A Reference
Properly Cultured
🎥 MovieAges 10–11

The Harry Potter films

Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell, David Yates (dirs.) · 2001
British

Eight films across a decade. Watch each only after the corresponding book has been read; the books and the films are different works, and a child who sees the film first will rarely return to the page. Cuarón's Prisoner of Azkaban is the artistic high point of the series.

A note to parents

Frightening imagery escalates with each film, especially from Goblet of Fire onward. The Yates-directed later films are PG-13 in tone and should be saved for the older end of this stage.

Viewing options

Where possible we prefer high-quality restorations (Criterion Collection, 4K, etc.) over basic editions.