The Harry Potter series continues to be popular, even with some debates around it. The eight movies are important parts of 2000s cinema.
They revived the fantasy genre and created a huge multi-media franchise. Today, people remember the movies for their great actors, high production quality, and the exciting story about Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) fighting against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
The Harry Potter movies are known for being some of the biggest hits of the 2000s. They have many ambitious and visually impressive scenes that show magic and spells. However, not every movie in the series has the same amount of action.
As the story becomes darker and more serious, the films also become more thrilling. The earlier movies focus more on coming-of-age stories. This article ranks all the Harry Potter movies based on their action. The number of action scenes, how well they are done, and how they contribute to the story will determine their ranking.
8. ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001) Directed by Chris Columbus
The first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone introduces Harry as he discovers his magical powers and goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
There, he makes friends with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). He learns he must face an old enemy who wants to return with the help of the mysterious Philosopher’s Stone.
As the start of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is more focused on explaining things than later movies. It is very kid-friendly, thanks to Chris Columbus’ direction, which presents the action like a traditional coming-of-age story.
The action scenes are not very frequent, mainly featuring Quidditch matches and a memorable encounter with a troll. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ranks last because it lacks the thrilling moments that make the later movies memorable. It focuses more on being a sweet story about self-discovery rather than a full magical adventure.
7. ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009) Directed by David Yates
The sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is very focused on characters and emotions. The film follows Harry and Dumbledore (Sir Michael Gambon) as they learn more about Voldemort, hoping to find a way to defeat him. Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy has a difficult burden and only has Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) to help him.
This movie has a lot of teen drama and character development, but not much action. In fact, it hardly has any. Instead, it focuses on revealing who Voldemort is and how the young Tom Riddle became the most dangerous Dark Wizard. Harry’s love life is also a key point, even if this story is not very engaging.
There are only a few action scenes, like the Death Eaters attacking The Burrow, making this one of the quieter movies in the series. However, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince does deserve credit for trying to take the story in a new direction.
6. ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002) Directed by Chris Columbus
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry returns for his second year at Hogwarts. The story begins strangely when a house elf named Dobby (Toby Jones) tries to prevent him from returning.
Despite this, Harry goes back to school and discovers that someone has opened the legendary Chamber of Secrets, releasing a dangerous threat against half-blood students.
Like the first movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets does not have a lot of action, but it tries to include more exciting moments.
Notable scenes include Harry and Ron’s adventure in a flying car, their run-in with the Whomping Willow, Harry’s duel with Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), and the final battle against the fearsome Basilisk. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets improves on the first movie, hinting at the increased action in later films. It still feels like a children’s movie, but the stakes feel higher and more important.
5. ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004) Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban marks Harry’s third year at Hogwarts. This movie represents a turning point in his story. The plot follows Harry as he learns that the notorious mass murderer Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban and seems to be after him.
As Hogwarts is haunted by dangerous creatures called Dementors, Harry must confront his fears to discover more about his parents and their deaths.
It’s fair to say that Prisoner of Azkaban is the best Harry Potter movie. It is darker and more mature, showing a clear change from the childish tone of the earlier films. In terms of action, the movie ranks in the middle.
There are a few exciting moments, including Harry’s encounters with Dementors, one of which happens during a memorable Quidditch match, and the confrontation with the werewolf at the end. While it is not the most action-heavy movie in the series, it offers enough thrilling scenes to keep fans happy.
4. ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ (2010) Directed by David Yates
The second-to-last movie sees Harry on a mission to find and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Along with Ron and Hermione, Harry travels across the country to find these cursed items, facing many challenges along the way. As he gets closer to defeating Voldemort, the Wizarding World slowly falls under his control.
Although it serves as a setup for the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is still exciting. This movie is like a road trip film and is possibly the darkest in the series. True to its role as a second-to-last installment, the movie is filled with action from the start.
Memorable scenes include the Death Eaters attacking during Bill (Domhnall Gleeson) and Fleur’s (Clémence Poésy) wedding, the ambush at Xenophilius Lovegood’s (Rhys Ifans) house, the magical duel at a café, and the trio’s daring escape from the Ministry of Magic. Even as a setup, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 delivers plenty of excitement.
3. ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005) Directed by Mike Newell
Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts is one of the most dangerous. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry is unwillingly entered into the Triwizard Tournament.
With help from his new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (Brendan Gleeson), Harry faces three perilous challenges while trying to uncover who put his name in the competition.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the most action-packed movie in the series up to that point. The Triwizard Tournament features Harry facing a fierce dragon in an exhilarating chase and confronting angry merpeople.
In the final task, Harry must face a maze full of magical dangers, which leads him to a graveyard where he witnesses Voldemort’s return. This film significantly raises the action level. While it might not be the best Harry Potter movie, it has some of the most memorable action scenes.
2. ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (2011) Directed by David Yates
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is not only a box office hit but also provides a satisfying ending to Harry’s story. Picking up right where the previous movie ended, it shows Harry, Ron, and Hermione breaking into Gringotts to find another of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.
Eventually, they make their way to Hogwarts, where the Order of the Phoenix prepares for a final battle against Voldemort.
As the last movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is a thrilling experience. From the beginning, it grabs the audience’s attention and keeps it. There is a thrilling escape from Gringotts on a dragon.
After that, viewers are treated to a two-hour-long battle, with key characters fighting Voldemort’s forces throughout Hogwarts, leading to Harry and Voldemort’s final duel. This movie is packed with excitement and delivers a satisfying conclusion, allowing Harry, Ron, and Hermione to finally find peace.
1. ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007) Directed by David Yates
In the fifth film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry is at his most troubled and angry. The Wizarding Community refuses to accept Voldemort’s return. As a result, Harry and Dumbledore are seen as liars craving attention, with the Ministry launching a campaign against them.
With everyone ignoring Voldemort’s return, Harry and his friends decide to take matters into their own hands while the Dark Lord searches for something that might change the war.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ranks highest in terms of action due to how well its scenes are crafted. The dueling lessons are enjoyable, and the Weasley twins’ escape from Hogwarts is fantastic. However, the best part of the film is when Harry and his friends travel to the Department of Mysteries and battle the Death Eaters.
Once Dumbledore and Voldemort arrive, the movie shines as they engage in one of the best magical duels not just in the Harry Potter series, but perhaps in all cinema. Unfortunately, fans did not see another duel like this, making Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix even more impressive.
