Only One Harry Potter Movie Grossed Over $1B, and It's the Worst Film of the Franchise
When Deathly Hallows: Part II was released, many fans considered it the best installment – after the slow Part I, they were watching the epic finale. 14 years later, there's no chance the movie can be called the best one, and here's why.
The films about The Boy Who Lived are among the top ten highest-grossing franchises in movie history. The last movie, the Deathly Hallows: Part II, made the most money, grossing $1.3B worldwide, which is understandable – everyone wanted to know how the long story of Harry Potter would end.
The Harry Potter franchise has become further proof that box office results do not always reflect the quality of the film – now, almost 15 years later, we can confidently say that the final film was the worst in the history of the franchise.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II Is a Large-Scale Action Movie With No Soul
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is a large-scale movie full of epic battles, which never slows down, from the opening scene to the epilogue.
The film wraps up all the major storylines and rehabilitates Professor Snape in the eyes of the audience. But behind the visual pathos and the constant "shoot-outs" with spells, there is no room for emotional experience – grief for the dead characters or the revelation of the survivors.
Reddit user chelisakoruna wrote:
“Awesome, beloved characters gettin their storylines/deaths glossed the heck over like Lupin and Tonks. We don't get to see Percy reunite with the Weasleys.”
Harry and Voldemort are reduced to functional characters in the finale, whose job it is to fulfill a prophecy, and their duel becomes just poking each other with laser pointers (just compare this scene to the battle in the Ministry of Magic in Order of the Phoenix).
They pale in comparison to Neville's heroics and the emotional catharsis of the Malfoy family storyline.
Deathly Hallows: Part II Is the Avengers: Endgame in the Wizarding World
The problem with the Harry Potter finale is that there is no time for the subtle psychological episodes and everyday moments that made the franchise so beloved in the first place.
The film operates by the rules of multimillion-dollar action movies. It is, by and large, Avengers, but in a fantasy world. And the movie turns into one continuous battle against the main boss, leaving a bittersweet aftertaste.
What Did Fans & Critics Think of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2?
Though a decade and a half later, it is impossible to call Deathly Hallows: Part II the best part of the franchise, it is this movie that still holds the highest scores from viewers and critics:
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On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has 96% from critics and 89% from viewers.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has a score of 8.1/10 on IMDb.
