Hello!
I’ve finally done it. I’ve finally streamed all the Harry Potter and Studio Ghibli movies thanks to the wonderful streaming platform that is HBO Max. I’ve never paid for a streaming platform until now. While I do enjoy leeching off of my friend for Netflix, HBO Max is way more my cup of tea. I love its vast library of old films, along with the largest variety of high-quality shows. It can easily be a time-sucker, but in the era of Covid-19, all we have is time.
We’re more than half a year in, and things in this world still haven’t gotten better. Riots are still going on, injustices run wild across the nation, and the pandemic shows no sign of stopping. Times like this are when we ought to pray to God, do good to one another, and encourage one another in sensible, pragmatic fashion. One sensible thing you can do for your own edification is…to watch great movies!
I know that can come off as facetious, but I really do see value in the magic of cinema during times like this. It’s a transportive method of immersing yourself in worlds that aren’t as dreary as reality. It allows us to take a brief moment to enjoy the lighter things in life, and gives us time to reflect on the blessings that we actually have. During this quarantine time, I had an immense pleasure going through two big catalogs of “magical cinema.”
I’ve grown up watching Studio Ghibli films, but out of their vast library I only recall one or two with vivid memory, the rest really faded from my memory. The same goes for the Harry Potter movies. I only saw each one once, and forgot most of it (I only read books 1 and 3 before stopping). This was largely a blind watchthrough of all of these movies, and I’m here to give you the definitive, opinionated ranking of all of these magical films that made my quarantine not so sucky.
Harry Potter Movies Ranked (From Worst to Best)
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
I think the fact that this is the longest HP film in the franchise is directly tied to being my least favorite of the series. One common complaint I had going through most of the HP movies was that they all start off pretty slow and take a long time to really pick up. This is the prime example. It’s got a pretty decent mystery throughout, even if there were a lot of exposition dumps at times.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This one was actually pretty close to being my least favorite, mainly because of the annoying subplots that went nowhere (Ron’s “breakup” with Harry and the meandering extracurricular activities), but the best thing about this movie was that it was the funniest. It also sets up for a darker sequel, which I think is pretty cool for a kids series. Also, ultra-negative points to whoever thought it was a good idea to give everyone women’s hairstyles from the 1970s in this movie. This is easily our cast of characters at their most awkward looking phase.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Follow up the movie where everyone looks the most awkward with the one where everyone looks the cutest! I thought this was a delightful start to the franchise—it does start off a little slow, but the unraveling of a magical society so close to the real world as we know it builds plenty of intrigue for what’s to come. Much like many of the films in this series, the first half has a lot of exposition and lore-dumping, but the characters are memorable and get you excited for the rest of the films.
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Prior to rewatching all of the HP movies, I actually recall Half-Blood Prince being one of my favorites in the series. I think this one did not age as well. The teen angst in this movie was a bit too overpowering for me, and I don’t think anything meaningful happens until the last act in the movie. I was also incredibly annoyed with the cinematography. The shots themselves are great and look really different from the rest of its predecessors, but oh my goodness I was so put off by how literally DARK this movie was. If it wasn’t pitch black, it was sepia-toned to the max. I was so baffled by the filters being put on this movie, and I think this may be one of the only movies I’ve ever seen where I was put off by the coloring of the film. Thankfully the ending (mostly) redeems the film, and sets up yet another exciting sequel.
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Now prior to rewatching all of the HP movies, I recall THIS one being my favorite in the series. I remember loving how edgy it was, and how it set up the stakes in such dramatic fashion for its epic conclusion. Upon rewatching, I found the film to be heavily padded with scenes that just did not add much to the overall progression of the story. However, there are great character moments as a result of seeing the crew going on this long journey together, and it’s really great seeing them come together.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
It’s a pretty satisfying conclusion to the series! Again, much of the movie feels like a ton of exposition to get things out of the way, which at this point feels a bit more grating because they’ve had 7 films prior to this to do that, but nonetheless it is still rewarding to see the final showdown. The buildup to the end was always going to be more interesting than the ending itself, but I think it’s done in a way that is still enjoyable without coming off as too cliche.
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
It probably comes as no surprise that this is one of my favorites of the franchise, as it is many others. Alfonso Cuarón certainly makes the most distinguishable directorial mark on any of the films in the series, and it shows. It’s easily one of the best looking films out of the bunch, and the darker and more dramatic tone fits his style. Gary Oldman of course is wonderful, but woefully underused. I was really surprised that this film was rated PG, especially given how creepy the Dementors were. This remains one of the best stories of the series and Cuarón helmed it with the pedigree of excellence that we’ve come to know from him.
1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Now, I’m pretty surprised that this one is my favorite, considering that I think it may be the lowest rated one in the franchise. Maybe it goes to show how little of a HP fan I am. Regardless, I thought this film was great! I think the teen angst was at a near-perfect balance as the film begins to show the characters maturing and taking on more responsibility, revealing their growth in a very grounded and believable way. I think it feels the most blockbuster-y in the action sequences as well, which is great for a series where wizards kind of just wave their wands at each other. Umbridge is a fantastic villain that you absolutely love to hate as well. I also liked that the film gave more scenes to the side characters that the audience wouldn’t really know much of otherwise. Overall, I was pretty surprised with this one being my favorite since I didn’t have a memorable reaction to it the first time.
Well, that’s it for the HP franchise! Overall, I don’t think any of the films are incredible or even fantastic, but I had a really fun time going through them. It’s a great series of films to immerse yourself in, and that’s coming from someone who isn’t really big on HP. With Studio Ghibli however, I found a large chunk of these films to be absolute masterpieces. Keep in mind that I didn’t see absolutely everything from the Studio Ghibli library, but HBO Max had like 95% of them so I’ve seen most of them at this point. Onto the next ranking!
Studio Ghibli Movies Ranked (From Worst to Best)
21. Tales from Earthsea
OOF. This one is a legitimately BAD movie. This is the first SG film to be directed by Legendary Auteur Director Hayao Miyazaki…..’s son, Goro. There’s a notorious story of Hayao going to see his son’s premiere of this film…and walking out halfway through. If you go on YouTube you can literally see this legendary icon of a man completely destroy his son’s work with his criticism…and it’s heartbreaking. I can’t say I would have walked out of the theater, but man I had a reaaaallly hard time finishing this film. Goro certainly received a raw deal from this film, as it’s based off on a series of books crammed into one movie. It certainly feels that way, as there is just a ton of exposition that does not lend itself to the overall story at all. It feels like the film tells two different stories—one of pure world-building purposes, and the other between the actual characters. They seem to be completely distant from one another, and it’s just a really jarring experience to see in a film. The main protagonist is also one of the worst I’ve ever seen from an animated movie, as he’s completely pathetic and unlikable. Thankfully, Goro redeems himself (and earns respect from his father) in his follow-up film, which will be later on in this list!
20. Ocean Waves
I didn’t find out until after finishing this film, that it’s based on a TV series that received a film adaptation. I’m not sure it would have made me enjoy it any more though, because this one was also pretty rough to get through. None of the characters were likable, and they all seemed to make such irrational decisions. For a film that is firmly based in reality (unlike many SG films), this stood out even more so.
19. The Cat Returns
This one has all the hallmarks of a straight-to-DVD movie. It’s much shorter than the rest of SG’s movies, and it’s based off of a very small character from another SG film, Whisper of the Heart. It’s in large part a very harmless film, but clearly lacks the quality and prestige of your typical SG film. I guess the best thing about this film is that it made me dislike cats less? Cats are alright.
18. When Marnie Was There
This is one of SG’s more recent films, and not directed by Miyazaki. It’s certainly a very pretty looking film, and relatively straightforward. It’s hard to talk about this one without spoiling it, but the last third of the film is straight up bonkers, and kind of took me out of the film. There are a lot of repetitive scenes in this film as well that didn’t really cause me to get invested in the characters, but there is certainly an emotional heft to this film that will soften even the hardest of hearts.
17. The Wind Rises
Miyazaki’s first appearance on this list. I can understand why fans were slightly disappointed with him after announcing that he was going to retire from making movies, with The Wind Rises being his last. This is easily his weakest film so far. It’s one of the only Miyazaki movies that I didn’t love. Miyazaki has a deep affection for planes and aeronautics in general (which can be seen in many of his films), and this one is just pure indulgence for him. I think this film serves as a pretty powerful metaphor for the decisions you make in life, and is very reflective of Miyazaki’s career as well. While I didn’t find this film particularly interesting or emotionally compelling, it was still something I could find appreciation in. The animation is stunning as usual and that’s always a reason to watch SG films.
16. My Neighbor the Yamadas
This is just a straight up goofy movie. It’s got an interesting comic strip aesthetic, and the whole film seems like a series of Sunday morning comic strips as well. There isn’t really a central story, but rather you catch bits and pieces of the family dynamics, which generally works to its benefit. However because there’s no central narrative, it does overstay its welcome a little. It’s still funny and interesting enough though.
15. The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Another SG film with a really interesting aesthetic. The whole film looks like a beautiful painting, and it’s fitting for a film based around Japanese folklore. Isao Takahata is the second best director at SG, and he has a knack for creating wonderful coming-of-age films. While this isn’t his best effort and this film also felt a bit too long for me, it was a very beautiful film.
14. From Up on Poppy Hill
It’s so hard to talk about this film without spoiling it. Without dancing around the subject too much, lets just say that SG has a tendency to to “bait” their viewers into thinking a film’s about something, when it’s not. When Marnie Was There and Ocean Waves both do this, but this one is definitely the most…uncomfortable. This is Goro’s second outing after the disastrous Tales From Earthsea, and I’m glad that for the most part, he was able to craft a much more complete and competent film. You’re only able to truly enjoy the film after you realize what it’s about, but the majority of the film I was pretty uneasy watching it.
13. Whisper of the Heart
This is a solid coming-of-age film as well! SG really excels in doing this, and while this one is perfectly fine, it’s still considered one of the “weaker” ones. The characters are charming, but I felt like the film didn’t capitalize on the main character’s imaginative mind like it has shown to do in other SG films. This film also has one of the most surprising implementations of the song Take Me Home, Country Roads. Who would have thought?
12. The Secret World of Arrietty
This was my first non-Miyazaki SG film during my marathon binge, and I was a bit nervous because of how high in quality his collection of films were. However, this one was solid! I absolutely loved the world of this film, and how SG is able to make the regular world seem like such a foreign and mystical place. The animation was fantastic, which really doesn’t need to be reiterated at this point. What was off-putting about this film was the weird music choice, as they decided to go with more vocalized songs. Not only that, but the songs were in English. I watched all the films in Japanese, so it was pretty jarring. The “villain” of the movie was also kind of odd and had poorly developed decisions as well. I still had a pretty good time with this movie nonetheless.
11. Ponyo
This is clearly the most kid-oriented film by Miyazaki. I remember not liking this the first time I saw it, but really grew to appreciate it more so this time around. It’s cute, it’s got an interesting world, and all of the characters are adorable. It’s a good film to watch with kids, where the parents can get something out of it too. The thing I love most about this film is how Miyazaki portrays the parents and their view of their children’s imagination; they never question how absurd their children are, but simply go with it and feed off of their energy. It’s a small touch that really enhances the charm of the film, because it makes everyone seem like they’re on an adventure together as opposed to the typical distance put between parent and child in these types of films.
10. Pom Poko
Finally cracked the top 10! This is when Studio Ghibli’s movies get a HUGE jump in quality. I’d say the last 5-6 films before this were decent to solid animated films, but this is when it gets REALLY good. Pom Poko is straight up one of the most absurd animated films I’ve ever seen, and I was all for it. It is so ridiculous and hilarious, I could not believe someone would make a film about it. It’s basically about raccoons trying to fight against humans for control of their homes, and they do so with the use of very interesting tactics. The less you know about it, the better. This is another Isao Takahata film, and it’s clear that he’s got some of the secret sauce that Miyazaki has.
9. Spirited Away
This is often considered to be SG’s best film to westerners. I remember not getting it when I first watched it, and even now I can’t say I understand it. There’s a lot of wild imagery and allegory that might leave the viewer lost, but it’s still fantastic when you kind of let go and just enjoy the ride Miyazaki takes you on. This is SG flexing their animation muscles, because there’s a lot here to enjoy and be in awe of. I can actually see this getting better and better upon repeated viewings.
8. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
This was the first film I watched when I began my Studio Ghibli marathon binge, and wow, what a film to start with. Absolutely adored this film, and the world that Miyazaki built from it. Miyazaki has always had a knack for creating well-developed female protagonists, waaaay before it became a political agenda in Hollywood. Princess Nausicaä is such a fantastic character and her fight to save humanity is so well realized in a world filled with big disgusting looking bugs.
7. Kiki’s Delivery Service
What an absolutely heartwarming and charming film. This is the coming-of-age genre in animation at its highest caliber, mixing the world of witchery and the real world together in such a seamless and believable way. There’s very little to dislike about this film; it brings such positive vibes and it feels so thematically rich even though there is actually very little plot. Watch this film if you’re ever depressed.
6. Porco Rosso
My brother is actually a huge SG fan, and he’s told me that Porco Rosso is his favorite. All I remember about this film is that it’s about a pig who flies planes. How can that be his favorite film? Now I can see why. Porco Rosso is straight up incredible. This is hands down SG’s and Miyazaki’s most underrated film. Miyazaki takes such a simple story and enriches it with wonderful and memorable characters, captivating music and animation, and a whole lot of gut-busting humor.
5. Only Yesterday
This is easily Isao Takahata’s best film. It’s the second non-Miyazaki film to make it into the top 10, and MAN is it a good one. It came out in 1991, but didn’t really hit American theaters until only a few years ago. The American public sorely missed out on this incredible coming-of-age film. It reminded me a lot of western films, particularly Greta Gerwig’s indie hits, but with a Japanese setting. This film is so ahead of its time in the way Takahata creates scenes for characters to just talk without much happening on screen. This is probably one of the most grounded films in the SG collection, but its story is told with such maturity and grace that you can’t help but love it.
4. Howl’s Moving Castle
I remember not having much of an impression after seeing this when it first came out. After rewatching it this time, I just wanted to jump up and down and punch myself because of how wonderful and magical the experience was. I absolutely adored this film. Miyazaki AGAIN creates such an incredible world filled with wonder, and I love how he handles his female characters. I think the western approach to empowering female characters is very one-note, with the whole idea that a female character is just as cool as a male character if she can be as strong or as dominant as a man. In this film, Miyazaki leans heavily on the main character’s motherly qualities, and does it in such a graceful and empowering way. I absolutely love Miyazaki’s female protagonists. They are just so well realized and charming.
3. My Neighbor Totoro
How else can you describe this film other than masterpiece? This film is pure escapism from the depressing and dreary world that we live in. Totoro has ascended as one of the most iconic figures in animation, and its crazy that Totoro is not even the best part of this film. It’s the relationship between the sisters, and their relationship with their parents as well. Of course, Totoro is pretty freakin’ incredible as well. I don’t know how to describe this film other than it is pure magic and happiness. It’s one of the best animated films of all time.
2. Princess Mononoke
I have to admit with all shame that I’ve never seen this film before, and I feel terrible for saying that. This, along with Totoro, is probably the epitome of what makes Hayao Miyazaki a legendary director. This film has all of the signature trademarks of Miyazaki’s and Studio Ghibli’s vision in animated films—a badass and well-realized female protagonist, a masterfully constructed world, a deeply thematic and nuanced story with morally gray undertones, and enrapturing music. I think there is a lot of objective evidence one can use to argue that this is Miyazaki’s best movie, and I’d totally understand it. It is nearly flawless in its presentation on all fronts, and deserves to be seen by everyone at least once.
1. Castle in the Sky
Out of all of the Studio Ghibli films I’ve seen over the years, this is really the only one I remember from childhood. I actually never really understood the film until years later, because I grew up watching it in Japanese with Chinese subtitles. Even though I couldn’t actually understand any of the dialogue, I think inherently I still knew what the film was about. There’s a lot of arguments you can make about how Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro are better films, but to me Castle in the Sky will always be my favorite. It epitomizes everything I love about Studio Ghibli, whether it be the unforgettable music, brilliant fantasy setting, or the characters that you initially dislike but grow to love. BIG shoutout to music composer Joe Hisaishi, who I didn’t want to repeatedly mention in almost every SG film, even though he deserves it. A lot of the heart of each film comes from his genius music composition. I don’t think any director does it better than Miyazaki when it comes to showing multi-dimensional characters. None of Miyazaki’s movies ever have an incredibly complex story, but you always feel like you get so much more out of it because of the love and care that he treats his story and characters with. When you watch films like this, it’s easy to believe that magic exists.
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