), and his conversation with the spirits of every witch/wizard that had defended him throughout the years. Finally, Ralph Fiennes put on an absolute clinic of a performance. The audience got to see his downfall (physically and emotionally) playout in a succession of defeats that showed what a horribly broken being he really was and Fiennes played each confrontation out spectacularly.
Whoo boy! That was a task and half. Let me know what you think about the Harry Potter TV series and even how you would rank the original films. Are there any details from the books that got cut that absolutely have to be covered? Would love to hear your thoughts!
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