More than a decade after the final film hit theaters, Daniel Radcliffe is still revisiting the Wizarding World — this time, with a full-on movie bracket.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, the actor ranked all eight “Harry Potter” films head-to-head, ultimately naming his favorite of the entire franchise.
Importantly, Radcliffe noted he was judging the films themselves — not his own performance in them — which led to a few surprising picks along the way.
Early Matchups Deliver Some Surprises
In the first round, Radcliffe made it clear that personal nostalgia and standout elements played a big role in his decisions.
When choosing between “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” he sided with the sequel.
“I would take ‘Chamber of Secrets’ because I love the basilisk,” he said.
One of his tougher calls came between “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” — widely considered a fan favorite — and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
“That’s actually tough. I know everyone wants me to say Azkaban… but I love the stuff I got to do on the fourth movie. It was awesome,” Radcliffe explained, ultimately picking Goblet of Fire.
A Clear Low Point — and a Strong Favorite Emerges
Radcliffe didn’t hesitate when it came to the middle of the bracket.
Between “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” he chose “Order of the Phoenix” “far and away,” adding that “Half-Blood Prince” sits at the bottom of his rankings — though he clarified that opinion was tied to his own experience, not the film itself.
Then came one of the easiest decisions of the entire exercise.
When asked to choose between “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” and “Part 2,” Radcliffe was definitive:
“’Part 2′ is my favorite of all of them.”
Final Round: One Winner Stands Above the Rest
GettyFrom there, the bracket narrowed quickly.
- “Goblet of Fire” defeated “Chamber of Secrets”
- “Deathly Hallows: Part 2” beat “Order of the Phoenix”
That left the final matchup — and Radcliffe didn’t hesitate.
Choosing between “Goblet of Fire” and “Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” he crowned the final installment as his top film in the entire franchise.
“Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” he confirmed.
Why His Pick Makes Sense
While fans may debate the rankings — especially with “Prisoner of Azkaban” falling early — Radcliffe’s final choice is hard to argue with.
“Deathly Hallows: Part 2” marked the emotional and action-packed conclusion to a decade-long journey, bringing the story of Harry Potter to a close in one of the franchise’s most widely celebrated films.
And for Radcliffe, it’s clearly the one that still stands above the rest.
