Harry Potter discourse is always divisive. Even when people aren’t talking about the creator’s shameful comments and actions against the transgender community, there is the never-ending argument surrounding which film is the best in the series. Some are huge fans of the first two entries, Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, due to childhood nostalgia and a more fantastical depiction of the world. Others will name Prisoner of Azkaban as their top choice specifically because of how it specifically deviated from the first two films’ tone, and then there are always those who love Deathly Hallows — Part 2 as the climactic finale that sees Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) finally vanquished.

However, while these are all solid installments in the iconic franchise, they do not come close to the best film in the series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1. The original choice to split the final book into two has led to other series, like The Hunger Games, doing the same to far less successful ends, but David Yates proved that it was the right decision for Deathly Hallows. The film stands above the rest in terms of its storytelling and successfully ambitious turn in the series that saw it embrace the magic in the most effective way possible.

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1’ is the Darkest Film in the Series

Deathly Hallows — Part 1 will always stand out because it is the only film in the series in which we do not visit Hogwarts, aside from a brief scene on the Hogwarts Express, where Neville (Matthew Lewis) stands up to Death Eaters looking for Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). In doing so, it immediately becomes a darker tale as neither the characters nor the audience feels that comforting return home that each film had given us in the build-up to the seventh installment.

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This darkness allows for the most adult themes in the entire series, which include some of the emotive lows. Hedwig, Mad-Eye (Brendan Gleeson), and Dobby’s (Toby Jones) deaths, along with George’s (Oliver Phelps) maiming, Ron’s (Rupert Grint) mental breakdown, and Hermione’s (Emma Watson) torture, all heighten the stakes throughout the film, making this feel less like a fantastical adventure and more like a real war. With Snape (Alan Rickman) watching an old friend being murdered at the hands of Voldemort before his eyes, readers of the books are also introduced to some of the most complex themes with Snape’s morality, surrounding his undercover duty.

‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1’ is the Best Display of Magic

This dark turn does more than just shock the audience. It serves to turn down the spectacle of magic and make Deathly Hallows — Part 1 a significantly character-driven plot. As much as the mission of finding and destroying the Horcruxes is important, it is the friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione that is truly at stake. This allows the trio to give the best acting of the series, as they are truly strained by the surrounding war, such as the explosive scene where Ron leaves. Without Part 1, Deathly Hallows — Part 2 would not have felt as emotionally impactful, as this narrative definitively confirms that none of these three will give up, no matter what, making the finale a complete do-or-die climax.

While it is the characters who take the front seat, Deathly Hallows — Part 1 is arguably where Yates and the special effects team finally perfected the use of magic in the Harry Potter world. There are practical uses, such as the raising of the tent for Bill Weasley (Domhnall Gleeson) and Fleur Delacour’s (Clémence Poésy) wedding, as well as Hermione’s never-ending bag of tricks, which make the world feel deeply magical in even the most mundane aspects. The magic also serves as a function of the plot, with the shielding spells and apparating providing key means of transportation and protection for the trio. Alongside this, Part 1 includes the coolest world-building through magic with the Tale of the Three Brothers that defines the Deathly Hallows themselves. It ties the entire saga together and makes the magic a necessity for understanding the stakes of the story.

Overall, there will no doubt be those who think I am completely in the wrong for expressing this opinion, and that’s okay. I will happily die on this hill and prove God himself wrong if I must. In the end, there are simply too many qualities to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 that allow it to stand above all the other films. If you are going to look for the most artistic, ambitious, and awesome film in the Harry Potter saga, then there is no other choice than Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.

Release Date

November 17, 2010

Runtime

146 minutes

Writers

Steve Kloves, J.K. Rowling

Producers

David Barron, David Heyman, J.K. Rowling