Harry Potter himself conjures the franchise’s best movie.
The Harry Potter movies make up one of the most popular franchises in cinematic history. All of them landed well with critics and audiences alike, becoming major box office hits. The franchise began in 2001 with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and concluded in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Now, the franchise is coming back in a different way.
HBO has announced that it is rebooting Harry Potter through a TV show. After a long time with no updates, the floodgates opened at the start of 2026. The first trailer for HBO’s Harry Potter series was released, confirming that the show arrives this Christmas. Season 1 is titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Before that, the original franchise’s star has something to say.
On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Daniel Radcliffe ranked all eight Harry Potter movies through a bracket system.
First, he picked Chamber of Secrets over Sorcerer’s Stone, Goblet of Fire over Prisoner of Azkaban, Order of the Phoenix over Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Part 2 over Part 1. Then, Goblet beat Chamber and Deathly Hallows Part 2 defeated Order of the Phoenix, with the final Harry Potter movie later being crowned the winner.
The most controversial choice on the list was Goblet of Fire beating Prisoner of Azkaban, which Radcliffe noted would be what the fans would talk about, given that the latter is highly regarded by many as the best Harry Potter movie overall. According to the actor, it came down to him enjoying more of what he got to do in Goblet of Fire.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has a near-perfect 90% critics’ score, with a high 86% audience score. As for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the 2005 movie is one of the best entries in the magic franchise according to critics, standing at an 88% critics’ score. However, it does not rank as high with viewers, at a 74% audience score.
When it comes to Daniel Radcliffe’s favorite Harry Potter movie, the actor matches what critics believe is correct. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final entry in the iconic cinematic franchise, boasts a stellar 96% critics’ score, with audiences rating it quite high at a mighty 89%. It was the perfect, emotional way to conclude the saga.
Now, a new generation of wizards will rise in HBO’s Harry Potter series, and Radcliffe has wished new Harry Potter actor Dominic McLaughlin and the rest of the cast well on multiple occasions. For those interested in the show, a behind-the-scenes special, Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic, is available on HBO Max. The show expands on the Harry Potter movies.
Cast
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen
Movie(s)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore