“Harry Potter and the Stone of the Weisen” was released in November 2001 and made the three leading actors: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson at the age of ten. But that was just the beginning: the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s first “Harry Potter” novel was the prelude to a film series that was to extend over ten years and eight films and captivated millions of children, adolescents and adults.
Now almost 24 years have passed-and the Potter universe has still been expanding: After the last film “Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 2” in the cinema in 2011, an unofficial eighth followed as a script and play and the “Fantastic Business” film series, which is located in the same world, tried to establish itself as a valuable successor. And although JK Rowling has unfortunately made more aware of trans -hostile statements in recent years than with new books, the fascination with the magical world of Harry Potter still does not seem to lose weight.
Reason enough to deliver a ranking of all eight films. Completely objective and impartial, of course.
And even if it should no longer be necessary for a film series over twenty-year-old: At this point, a large spoiler warning for all “Harry Potter” films is pronounced again!
8. Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 1
It already says a lot about the film series when this part lands at the bottom of the list. Because “Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 1” is not a bad film. On the contrary: the loneliness that Harry feels after Dumbledor’s death and the pressure that is on it is extremely well brought across in this film. There are some fantastic sequences, such as their penetration into the Maginia Ministry and the dance scene between Harry and Hermione. This is not the problem. The film simply suffers from the deciding of the studios to transform the seventh volume into two parts. This means that “Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 1” simply have no real highlight, which makes it tough and even appears boring in some places. Unfortunately, it is nothing more than the preparation for the second, much better part.
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” had the difficult task of creating the transition between the comfortably warm, childish films and darker, more serious topics. Not only does Harry cope with his trauma from the return of Voldemort in this part, he is also accused of almost the entire magician world of lies and Dolores Umbridge spread fear and horror at Hogwarts (and is almost more hated among fans than Voldemort). Director David Yates brings all of these problems authentic and strongly – but he also leaves no room for beautiful moments. Yes, the book is dark, yes, the story becomes adult. However, a few scenes of old playfulness and magic would not have harmed. After all, there is also some reason to be happy in the novel: Harry’s first kiss with Cho Chang or Rons, for example. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” is one thing above all: depressing.
6. Harry Potter and the chamber of horror
The first two parts of the “Harry Potter” series were filmed by Chris Columbus. The “Kevin-alone at home” director is known for his detailed love and thus provided the perfect visual introduction to the magical world of JK Rowling. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Terror” is stylistically the sequel to the first part that it needed – albeit with some flaws. In contrast to later films that take more freedom, Columbus strictly adhered to the original on “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Terror”. On the one hand, this is nice, because it does not neglect storylines, but unfortunately also leads to dramaturgical desks. Shortly said: the film is just too long. “The Chamber of Terror” takes 161 minutes – which is terrifying when you consider that it is actually the second shortest book.
In terms of content, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of horror” is one of the strongest stories; As a spectator: For the first time you learn more about Voldemort’s past and the history of Hogwarts, get to know Dobby and Professor Lockhart and experience some of the creepliest moments of early books on large screen with the giant spiders and basilisk. Just as a shame that some sequences were not told a little more pointed.
5. Harry Potter and the Feuerkelch
“Harry Potter and the Feukelch” is still the most hated film of the franchise among fans. There are good reasons for this: On the one hand, this part completely omits some important storylines of the novel, such as the Haus elf Twinky or Hermines. On the other hand, some characters are drawn differently than in the book – which is pissing up to many fans. Despite these (quite valid) criticisms, “Harry Potter and the Feuerkelch” did one thing that has not succeeded in telling many other films in the series: to tell a good coming-of-age story.
The first falling in love, the first dispute between Harry and Ron, jealousy-all these typical teenage problems are treated as seriously in the film as Harry’s life-threatening tasks at the Trimagic tournament. And they look all the more significant and precious when the film in the end completely changes its tonality when Voldemort returns. The director Mike Newell managed to present Harry’s fourth school year in all his colorful facets at “Harry Potter and the Feuerkelch” – without trivializing them at the moment of Voldemort’s return and Cedric Diggory’s death. And you have to count that high.
4. Harry Potter and the Half -Blood prince
In the sixth part of the film series, director David Yates arrived properly. Almost everything is right here: the tone of the film is dark and heavy, without being difficult. Malfoy’s story is brilliantly woven into the narrative arch without taking Harry, Ron and Hermione’s focus. And the different love stories of the characters are told self -deprecating enough so as not to seem annoying or even kitschy. The tragic highlight of the film is also fabricated and tenderly implemented – with one of the most beautiful scenes from the entire row when the entire school tribute tribute.
Despite its many strong moments, there is also a big weakness that has to be named at this point: the relationship between Ginny and Harry. Right Potterheads Know that Ginny’s character in the film adaptation unfortunately does not do justice to the original. Instead of the coolest girl in the school, who turns Ron’s little sister into a pretty, popular and funny Quidditch player within a year, the Ginny from the film is unfortunately only inconspicuous, one-sided and boring.
3. Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 2
How difficult it is, a Grand Finale Turning a multi -part series doesn’t just know Peter Jackson. David Yates also had to take on the hard task of “Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 2” of the hard task to finish a seven -part series of novels without leaving any questions open or disappointing fans. And how impressive that he did it. “Harry Potter and the sanctuaries of death part 2” directly follow the predecessor film and ends the story of the Horkrux search excitingly. The big fight at the end is visually spectacular and fast -paced and still takes time for calm moments, which are all the more emotional. The way Yates takes to dissolve Snape’s story is particularly noteworthy. It is one of the most beautiful and tragic scenes in the entire film series.
2. Harry Potter and the stone of the wise
“Harry Potter and the stone of the wise ones” is the Classic par excellence. It is the first time that the spectators get an insight into the magical world and the film places all the prerequisites for what will come. From the first minute it is evident from the first minute how much passion chris Columbus must have put into the design of the sets – be it in the bourgeois family home of the Dursleys, the large hall of Hogwarts or the chimney red, which was lit by flying candles. In terms of content, too, “Harry Potter and the Stone of the Wise” manages to meet the age of their main characters and still be exciting and (for children) sometimes even creepy.
Only the different rooms through which Harry, Hermione and Ron have to go to the stone of the wise ones could have been staged significantly more excited – and the space with the potions was even left out completely. But overall you will hardly find someone among Harry Potter fans who do not love the first part at least for nostalgic reasons. And even those to whom the story of the first part is too childish or tame must recognize that only Chris Columbus is thanks to which actors: inside and visual implementation for the film adaptation.
1. Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban
After Chris Columbus said goodbye as a director after the first and second part, the film series initially stood in the balance. Who could be able to further film the books at a similarly high level? The rescue came in the form of the now five times Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, who took on “Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban”-and made it the best film of the entire series. Long camera trips, transitions and change of perspective make the third part a real visual enjoyment; This is particularly evident in the first scene of the dementors, in the Grimm, who appears in different variants in the film or throughout the sequence, where Harry and Hermione travel through time to save silk beak.
But in terms of content, Cuarón also sets different accents than its predecessor: the mood is more serious, the atmosphere darker, and yet a certain innocence is preserved. Even emotional topics such as the death of Harry’s parents and his father’s relationships with Lupin and Sirius are given more space, which gives the once childish world a deeper level. No other film from the Harry Potter universe managed to link new elements as wonderfully with material loyalty as this. And for that you have to thank Alfonso Cuarón.