Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2007 · David Yates · 138 min · Fantasy
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix turns the series' longest book into its shortest film, and the compression leaves marks. Imelda Staunton's Umbridge is one of the franchise's great villains, Daniel Radcliffe finally commands the screen as a leading man, and the Dumbledore-Voldemort duel delivers a spectacular climax. But the rush to fit everything in leaves supporting characters stranded and narrative threads dangling. It's a film that works best as a chapter in a larger story rather than a standalone experience.