As much as we love to see wholesome moments shared between the trio, it’s the one-on-one wizard duels where the thrill of watching Harry Potter lies.
There’s no denying that 9 out of 10 book-to-movie adaptations fail to do justice to the author’s work. But where they lacked meticulous detailing, the Harry Potter movies made up through stunning visuals and an extraordinary performance from the cast.
Here’s a list of the 10 greatest wizard duels from the franchise’s 8 movie run.
10. Potter vs. Malfoy – Chamber of Secrets
Harry’s second year at Hogwarts introduces us to the concept of wizard duels. In a bid to teach students how to protect themselves, the two rivals were pitted against one another.
9. Sirius Black vs. Remus Lupin – The Prisoner of Azkaban
Although this was less of a wizard duel and more of a physical fight, watching the two friends fight was enough to make a grown-up cry. Sirius was able to hold his ground long enough for Harry and Hermione to escape.
8. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort – Goblet of Fire
This one scene was undoubtedly the turning point of the entire franchise. The end moments of the Triwizard Tournament weren’t cheerful, to say the least, but nothing could have prepared the audience for what came next.
In the fight that followed, green clashed with red; however, the twin cores of the two wands led to the appearance of Harry’s parents in the form of a protective spell, allowing him to escape.
7. Draco Malfoy vs. Harry Potter – The Half-Blood Prince
An actual duel between the two was inevitable from the first movie. With tensions running high during their sixth year, Harry chases Draco to the bathroom, where Harry uses Sectumsempra on him.
6. Harry Potter vs. Severus Snape- The Half-Blood Prince
Watching this scene for the first time is bad enough since one feels terrible for Harry. Radcliffe does a phenomenal job expressing Harry’s torment and frustration at Snape. But it’s worse knowing how Snape is perceived as the villain, despite all his efforts to protect Harry.
5. Molly Weasley vs. Bellatrix Lestrange – Deathly Hallows Pt 2.
While Ginny Weasley is seen fighting Bellatrix, Molly enters stage with the iconic “Not my daughter, you B*tch!” In the engagement that follows, Molly Weasley casts a spell straight to the heart, which was more than enough to wipe the cruel grin off Lestrange’s face.
4. Harry Potter vs. the Basilisk – Chamber of Secrets
It would be an understatement to say that audiences were impressed to see a 12-year-old Harry fight a fifty-foot snake. It’s a fight jam-packed with twists and emotions accompanied by stunning visuals.
3. Minerva McGonagall vs. Severus Snape – Deathly Hallows pt. 2
Had Professor McGonagall not stepped up that fateful evening, the Battle of Hogwarts would have ended before it even started. As the two professors dueled, it was clear that Snape could not have gotten away without hurting Minerva and chose to flee rather than fight.
2. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort – Deathly Hallows Pt. 2
The entire series boils down to this one pivotal moment where we see Harry and Voldemort fight as equals. With all his Horcruxes destroyed, Voldemort makes no mistakes in this fight.
Fortunately, the Elder Wand belonged to Harry, and thus Tom Riddle was overpowered and defeated.
1. Albus Dumbledore vs. Voldemort – The Order of the Phoenix
The clash between the two strongest wizards of all time is the most imposing display of skill in the entire franchise. What makes this fight stand out is the creativity both wizards use when it comes to employing objects around them to employ as elements of defense and assault.
