All Harry Potter Films, Ranked by E-book Accuracy

The magical world of Harry Potter has captured the eye of film goers for over 20 years, however the franchise received its true begin 4 years earlier when the preliminary novel took the world by storm and impressed a technology of youngsters to learn. Because the publication of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, generations of readers have been enraptured by the adventures of the younger wizard and the whimsical but harmful world through which he inhabits. With an upcoming television adaptation coming soon readers surprise how devoted this adaption will probably be to people who got here earlier than.

Whereas sure points of the Harry Potter movie franchise are beloved by die-hard readers, equivalent to the long-lasting casting of the principle trio in Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, different decisions and components have been met with disappointment or remorse. The Harry Potter novels are large and their world even wider. Some cuts must be made in even the most perfect book-to-film adaptations. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter isn’t any completely different, however some movies have undoubtedly dealt with this process greater than others.

9 The ‘Incredible Beasts’ Movies (2016-2022)

Directed by David Yates

Admittedly, that is extra of a technicality and an excuse to poke enjoyable at them than something, however the Fantastic Beasts movies ARE technically primarily based upon a J. Ok. Rowling penned wizarding world novel. They’re additionally, decidedly, not implausible. The titular novel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an in-universe textbook the unplanned and unfinished series of mostly flop films have decidedly nothing to do with their supply materials apart from a shared identify and the occasional mystical animal.

Whereas the primary movie managed to craft a considerably profitable, intriguing romp set within the Harry Potter universe, the latter two movies (The Crimes of Grindlewald and The Secrets of Dumbledore) devolved right into a string of nonsensical plot factors, dower lighting, and shoehorned-in constantly pressured references to the Harry Potter canon. Incredible Beasts ought to have taken from its novel extra and been a enjoyable glimpse into the world of Harry Potter outdoors that titular character, however the sequence wished to face as a prequel slightly than by itself deserves. With three out of a deliberate 5 movies made, and no future in sight, Fantastic Beasts is failure and a stain on a fantastic franchise.

8 ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ (2009)

Directed by David Yates

Because the penultimate guide within the unique sequence, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince bears the burden of largely being setup for the grand finale that may observe. In guide type, this makes for an exhilarating gradual burn, as motion and journey take a backseat to like triangles, backstory, and a loving ship off to the boarding college drama a part of the story. A film has neither the time nor endurance for all this character setup and chooses to radically lower and alter The Half Blood Prince’s story to incorporate extra motion and explosiveness. The obvious instance of this being the nonsensical attack on the Burrow across the midpoint of the film, a scene which seemingly solely exists to supply a burst of motion within the film’s center part.

The most glaring omission in The Half-blood Prince, however, is the huge depth of backstory given to Voldemort within the novel. The movie touches on this facet in a couple of scenes, however it’s drastically diminished from the unique story, resulting in the lack of a lot context, characterization, and the true darkness of the darkish lord’s origin story. In novel format, a considerable amount of time can be utilized to convey Tom Riddle’s transformation into he who should not be named and his historical past with characters like Dumbledore or newcomer Professor Slughorn (performed by Jim Broadbent within the movie), however in movie format, a lot of that is streamlined and simplified to develop the motion sequences. Whereas characters equivalent to Tom Felton‘s Draco Malfoy, and Alan Rickman‘s iconic Severus Snape (the titular character of this entry), preserve loads of depth, others pale in comparison with their guide counterparts.

7 ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)

Directed by David Yates

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest Harry Potter guide by a large margin. Which means it is movie adaptation strikes shortly from plot level to plot level whereas sadly making expensive cuts, such because the depth of Harry and Snape’s Occlumency coaching, Snape’s backstory with Harry’s father, and further context across the fan favourite Silver Trio. The characters of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright), and Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) are firmly solidified as a number of the golden trio’s closest allies on this outing, however are sadly additionally the supply of a lot lower content material and inaccuracies. Whereas the spectacular battle on the Ministry of Magic is translated pretty properly, making for one of the most action-packed Harry Potter films, the total context of the journey is omitted, main to an enormous let-down.

Because the guide totally explains an iconic twist, the prophecy retrieved from the ministry of magic ties not solely Harry to the darkish lord, however Neville as properly. Had the darkish lord chosen to go after Neville as a toddler, he may bear a scar just like Harry’s and be the chief of this resistance. Its superb context that provides a whole lot of emotional complexity in addition to a near-Macbethian tackle destiny to the wizarding world. It additionally ties to one of many sequence’ most devastating scenes, which was sadly cut from the movie, through which Harry finds Neville in St. Mungo’s Hospital visiting his dad and mom, who have been tortured to madness by Bellatrix Lestrange.

6 ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half 2’ (2011)

Directed by David Yates

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 differs from its guide together of errors seen already, the necessity to broaden its motion and disservices to Harry’s supporting forged. After the occasions of Order of the Phoenix, Ginny, Luna and particularly Neville are invaluable allies to Harry and his associates. The movie showcases Ginny, Neville and a rescued Luna alongside different Dumbledore’s Military members within the Room of Requirement, however the guide makes clear that, within the absence of the golden trio, this new trinity had been waging guerrilla warfare all yr lengthy to guard Hogwarts and its college students. And whereas the movie showcases Neville waging a protracted combat towards the important Horcrux Nagini, the guide portrays him swiftly doing the deed in a assured movement.

The biggest distinction within the film comes merely from increasing the Battle of Hogwarts from a couple of climactic chapters to over half of a characteristic movie. The Deathly Hallows Half 2 is a climax to a decade-long franchise, and it feels the necessity to exit with a bang, a change which is in some ways actually better than the book it’s primarily based on. Nonetheless, it requires the movie to omit further context about characters equivalent to Snape and his full relationship with Harry’s dad and mom, and virtually fails others equivalent to Dumbledore. Films and movies are completely different mediums and The Deathly Hallows Half 2 does its finest to point out as a substitute of inform…however a couple of extra issues wanted to be informed.

5 ‘Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fireplace’ (2005)

Directed by David Yates

The funniest inaccuracy within the Harry Potter franchise is present in its fourth entry, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Famously, the road “Dumbledore calmly requested Harry” was translated as filled with screaming accusations, and whereas this change may be completely justified, it has caught as essentially the most generally recognized change between Harry’s on-page and display adventures. As an entire, nonetheless, the fourth outing for Harry and associates largely follows the construction of its tournament-based novel, even capturing the rising tone of teenage romance and drama that the fourth novel went to nice lengths to introduce.

Like different movies on this checklist, the adjustments largely come via an absence of nuance and context, this time particularly regarding the movie’s dealing with of its twist villain Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant). Within the novel, this reveal is foreshadowed a number of occasions by unusual occurrences revolving round Harry’s new trainer, Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson). Within the movie, nonetheless, the reveal that Mad-Eye was a person named Barty Crouch Jr. comes out of seemingly nowhere barring a fast facet reference. Smaller adjustments are made to story beats, equivalent to Neville serving to Harry with the second trial slightly than Dobby as within the guide, and the omission of challenges equivalent to the risks mendacity inside the hedge maze within the movie’s finale. Nonetheless, it’s the great disservice to the character of Mad-Eye Moody and Barty Crouch that stands out because the movie’s best failure within the adaptation.

4 ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half 1’ (2010)

Directed by David Yates

As alluded to earlier, the deathly hallows novel and flicks share some key variations largely associated to the character of dumbledore and the shocking reveals that come out about him after his dying. Whereas the flicks contact upon these reveals the novel spends rather more time exploring Dumbledore’s secret historical past with the darkish wizard Grindelwald, and the parallels this attracts between Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort and Harry himself. A significant theme within the again half of Harry Potter’s saga is that of morality and selection, and understanding that Dumbledore was a couple of decisions away from being Voldemort provides a lot wanted emotional relevance to the already bombastic finale.

For the majority of its runtime, nonetheless, Deathly Hallows Half 1 exhibits the uncommon profit that two-part variations can have, utilizing its elevated screentime to web page rely ratio to faithfully recreate the entrance half of Harry’s remaining novel. For each sadly absent scene equivalent to Harry’s somber farewell to the Dursleys quite a few Iconic moments equivalent to Harry’s escape from Privet Drive, the trio’s seize at Malfoy manor and the heartbreaking demise of Dobby are faithfully recounted. The tightened focus additionally implies that, not like different Harry Potter movies, Deathly Hallows Half 1 not solely omits fewer plot factors, however is afforded the time to permit its reveals to resonate with the viewers earlier than shifting on.

3 ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)

Directed By Alfonso Cuarón

Usually thought of one of the best Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban lives as much as its hype as a near-perfect fantasy. The movie offers an excellent midpoint for the whimsy of the primary two Harry Potter motion pictures whereas showcasing a number of the darkness and grownup drama that may come to dominate the latter half of the franchise. Whereas as an adaptation the movie is undoubtedly as good as the book, it nonetheless makes adjustments to befit its new format and runtime. Essentially the most obvious of those adjustments is the absence of the sequence’ iconic college robes, a change which serves as an efficient visible que of the extra grownup tone of the movie, however loses a lot of the distinctiveness that makes the franchise “Harry Potter”.

Extra impactful to the story nonetheless is the absence of the backstory of the Marauder’s Map. Within the movie, that is Harry’s latest magical software which helps within the plot of Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) and the prisoner of Azkaban (revealed to be Harry’s Godfather Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), however within the guide, the map is itself a key a part of the backstory of those characters and essential to theirs and Harry’s shared previous. Certainly, the marauders that gave the map its identify have been Pettigrew, Black, in addition to Harry’s new trainer, Remus Lupin, (David Thewlis) and his personal father, James Potter. This intricate backstory is basically absent from the movie and would have helped inform not solely it is climax, however the familial fondness Harry shares for Sirius and Lupin in later movies.

2 ‘Harry Potter and the Thinker’s Stone’ aka ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)

Directed by Chris Columbus

The unique pair of Harry Potter movies directed by Chris Columbus do one of the best job of translating the otherworldly and fantastical really feel of Hogwarts to the large display. Whereas the later movies would start specializing in motion drama, the primary two sit firmly within the camp of journey, and as an introduction to this world of caprice and surprise, Harry Potter and the Thinker’s Stoneis a near-perfect family film. Almost each thrilling second and character piece from the unique novel is translated on display, creating a very magic expertise.

Essentially the most obtrusive omission from this outing for Harry and associates, nonetheless, is the absence of the potions trial to access the Philosopher’s Stone. Like Harry’s catching of the winged key, or Ron’s mastery of Wizard’s Chess, Hermione’s decoding of the potions riddle is a vital character second which informs precisely what she is going to carry to the trio going ahead. The movie makes an attempt to make Hermione’s information of the Satan’s Snare her second within the climax, however the guide showcases that true intelligence is deeper than the memorization of info.

1 ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and techniques’ (2002)

Directed by Chris Columbus

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is the second-shortest Harry Potter novel and but the longest of the movies by far. This enables the movie to be a near-perfect adaptation of its supply materials and to translate a number of the most iconic Harry Potter moments in a method that informal viewers and die-hard followers equally love. The thriller of the inheritor of Slytherin, the institution of such likable characters such as Dobby, Ginny Weasley, and moaning myrtle, and the movie’s climactic motion finale are ripped, practically from their written counterparts, making for a very devoted adaptation.

Chris Columbus additionally makes positive that the movie works as a movie, nonetheless, and hones the bouncy, eccentric feeling of Hogwarts that he launched within the first movie, whereas introducing the world’s darker parts and characters. Harry’s first correct assembly with Voldemort, his battle with the fearsome Basilisk, and his triumphant elevating of the sword of Gryffindor are a number of the most memorable moments in Harry Potter. And when they’re blended with some of the film’s most iconic locations, and characters of their purest kinds, the movie is proof you could faithfully adapt a novel, with out sacrificing the visible nature of movie.