The Harry Potter franchise is one of history’s most successful film franchises, having spawned not only movies but also merchandise, games, and even a few sections of theme parks. Then, of course, are the bits of dialogue that made the movies famous in the first place. As a coming-of-age story, Harry would frequently be given words of wisdom or be present when someone said something particularly witty. He was also sometimes the one who would say such things.
As the main character of the series, it makes sense that Harry would take part in some of the verbal fun side of the movies. Now comes the real question though: which of his lines were the best out of all the movies. Fans have their favorite moments, naturally, and all of them are valid. Some lines resonate more with certain people than others. With that in mind, here are some of Harry’s best lines over ten years of cinema.
1 Harry Realizes That Hogwarts Is His True Home
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
I’m not going home — not really.
At the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, as all the Hogwarts students board the train to go back to their families, Harry makes an important realization. Even though he had been thrown into immense danger during his first year, something more important happened on the school’s magical campus: Harry finally found a real family.
After his first year at the school, Harry now had friends and people who genuinely cared about him. To leave Hogwarts was to leave them all behind for a time and return to people who didn’t care for him at all. With that sobering realization also came the comforting idea that he would only be gone from his true home for a few short months.
2 Someone Finally Tells Hagrid How Much They Care "It's Not Hogwarts Without You, Hagrid."
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
It’s not Hogwarts without you, Hagrid.
During the final scene of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Hagrid returns from his brief stint in Azkaban after being falsely accused of opening the chamber. Luckily, thanks to Harry Potter and his friends, the school’s groundskeeper had his innocence proven when it was revealed that Voldemort had opened the Chamber of Secrets, setting up a heartwarming welcome from Harry upon Hagrid’s return.
The moment itself encapsulates what Hogwarts is to Harry: his true home, where his family resides. Hagrid was a part of that family, and when his happiness was threatened, Harry went ot extraordinary lengths to save him. This included finding a part of the castle that had been hidden for centuries and confronting one of the most dangerous creatures in the wizarding world. Though his heartfelt greeting to Hagrid held all the love in his heart, it also represented just how far Harry would go for someone he cared about.
3 Harry Potter Takes the Marauders Pledge
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
The passphrase for using the Marauder’s Map might be the single most reused bit of dialogue in the entire Harry Potter franchise. While it is not an original line the films’ protagonist came up with, it is a statement that resonates with his lineage, as his father was one of the talented young wizards who created the map in the first place.
James Potter’s keepsake would come in handy many times throughout the story of the Harry Potter franchise, but it is also the first hint at what kind of student his father was — gifted, to be sure, but also someone who had a penchant for getting into trouble. While Harry was no stranger to this, his brand of troublemaking was almost always in pursuit of some greater good. As many fans of the series will note, James Potter was not always a decent person, especially during his childhood. So, while this line might connect him to his father, it was also the earliest glimpse into the idea that Harry’s idealized perception of his parents might not have been so accurate.
4 Harry Pauses for a Moment to Appreciate His Gifts
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
I love magic.
One of Harry Potter‘s most endearing quotes comes early in the narrative of The Goblet of Fire. This moment happens as he steps into the tent that he and the Weasleys will be staying in during the Qudditch World Cup, only to discover that the tent was significantly bigger on the inside.
The line «I love magic!» wasn’t just a statement that gave life to Harry’s thoughts; it also functioned as a summation of the film’s audience, who by that point had been following this cast of characters for the better part of four years. Harry’s moment of joy gave fans their best opportunity to feel what it was like to be in his shoes, and although the rest of The Goblet of Fire is jam-packed with action, this moment captures the joy of the Wizarding World just before it takes a steep turn for worst in the second half of the franchise.
5 Harry Potter Tells Voldemort Why He Will Never Win
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
You’re the weak one, [Voldemort]. You will never know love or friendship, and I feel sorry for you.
Harry’s discovery that his and Voldemort’s minds were linked by their mysterious connection raised many questions about how he would repel these unwanted intrusions, especially since he was so bad at occlumency. Of course, his teacher was Severus Snape, so it wasn’t exactly like he got a fair shot at learning under him. Still, when Voldemort did possess Harry, all seemed lost for a moment, as Harry could not resist his presence within his mind.
That is, of course, until he started thinking about the people he loved. Love was anathema to Voldemort. To feel it was to experience great pain. Realizing this, Harry finally understood how fundamentally broken Voldemort actually was and even found it in his heart to pity the man who had murdered his parents. This final act of compassion is what drove Voldemort out of his mind and cemented Harry as a young man with a heart of gold.
6 Harry Briefly Succumbs to a Bit of Vanity
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
But I am the Chosen One!
While Harry was figuring out who to take to Horace Slughorn’s party in The Half-Blood Prince, Hermione decides that it is the time to explain Harry’s recent popularity with other students at Hogwarts, many of whom were flocking to the series’ protagonist after learning about his role in the war against Voldemort. Harry’s status as the «Chosen One» has made him the object of affection for many of the girls at Hogwarts, so much so that one of them, Romilda Vane, tries to brew a love potion for him.
Harry was so shocked by this amount of attention that Hermione had to snap him out of it to remind him that it was not something to be proud of, since they only wanted his affection because they believed he was the chosen one. At this point, Harry uttered, «But I am the chosen one!» prompting Hermione to hit him over the head with a newspaper. Harry apologized for the vain comment, but the funniest part is that he was technically right. He was, in fact, the chosen one, but Hermione was not about to let that go to his head.
7 Dolores Umbridge Finally Receives Her Due Punishment
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1 (2010)
You’re lying, Dolores. And one mustn’t tell lies.
There are few things as cathartic as watching an abuser get knocked down a peg or two, and that’s exactly what happened when Dolores Umbridge signed on with the Death Eaters. Unlike most of the Ministry of Magic’s original staff, Umbridge did very well under Voldemort’s regime, happily prosecuting Muggleborn wizards and witches under false charges to elevate herself within the new hierarchy. Her actions undoubtedly led to countless deaths and permanent mental damage to her victims who survived. So, when Harry confronted her about her many lies, it was all the sweeter.
Two years prior, Umbridge had repeatedly injured Harry by forcing him to carve «I must not tell lies» into his skin with a magic quill. The «punishment» was outright abuse and clearly showed what kind of person Umbridge was. So it was no surprise that she ended up joining the dark forces and reveling in tormenting so many. Watching Harry call her out on her hypocrisy and then immediately stun her was something so many fans wanted to see.
8 The Boy Who Survived Intertwines His Destiny With He Who Shall Not Be Named
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 (2011)
Come on, Tom. Let’s finish this the way we started: together.
While Harry’s final confrontation with Voldemort in the films deviated a bit from how it occurred in the books, it was still nice to see Harry standing up to Voldemort in a way that he hadn’t before. Up until The Deathly Hollows, Voldemort was this invincible, highly dangerous being to avoid, but thanks to his failure to kill Harry for the second time, the Dark Lord’s rage started to poke holes in his perceived invulnerability. Now, he was just a monster throwing a tantrum, and by this point, Harry was entirely done with his posturing.
In the final conflict of the Harry Potter franchise, Harry knew that Voldemort’s end was approaching. Calling him by his birth name — a name that Voldemort hated because of his Muggle father — Harry used his knowledge of the villain to provoke Voldemort into isolating himself from his allies. Harry’s ploy worked, and though he didn’t know it at the time, Voldemort’s final Horcrux was only moments away from being destroyed, resulting in the villain’s death mere seconds after.
