Due to his role as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe is an actor that has grown up before our very eyes. Consequently, Radcliffe has almost become synonymous with the titular, bespectacled wizard. That being said, it is because of this childhood commitment to one role that he hasn’t had as much opportunity to branch out as much as other actors. Nevertheless, the British actor has certainly started to showcase how talented he is as an actor, appearing in 2012’s the Woman in Black and 2013’s Kill Your Darlings.
This article will list his 10 highest rated movies according to Rotten Tomatoes, be prepared for several Harry Potter movies!
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix: 78%
Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix is the fifth installment in the Harry Potter film franchise and takes the tenth spot on this list. The movie is incredibly memorable due to its inclusion of the Dolores Umbridge character.
Umbridge was the cruel and passive-aggressive Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts who insisted on a teaching style that prohibited practical use of spells, largely due to the Minister for Magic’s worry that Dumbledore wanted to use students in a coup against the Ministry of Magic. The movie certainly deserves its spot in tenth place and features another great performance from Radcliffe in the titular role.
The Standbys: 80%
The Standbys is distinct on this list, not only because it’s a non-Harry Potter movie, but also because it is a documentary movie. The documentary covers the challenging and difficult jobs of Broadway understudies.
The Standbys brilliantly reveals untold stories from both understudies and celebrities (including Radcliffe and Zachary Quinto), that truly show how much work the underappreciated understudies invest in their vital role.
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone: 81%
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is, perhaps, the most important movie in Daniel Radcliffe’s career. It gave him his big break, at age 11, in the role of Harry Potter and kickstarted one of the most lucrative and loved movie franchises of recent times.
The movie introduced audiences to the magical world of Harry Potter, as well as to the iconic characters of Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson). While it isn’t the best Harry Potter movie, it is certainly one of the most influential and deserves its place on this list.
Harry Potter And The Half-blood Prince: 83%
The penultimate (if you count Deathly Hallows as one entity) movie in the Harry Potter series. This movie is the beginning of the end, both for the Harry Potter series and the childhood of the main characters. Harry is given more duties during this movie, most notably when he accompanies Dumbledore on a quest to destroy a horcrux. In addition, Potter also loses another potential ‘father’ figure in Albus Dumbledore.
This movie is one of the darkest in the Harry Potter series, forcing Harry and his friends to realize that they will no longer be able to rely on Dumbledore or Hogwarts for protection.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets: 83%
The second movie in the Harry Potter series and last to have Christopher Columbus as director. The Chamber of Secrets ramps up the dark factor in the Harry Potter universe. Students, ghosts, and cats are being petrified by an unknown entity and there are ghostly whispers that only Harry can hear.
This movie is genuinely a spooky watch, even more so when you add giant spiders and snakes to the equation. Furthermore, perhaps because of this spookiness, the movie is certainly an improvement over the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Imperium: 85%
Imperium is most likely Daniel Radcliffe’s biggest step away from the world of Harry Potter. The 2016 movie’s plot revolves around an FBI agent (played by Daniel Radcliffe) infiltrating a white supremacist gang.
Radcliffe does a stellar job of portraying a character who must construct a believable identity while also maintaining his own inner morals and beliefs. In addition to Radcliffe, the movie also stars Toni Collette in this gripping movie that pulls no punches when showing the audience the core of an ugly subculture.
Trainwreck: 85%
Trainwreck is a 2015 romantic comedy movie starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader. The movie revolves around Amy Schumer’s character who, after meeting Bill Hader’s character, slowly begins to wonder if monogamy may be a good idea.
While Daniel Radcliffe doesn’t have a huge role in the movie, his part is memorable. Radcliffe plays the role of a dog walker and is seen flirting with Marisa Tomei while surrounded by several adorable dogs. In addition to Daniel Radcliffe, Ezra Miller, Tilda Swinton, and John Cena also show up in this hilarious rom-com.
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire: 88%
The fourth installment in the Harry Potter series is a turning point in the overall story. The movie’s plot revolves around Potter and three other students, including a young Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory, competing in the Triwizard Tournament (a competition between magic schools).
Toward the end of the movie, however, it is revealed that Harry was only included in the tournament so that Voldemort could make his return. The movie truly is a watershed moment in the Harry Potter series as it brings Voldemort back to life and kickstarts the overarching plot that will continue through to the final movie.
Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban: 90%
The third installment in the Harry Potter series is also one of the more unique, for it is the only movie to not include an appearance by Lord Voldemort. However, the movie features a villain that is, perhaps, even scarier than the Dark Lord - the Dementor. These creatures are hooded figures with decaying hands that can suck the happiness out of a room and, potentially, they may even suck your soul out of your mouth, leaving you in a vegetative state.
In addition to featuring one of the most terrifying Harry Potter creatures, the movie is also a visual marvel under the direction of Alfonso Cuarón and because of this is a large majority of Potterheads’ favorite movie in the series.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part II: 96%
As the final movie in the Harry Potter series, the Deathly Hallows Part II certainly had a lot of expectations before its release. Fortunately for fans, the exception was met and the movie delivered, not only the highest rating for a Harry Potter movie, but also the highest rating for Daniel Radcliffe.
While fans were sad to see the series end, they were not disappointed with the movie, nor with Radcliffe’s performance who turned in another fantastic performance as Harry Potter in his final confrontation with Lord Voldemort.
