3 most underrated Harry Potter movies

The Harry Potter movies remain one of the most popular and beloved movie franchises in the world more than two decades after it began. Of the eight movies in the film series, though, three are definitely underrated according to their Rotten Tomatoes scores.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the highest-rated of the series. We shared the list of Harry Potter movies starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint based on their critical approval scores:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - 96%
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 90%
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 88%
4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 84%
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 82%
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 81%
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 78%
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 - 77%

As you can see, all of the Harry Potter movies are considered good, but this ranking is all messed up, especially when you factor in the audience approval rating as well.

We shared our list of the most underrated Harry Potter movies starting with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the best of the Harry Potter movies. You won't convince me otherwise. It's the most ambition story in the whole series, and Alfonso Cuaron's direction was a welcome addition to the franchise.

Unfortunately, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has a lower audience and critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes than Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I don't really understand why either. Sure, that movie is great, but is it the best movie of the franchise? With those flaws? I think not. And, again, I really like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, but it's just not as good as all of the highs of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

The third Harry Potter movie introduces us to so many good and important characters, including Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) and Sirius Black (Gary Oldman). It raises the stakes, and it flips everything we knew about the Harry Potter story on its head, which shapes the course of the rest of the series. It also has the best twist and reveal in the Harry Potter series until the very end. Sirius Black actually being the good guy was such a surprise!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is definitely one of the top three or four movies of the franchise, but according to the Rotten Tomatoes critical score, it only ranks sixth out of the eight Harry Potter movies. It has a lower critical score and audience score than Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which is a travesty. Like, what?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the most iconic of all the Harry Potter movies. Those old enough to experience the magic when it was released in theaters know what I'm talking about. Not only was this movie an event, but it was the building block for this whole franchise.

If they missed on the first Harry Potter movie, what happens next? Does it go the way of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief? We'll never know.

In terms of story, sure, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone might not be as riveting. The performances are much better later in the franchise, but it's still such a good movie. Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint were so young, but they did so well, honestly, in that first movie when you really think about what was asked of them.

Most importantly, this movie proved the magic is real.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

While Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has a good critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth movie of the Harry Potter franchise has one of the lowest audience approval ratings at just 74%. That's way lower than even Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. I honestly can't believe that. Those are, without a doubt, the two worst Harry Potter movies.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the better Harry Potter movies, to me. There's a definite shift to a much darker story at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In many ways, this is the movie that sets up the second half of the story. It acts as the midpoint and bridge to the end of Harry Potter and Voldemort's battle, but it also raises the stakes with Voldemort's return.

Plus, it's just a fun story! A wizarding competition against other schools? Harry trying to solve the mystery of how he was included in the event at all? It's good! I really like most of the elements of this film, although there are a few that aren't so good. That doesn't mean it should be the lowest-rated of the Harry Potter movies, though. It's definitely in the top 3 or 4!