Harry Potterwrapped up the whole world in its academic magic, but one movie stands out above the rest, and it may not be the one you think. With Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger,theHarry Pottermain characterswere destined to captivate multiple generations. From the millennials who grew up with their story to the parents who read it to them before bed,Harry Potterfans have long debated the movies, and there seems to be huge contention in the fandom as to the best and the worst.

English author J.K. Rowling wrote and releasedtheHarry Potterbooksfrom 1997 onwards, resulting in the 2000s Warner Bros. movies and decades' worth of fans comparing the two formats. While some fans prefer the more faithful movies, others prefer the more adult movies. Indeed, the series grew up along with its cast and audience, going from children’s books to a YA series. And others prefer the deep nostalgia ofthe first twoHarry Pottermovies, with their baby-faced first and second-year Hogwarts students, but surprisingly, the highest-rated movie is the last.

Harry and Ron standing in the destruction of Hogwarts castle in Harry Potter.

Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 2 Is The Highest-Rated Harry Potter Movie

By theend ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, it was clear that the movie would divide fans, yet it has the highest rating of them all on IMDb. Some fans struggled to reconcile the epilogue, which was remade after harsh feedback, with their ideas of the story. Also,the movie deviated from the book quite heavilyin some regards. However, on IMDb, the lastHarry Pottermovie has an audience score of 8.1, beating its predecessor, which has 7.7. As is often the case, the loudest voices are often the dissatisfied ones.

As such, while manybook readers lamented the many departures of the movie from the book series' canon, it appears to be quietly the case that the vast majority of viewers actually loved the movie.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanis also very highly rated, coming in at 7.9, but the other films range from 7.4 to 7.7.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Twohas 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that audiences were probably right to love it. FromVoldemort’s involvement with the Deathly Hallowsto his well-deserved death, the lastHarry Pottermovie was memorable.

Harry Potter Franchise Poster

Is Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 2 Really The Best Film In The Franchise?

It’s Hard To Definitively Pick The Best

Although IMDb ratings suggest thatHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2was the best movie, the film that is generally accepted asthe fan-favorite isHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Among the Potterverse movies, it is one of thedeeper explorations of the Marauders, the wildly popular student group composed of Harry’s father, James, Sirius, Remus Lupin, and Wormtail. It is also one of the most moving, and it demonstrated a real transition away from children’s storytelling into something more complex. Plus, by this time, the Golden Trio had really gotten into the swing of things.

However,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanhas a lower audience score on IMDb thanHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and a lower Rotten Tomatoes score too. With just 91% on Rotten Tomatoes,it is clear that fan discussion on online forums doesn’t necessarily translate to the perspectives of the everyday viewerand critics. The Malfoy family almost found an odd sort of redemption, and the mind-blowing Snape reveal was top-notch spy thriller material in the lastHarry Pottermovie. It really is a seminal piece of cinema and the best of the bunch.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.