2004 · Alfonso Cuaron · 142 min · Fantasy, Adventure
Alfonso Cuaron transformed Harry Potter from a faithful adaptation into genuine cinema, bringing visual poetry and emotional depth that elevated the entire franchise.
2001 · Chris Columbus · 152 min · Fantasy, Adventure
The film that launched a billion-dollar franchise earns its place through faithful adaptation, perfect casting, and a sense of wonder that still holds up decades later.
2016 · David Yates · 133 min · Fantasy / Adventure
Fantastic Beasts works best when it follows Newt Scamander into his suitcase and lets the magical creatures steal the show. Eddie Redmayne's gentle, eccentric performance and Dan Fogler's warmth as Jacob Kowalski give the film a charm that the darker subplots can't quite match. The 1920s New York setting is gorgeous and the creature design is inventive, but the Obscurus storyline and a shoehorned franchise setup weigh down a film that would have been better off staying small. It's a pleasant return to the wizarding world that hints at more than it delivers.