Few franchises are more popular than Harry Potter. The film adaptations of the eponymous series were a major part of 2000s culture, launching a multimedia franchise that remains beloved by audiences worldwide. The saga has lost some of its luster because of the real-life controversies surrounding people involved with it, but as a pure work of fantasy fiction, it remains important and considerably influential.
All eight movies are quite enduring in their appeal, largely because of how immersive and enchanting they are. Because most cover an entire school year, there is an obligatory Christmas portion, which has made them perennial holiday favorites for many. However, as previously stated, the Christmas aspect is just a fraction of the overall movie, which begs the question: which movie makes the most with its Christmas sequences? Sure, there’s at least one Christmas scene in seven of the eight movies, but only a few truly capture the distinct cheer audiences usually look for in their holiday classics.
8
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (2011)
Opening this list is the eighth and last Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. On its journey to the big screen, the last book in the series was split into two, with the first one covering about 70% of the plot. Thus, the sequel adapted the last 30%, which mainly included the main trio’s assault on Gringotts and, most notably, the climactic Battle of Hogwarts against Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his army.
Because the Battle takes place at the end of the typical school year, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 includes no Christmas sequence. The split was ultimately for the better, allowing the final film in the Potter saga to be a larger-than-life battle between good and evil, even if it came at the expense of the series’ traditional formula.
7
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
The sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is among the darkest chapters in the series. With Voldemort’s threat looming large and the Wizarding World descending into chaos, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself going down a dark path, including dangerous spells, aided by an old Potions book belonging to the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Meanwhile, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) slowly reveals new details about Voldemort’s past.
The Christmas scenes in Half-Blood Prince are just ok. In Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione (Emma Watson) attend a party hosted by the new Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent), which is fun but mostly forgettable. At the Burrow, Harry gets closer to Ginny (Bonnie Wright), but their fun is cut short when the Death Eaters attack, burning the house and leaving everybody shaken. The film lacks the usual Christmas vibe, thanks to the overall bleak tone and the washed-out cinematography. By far, the least memorable Christmas in the Potter movies.
6
‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
The second Potter movie is generally considered among the most forgettable in the saga. Whether that sentiment is fair or not is up to each fan, but it’s undeniable that the movie is not as great as its predecessor or its successor. The plot sees Harry facing a dangerous plot in Hogwarts after someone opens the Chamber of Secrets and lets loose a monster on the castle. As the victims pile up, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione must race against the clock to save the school.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was also directed by Chris Columbus, meaning it has the same child-like approach as the first movie in the saga. The stakes are lower, allowing for a more family-friendly adventure, which includes Harry and Ron taking Polyjuice Potion to transform into Crabbe (Jamie Waylett) and Goyle (Joshua Herdman) to try and coerce a confession out of Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), whom they believe opened the Chamber. Aside from the overall Christmas atmosphere of seeing Hogwarts draped in snow and ornaments, there isn’t much cheer in this movie. Still, the scenery is undeniably Christmas-y, so it gets a pass.
5
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
As the first adventure since Voldemort’s return, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a point of no return for the Boy Who Lived. With the Wizarding World launching a campaign against Harry’s claims regarding Voldemort’s return and Hogwarts under the iron rule of the odious Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), Harry and his friends take matters into their own hands to prepare for the war to come.
The Christmas in Order of the Phoenix is quite tragic. Arthur Weasley (Mark Williams) suffers a gruesome attack courtesy of Voldemort’s snake, Nagini. Luckily, Harry’s mental bond with Voldemort allows him to witness the attack, alerting the others and saving Arthur’s life. The reunited Weasley family celebrates Christmas with newfound gratitude, to Harry and to life itself. Sure, the whole situation is dangerously close to being ruinous, but things work out in the end, allowing for a Christmas that’s all about togetherness and being close to one’s family. If that’s not Christmass-y, then what is?
4
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the movie where everything changes for Harry. After being mysteriously drafted into the prestigious Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry must undergo a series of intense and potentially deathly tests that put him in constant danger. Meanwhile, a plot brews behind the scenes that will culminate in the return of the most powerful Dark Wizard to ever live.
Goblet of Fire has one of the bleakest plots in the series, but at least the Christmas scenes are charming. The main event is the Yule Ball, where the students get their first taste of romance. Hogwarts Castle becomes something out of a fairytale, a true winter wonderland that will make everyone wish they could attend the Ball. Sure, the rock band is out of place, and the teen drama can get a tad tiresome, but all in all, the Christmas sequence in Goblet of Fire is among the saga’s most memorable and distinct, much like the film itself.
3
‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ (2010)
As previously mentioned, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 adapts the bulk of the eponymous novel, covering from the summer all the way to the spring. It’s essentially a long road movie that sees Harry, Ron, and Hermione abandon the comfort and relative safety of Hogwarts to embark on a journey to the unknown, hoping to retrieve and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes in an effort to rid the Wizarding World of his influence.
Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is the most singular Potter movie, breaking the established formula and throwing its protagonist into a world of constant danger and pain. The mood is miserable, and the scenes set at Christmas are no exception. Harry and Hermione are alone, since Ron abandoned them following an argument. The pair share a gloomy dance in their makeshift tent before taking a trip to Godric’s Hollow to visit Harry’s parents’ grave before narrowingly escaping an attack from Voldemort’s snake, Nagini. These scenes are melancholic but strangely suitable for Christmas, the cinematic equivalent of listening to “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Yes, there’s not a ton of cheer, but Christmas can also be about the pain of remembering those who are no longer around. It might not be enjoyable, but it’s part of life nonetheless.
2
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Often considered the best Potter movie, Alfonso Cuarón‘s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the point where the series stops being a childhood tale and evolves to become something darker. The plot sees the dangerous criminal Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), the man supposedly behind the death of Harry’s parents, escaping from Azkaban prison. With Hogwarts at high alert and Harry at the center of it all, the Boy Who Lived must get to the bottom of a new mystery.
The Christmas scenes in Prisoner of Azkaban offer the perfect blend between mystery and genuine cheer. One moment, an angry and heartbroken Harry is learning about Sirius’ past with his parents, the next he’s laughing with Ron and Hermione while tormenting Malfoy with a snowball fight. The introduction of the town of Hogsmeade also takes the holiday atmosphere to a new level. Everything is cozy and inviting, like something out of a Christmas postcard. Cuarón and production designer Stuart Craig create a new frontier for the Wizarding World, one from which future Potter movies would greatly benefit.
1
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
When it comes to Christmas scenes, no Potter movie surpasses the original. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone sees Harry learning about his magical background and enrolling in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Alongside his new friends, Ron and Hermione, Harry will become involved with the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone, a powerful item that can grant immortality.
As the introduction to the Wizarding World, Sorcerer’s Stone goes out of its way to paint every corner of it in vivid detail. The Christmas scenes in this movie are the most famous in the saga. Hogwarts is dripping with enough holiday cheer and ornaments to put Harrods to shame, from giant trees to tables full of treats and banquets. Moreover, Sorcerer’s Stone includes one of the rare instances where Harry receives presents, most notably his famous Invisibility Cloak. No Potter movie has a Christmas as cozy or as inviting as the one in Sorcerer’s Stone, so if you’re looking for a movie to watch during the holidays, you can’t go wrong with this one.