23 years of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Ranking the movies from 'still pretty great' worst to best

Few franchises can compare to the Harry Potter ones in terms of worldwide popularity. Despite 17 years since the last book and 13 years since the last film, the franchise remains as powerful as ever. The books are just the beginning of what Harry Potter is all about. Hollywood capitalized on the phenomenon and released the first Harry Potter film just over a year after the publication of the fourth book.

The fact that the Harry Potter film series has managed to keep up a consistently high quality over its eight installments is, however, another small wonder. What book fans had imagined for so long may finally come to life in the films. With four distinct directors adding their own tastes to the series from one film to the next, they were able to adapt and develop in line with the novels without compromising on continuity, character development, or storyline. They have no undesirable films, making this achievement even more impressive. During the holidays or while surfing TV, it's nearly impossible to avoid seeing a Harry Potter marathon.

ALSO READ: All 8 Harry Potter Movies Ranked As Per IMDb 

As we celebrate 23 years since the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), let's take a look at the films in the franchise, from the worst (not really) to the best.

Take a look below...

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1 (2010)

Despite the film's open admission of its partial completion, let's evaluate Deathly Hallows—Part 1 as a standalone installment in the Harry Potter series. Fans of the novel were expecting a slow movie version of the first half of the book since they were unhappy with the book's meandering style. The opening hour or so of Deathly Hallows—Part 1 is incredibly engaging. It's refreshing to see these characters in the muggle world, but the second half of the film is where it really starts to lose its grip. This is due, among other things, to the fact that Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, respectively) are aimlessly hunting and seemingly disappearing to a beautiful location while bickering with each other. To build up the emotional reward of Deathly Hallows—Part 2, this character conflict is essential, but viewing a film that is nearly entirely prepared can grow a bit boring.

Perhaps the most significant flaw with Deathly Hallows—Part 1 is the excessive buildup to the end that leaves little opportunity for actual payoff. Director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves do an adequate job with it, but in just one film, they have to establish the groundwork for all the wand business, bring Ron and Hermione closer to confessing their romantic feelings for each other, introduce the secretive backstory of Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), clarify the Deathly Hallows, and raise the stakes before the Battle of Hogwarts—all without resolving a single plot point. 

The film is superb when viewed in its entirety, yet it falls far short when viewed in isolation. But it doesn't mean Part 1 isn't worth considering. Despite the gloom, there are some brilliant moments, such as the animated Deathly Hallows scene and the dance between Harry and Hermione, which provides a welcome break from the tragedy all around them. The scene serves as an additional reminder to viewers that these are children who are handling the world's problems on their shoulders and are, for the first time, behaving entirely independently.

7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Not coincidentally, Chamber of Secrets attempts to incorporate almost every detail from the books into the film, making it the longest installment in the Harry Potter series at 161 minutes. The film's director, Chris Columbus, builds upon the gorgeous universe he created in the first installment with a darker, more plot-heavy sequel; it's not terrible, but it's the most tedious of the four.

There are still many enjoyable aspects to Chamber of Secrets, despite its length and occasional meandering. Columbus brilliantly brings Toby Jones's Dobby the Houseelf to life, creating a charming and impressive computer-generated character that manages to be both annoying and mischievous. Issues including the pure-blood cause and Hogwarts' tragic past are further defined by the filmmaker, who does a fantastic job of expanding upon the Wizarding World. Immersion in the Harry Potter universe provides ample entertainment, yet the Chamber of Secrets fails to match the brilliance of its predecessors in the series.

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

It was with Goblet of Fire that the Harry Potter books finally reached adulthood, growing in both length and scope. In addition to bringing Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) to the big screen for the first time in the series, director Mike Newell rises to the task of expanding the Wizarding World beyond Hogwarts. In the midst of these two monumental challenges, however, the filmmaker truly excels; he takes up the concept of emerging adolescence from Prisoner of Azkaban and applies it to the world of romance, addressing the uneasy thoughts about the other sex that the teen characters experience. The impending ball and the entrance of new students from other schools provide enough drama for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, which he manages admirably. Despite Goblet of Fire's cumbersome scope and occasionally choppy pace, the film's emotional sequences in the third act are remarkably accurate, especially considering how disappointing Voldemort's arrival was. The film explores many topics reminiscent of Harry's series arc, where he embarks on an impossible quest. Harry's entire life has led him to this point—since his unjustified designation as "The Chosen One" as a toddler, he has faced constant pressure to perform admirably.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

The first film in the series, Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone), deserves a lot of credit for establishing the series and providing a powerful basis for the subsequent films, even though it isn't as spectacular, sophisticated, or impressive as the others. Not only did Columbus assemble an outstanding ensemble, but he also managed to depict the Wizarding World in a way that was both approachable and completely engrossing. The film's tone is slightly younger than later installments due to the 11-year-old protagonist's perspective, but the filmmaker avoids being condescending and stays away from the cartoony kids' movie territory in Sorcerer's Stone.

As an excellent installment in the Harry Potter series, Sorcerer's Stone succeeds magnificently despite having the lightest tone of the lot. Columbus masterfully captures the enduring bond between the three protagonists, and their wit and intelligence are on full display throughout. The story builds to a thrilling climax that allows each character to shine. Ron Weasley, adorably riding a stone knight and enthusiastically directing a massive chess set is irresistible.

4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

With the politically charged Order of the Phoenix, David Yates makes his directorial debut, marking the last change for the series. Imelda Staunton gives a superb performance as Dolores Umbridge and the filmmaker expertly handles themes of power and corruption via her. The veteran actor's portrayal may be the best of the entire saga. Her presence at Hogwarts provokes Harry and the gang to take matters into their own hands; she is repulsive, intimidating, and horrifying all at once.

Yates chooses to set the film in the middle of summer in a different location, featuring a multi-layered encounter between Harry and his cousin Dudley (Harry Melling), making it clear from the outset that Order of the Phoenix will present a very different film. But then the Order arrives, proving he's not alone in his quest and that he knows little about what's happening. Gary Oldman's return as Sirius Black intensifies the film's emotional impact and deepens Harry's journey. The film also features some of the strongest exchanges between Alan Rickman's Snape and Harry in the franchise. Finally, Voldemort and Dumbledore engage in an unexpected and profoundly moving combat at the Ministry of Magic.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

In David Yates's second foray into the franchise, he tackles some of the darker and lighter themes explored in the series thus far. Half-Blood Prince is unquestionably the most comedic entry in the series, with the filmmaker and the actors lovingly embracing romantic humor for the most part. The numerous romantic encounters between Harry and Ron supply ample material for comedy, culminating in the guffaw-inducing "Hermione's got nice skin" exchange during a late discussion, while Jim Broadbent's understated goofiness as Professor Slughorn adds to the show. These scenes really bring out Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson, and it almost feels like they've been building up to this point in the series to totally dominate these hilarious beats.

Half-Blood Prince deals with several incredibly heavy themes, despite its light-hearted tone. The transition from Snape's "betrayal" and Dumbledore's death to a sea of wands pointing upwards at the sky immediately after was a brilliant moment, without feeling like a sudden change in tone. Yates and Kloves deftly incorporate Voldemort's history and the Horcruxes into their work. With its dazzling tonal balance, Half-Blood Prince effortlessly transitions from hilarious to heartbreaking.

While Prisoner of Azkaban boasts stunning graphics, the cinematography in Half-Blood Prince is the most impressive of the series. Yates and cinematographer Bruno Delbonell take visual ambitions to new heights by using a softer and deeper palette, creating an exceptionally beautiful film. Meanwhile, composer Nicholas Hooper, who was instrumental in Order of the Phoenix, is back with what is arguably the best score in the franchise since John Williams' work, and he does a masterful job of juggling two very distinct styles. At the end of the film, Yates bids a fitting farewell to Hogwarts, brilliantly positioning himself for the dramatic conclusion. Half-Blood Prince deftly blends comedy, suspense, and emotional tragedy, making it one of the series' finest features and a difficult act to follow.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 2 (2011)

While Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part 1 spent much of its time setting up, Deathly Hallows—Part 2 gets right into it and doesn't slow down. This film encompasses all aspects, from emotional to action to relational payoff. With the most difficult film in the series, Yates nailed the impossible: a satisfying conclusion to the most popular film franchise. The outstanding climax of Deathly Hallows—Part 2 takes place at Hogwarts, the setting for the entire series, and has an epic quality to it. The action sequences are thrilling, and the characters we've come to care about across the seven films provide the emotional anchor; Yates exploits this attachment for devastating effects. He unexpectedly deals with the deaths of numerous well-known characters. For instance, they reveal Fred's fate after the fact, in front of his family, with much more shocking consequences rather than using soaring music to portray Fred's (James Phelps) death, as would have been the obvious manipulative play.

Making Snape a hero in just one scene was probably the hardest part of the film. The makers rise to the occasion in a franchise-defining scene that confirms Harry's mission—he must die—and brings tears to the audience's eyes for the courageous, beloved Snape. Deathly Hallows—Part 2 had a lot of potential to mess up, but considering how well the Harry Potter filmmakers had done in the past, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that they maintained the same high quality. With a film that is both a fitting finale and an excellent entry in its own right, Harry Potter comes to a wonderful close.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

You can't put a price on Prisoner of Azkaban and its impact on the Harry Potter films. With the series facing a critical dilemma post-Chamber of Secrets, how does one transform ever-lengthier books into enjoyable feature films? This film set the artistic direction and structure for the subsequent films. You should include anything that either tells the story from Harry's perspective or influences his character; you can remove anything else. However, Azkaban not only enforced the point-of-view rule going forward but also granted the freedom to be exceptionally inventive.

While enhancing the character depth and, well, going strange, director Alfonso Cuarón drastically changed the aesthetic of Harry Potter without entirely erasing what Chris Columbus had created in the first two films. Prisoner of Azkaban is a very tactile film; you can feel every detail, from the Hogwarts choir and frogs to the Dementors and the Knight Bus sequence. Nearly every frame of this film looks like a painting, which is a credit to both Cuarón's vision and the exquisite cinematography. This film brims with iconic images, such as the iris and the Whomping Willow, symbolizing the changing of the seasons as the camera pans through the clock.

Additionally, Radcliffe, Grint, and Watson start to carve out a niche for themselves as performers and bring their respective characters to life in Azkaban. In particular, Radcliffe's performance stands out alongside Oldman and Thewlis as the character's quest for a father figure persists. Michael Gambon flawlessly takes up the mantle of Dumbledore after the death of the legendary Richard Harris; his portrayal pays homage to the late actor's work without trying to imitate it. Cuarón and the company had the unfortunate task of recasting the role.

Everything revolves around the characters, aligning with the film's teenage thematic thread. Although Cuarón executes the time-turner business almost flawlessly and Azkaban is one of the most streamlined stories in Rowling's book series, it's not enough. Cuarón masterfully portrays the growing autonomy of the young children as they approach adolescence, employing both subtle elements such as the unique uniforms worn by each actor in the film, and blatant elements such as Harry's initial escape from home.

Although the Harry Potter series would go on to produce additional excellent installments in the years that followed, Cuarón's Prisoner of Azkaban remains the artistic pinnacle of what is undeniably a top-tier and immensely rewarding film franchise.  

All the Harry Potter films can be streamed on JioCinema (OTTplay Premium).

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