I’ve recently done a Harry Potter marathon at which case my feelings for certain films have changed exponentially. So, I have no choice but to change my ranking of these films. Enjoy!

8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince isn’t a bad movie but compared to the other Harry Potter films it’s kind of a bore. I really do love the end when Harry and Dumbledore go after the fake Horcrux or when Snape has to kill Dumbledore. There’s a lot of emotion in those last few minutes and yeah, who can’t help shedding a tear as Harry cries over Dumbledore’s body. If the whole movie was like the last thirty minutes it’d definitely be higher on this list.

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

This is another one of those movies in the lineup that isn’t particularly bad but it’s just kind of boring. The adventures for the Horcruxes is kind of slow, choosing instead to focus on the psychological journeys amongst Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who must all contend with the evil power of Voldemort’s locket. The only part that I find legitimately entertaining and emotionally rewarding is when Harry goes to Godric’s Hollow where he gets a chance to see his parents’ graves on Christmas Eve. Cue the tears.

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is much better than these other two movies for sure but after several viewings I have discovered that, like Half-Blood Prince, its best moments come in the last thirty minutes. Of course, the rest of the movie is really fun too.

The Quidditch World Cup and the chaos that ensues afterward is really fun to watch, I love the challenge for the dragon egg and the creepy mermaids. And honestly, I still believe Harry and Voldemort’s duel in this movie is better than the climactic confrontation in the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

This movie has grown on me and the last thirty minutes are awesome, specifically the duel between Voldemort and Dumbledore. It is easily the best display of combative magic that has been seen in the Harry Potter movies.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

I have one word to describe this movie: magical.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Yeah, the final duel between Harry and Voldemort is kind of underwhelming but that doesn’t detract from the greatness of this finale. When I last wrote this ranking this movie sat at #6. After watching it again, I was dumbfounded with how good the film actually was. And yeah, I cried like a baby at the end…again!

This movie really goes for the juggernaut of your emotions and I love it. I really do.

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 

Like Sorcerer’s Stone, this movie is purely magical but here’s the twist. The classic creepiness of this saga rushes to the forefront, resulting in a horrifying mystery that leads to Harry’s epic confrontation with a massive Basilisk. The music, the scenes, Tom Riddle’s Diary and the meeting with Aragog, there are so many moments in this film that leave me beaming or cringing with appreciated horror.

And its very last scene, imbued with John Williams’ magical score, has made me cry since I was a child.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This is the best Harry Potter movie, pure and simple. Its delightfully scary, the story is riveting, and who doesn’t love the scene where Harry Potter saves himself from the Dementors with the Patronus charm? I’m getting chills just thinking about it!

These movies are so much fun to watch every now and then and doing this marathon has been such a blast. However, it was a strange marathon. The order was as follows; 5, 7 (Pt. 2), 2, 3, 4, end of 5 again, half of 6, and 7 (Pt. 1.) 

Until then, I thank you for reading and I hope you have a spectacular day.