Daniel Radcliffe Ranks ‘Harry Potter’ Movies and Shares Unexpected Picks
Daniel Radcliffe has shared a fresh look back at the Harry Potter films, giving his personal ranking of the series and naming both his favorite and least favorite entries. The comments came during an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Instead of giving a simple list, Radcliffe went through the films in a step-by-step comparison format, choosing between pairs until a final winner was decided. The discussion started with the first two movies. When asked to pick between Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, he chose the second film. He explained his choice by saying, “I would take Chamber of Secrets out of those two because I love the Basilisk.”
The next comparison was between Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. Radcliffe admitted the choice was difficult and said many fans would not agree with him. He said, “That’s actually tough. Um, I know…everyone wants me to say Azkaban. I know that’s how everyone else feels, but I love the stuff I got to do on the fourth movie was awesome,” before picking Goblet of Fire.
He then moved on to Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince. In this round, Radcliffe gave a clear answer. He chose Order of the Phoenix and placed Half-Blood Prince at the bottom of his personal list. He said, “Order of Phoenix, far and away. Half-Blood Prince is probably the bottom of the bracket for me.” He also added that he still thinks the film is good, but his ranking comes from personal feelings.
In the final stage, Radcliffe chose between Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows Part 2. He picked the final installment as his overall favorite in the franchise, giving the conclusion of the story the top spot in his ranking.
Radcliffe also spoke about how his view of the older films has changed over time. He said he used to feel uncomfortable watching his younger performances. He explained, “I would cringe watching the earlier films. Now I think the early films are sweet, and now I cringe watching myself when I was 18 or 19.”
The interview also touched on his broader career after the Harry Potter films. Radcliffe recently appeared in the sports mockumentary series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, which premiered in 2026.
It is interesting that Radcliffe’s ranking does not match what most fans usually say. Many viewers often choose Prisoner of Azkaban as the best, so his pick of Goblet of Fire stands out. It also shows how actors see their own work differently from audiences because of their personal experience during filming. What do you think about his choices? Do you agree or disagree with his ranking? Share your thoughts in the comments.
