A good movie captivates its audience right from the first minute. But what about Harry Potter? We looked at all eight opening scenes of the films, ranking them. Which ones are simply iconic, and which are rather boring?
What makes the scenes so special? “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number 4 Privet Drive were proud to be perfectly normal, thank you very much.” That is the first sentence of the “Harry Potter” books. We will take a look at how it appears in the film later.
Even this short quote probably causes considerable nostalgia for many fans. At least it always does for me when I dive into the story of our lightning-scarred hero for what feels like the hundredth time. It shows well how important a good start can be for a story.
This applies, of course, to movies as well. After all, the opening scene is the first thing we see. Ideally, it creates suspense or sets the tone for the movie. It, in a sense, sets the stage for what is to come. Will it be dark, action-packed, funny, or rather relaxed?
What was the ranking based on? We looked at how well the respective first scenes of the “Harry Potter” films fulfill this task. Which scenes are generally the best or even iconic?
- By the way, we consider anything that is temporally and spatially directly related as one scene.
Even if we try to argue objectively, the assessment is ultimately a matter of personal taste. So please let us know your opinions in the comments. What is your favorite opening scene, and which one do you like less?
Rank 8: A Dark Hogwarts
- Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” marks not only the end of the film series but also, unfortunately, the end of this ranking. The film starts just as the previous part had ended. We see Voldemort taking the Elder Wand from Dumbledore’s grave. A lightning bolt to the sky, and the Warner Bros. logo appears.
This fits well with the film. After all, it is about the final battle against Voldemort, where the Elder Wand plays a central role. Furthermore, the repeated scene emphasizes that it is a two-part film that should not be viewed alone.
On the other hand, the opening scene is quite unremarkable since we are already familiar with it. The next shot, where we see Snape gazing over the now dark Hogwarts, is somewhat more intriguing. But even that isn’t particularly groundbreaking. Hence, the last place.
