By Mariel Turner
8:11am PST, Nov 13, 2018
The Wizarding World franchise continues to grow with the release of the "Fantastic Beasts" sequel "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." In celebration of the movie's debut in theaters on Nov. 16, 2018, Wonderwall.com is counting down our favorite flicks from the "Harry Potter" universe. Keep reading to see which film comes in at No. 1!
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No. 9: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1" is a quality film, but it comes in last on our list because of its sluggish pacing. The 2010 movie focuses on the first half of J.K. Rowling's final "Harry Potter" book, which means it ends in the middle of the story. Harry, Hermione and Ron are on the run from Lord Voldemort and searching for the evil wizard's horcruxes, a plot that came across to many as simply a setup for the final film. Nevertheless, "Deathly Hallows" was a huge moneymaker, earning $960 million worldwide.
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No. 8: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
Coming in at No. 8 is the second "Harry Potter" installment, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." The 2002 movie was an enjoyable film, but also the longest movie in the franchise at 161 minutes. It has been critiqued for trying to fit too much of the book into the movie and having a "studio" feel that was maybe a little disingenuous. "Chamber of Secrets" still had enough thrilling magic to bring in the big bucks at the box office, however, as it earned $879 million worldwide.
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No. 7: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was a solid entry into the extended Wizarding World universe. The 2016 "Harry Potter" prequel introduced a whole new cast of characters, a new villain and all-new magical creatures to know and love. While it might not have been as vibrant as other "Harry Potter" movies, it still had enough magic to please longtime fans and newcomers alike. "Fantastic Beasts" — which grossed $814 million worldwide — was the first Wizarding World franchise film to win an Academy Award (it took home the Oscar for best costume design).
No. 6: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is a magical adventure that provided a wonderfully written, nearly stand-alone story for audiences. The fourth "Harry Potter" installment focuses on Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts as he is chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. While "Goblet of Fire" had excitement, sophistication and daring action sequences, some have said the movie was a little too far removed from the central storyline. Nevertheless, the film went on to become the highest grossing movie of 2005, earning $896 million worldwide.
No. 5: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
Cracking the top 5 is the 2001 film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Sure, the first "Harry Potter" installment might not have had the best acting (child actors, anyone?) or the most thrilling CGI action, but the original movie truly captured the extraordinary phenomenon that is Harry Potter. We loved the enchanting Christmas scenes, the endearing image of Harry receiving his Hogwarts letter and a host of other moments that warm our adult millennial hearts. "Sorcerer's Stone" was a huge hit, grossing over $974 million at the box office worldwide.
No. 4: "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
Coming at No. 4 is "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." The 2006 film is fantastically dark for a children's movie but also has light-hearted moments of humor and fun. The sixth "Harry Potter" installment focuses on Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts as he receives a mysterious textbook, falls in love and attempts to retrieve a memory that holds the key to Lord Voldemort's demise. "Half-Blood Prince" received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, grossing $934 million worldwide.
No. 3: "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is No. 3 on our list thanks to its intense storytelling, emotionally compelling scenes and dazzling special effects. The third "Harry Potter" installment delves into the lives of other beloved characters besides the Boy Who Lived and shows just how high the stakes are now that Lord Voldemort has returned to full power. We nearly cried out loud when *spoiler* Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, is killed. Like many of the Wizarding World movies before and after it, "Order of the Phoenix" scored big at the box office, earning nearly $940 million worldwide.
No. 2: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2" was the perfect way to close out the "Harry Potter" series. The final "Potter" installment had it all: an epic showdown between good and evil, stunning special effects, heartbreaking stories, amazing acting and magical moments that thrilled audiences. The 2011 movie, which focuses on Harry's mission to take down Lord Voldemort once and for all, is the 10th-highest grossing movie of all time, earning over $1 billion worldwide. "Deathly Hallows — Part 2" was also the highest grossing film of 2011 and the highest grossing movie in the "Harry Potter" series.
No. 1: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
And now for our No. 1 pick… "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"! The third "Potter" installment is literally the best of the best. The 2004 flick successfully bridged the gap between the family-friendly tone of the first two films and the more nuanced story of the later films. "Prisoner of Azkaban" was daring and dark, flawlessly directed and spell-binding from start to finish. The universally acclaimed movie, which follows Harry's third year at Hogwarts as he learns that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, earned a whopping $796 million worldwide.
