As one of the most popular and influential franchises of all time, the Harry Potter films are loved by audiences of all ages. For some, though, it’s more than just a book-to-movie series. It’s individuality. Identifying your Hogwarts home has become almost synonymous with the horoscope, Myers Briggs and the Enneagram. Finding a saga with a similar cultural impact is difficult or impossible to find. It has inspired dreamers who wish they could exist in the wizarding world just for the sake of it.
Factors like these make it very difficult to find a movie that even comes close to Harry Potter, but they are there. Without further ado, Harry worth watching if you need more magic in your life Here are some movies like Potter.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010)
While not necessarily considered a good movie on all counts, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a fun movie for youngsters looking for a silly adventure story. Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage) is one of his three apprentices to the famous wizard Merlin, but has been forced over the centuries to search for Merlin’s true successor. Especially given that this movie had a lot less time to build its story world, especially if Nicolas Cage enjoys what he does (in this case, corny yet funny acting). A lore interesting enough to keep viewers engaged.
read us The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Review or dive into our list The best Nicolas Cage movies.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
One of the most fun examples on this list, in what is considered a children’s movie, is Percy Jackson and the Gods of Olympus: Lightning Thief. The film was also adapted from the popular Young Adult book series, though not as widely loved as Harry Potter. The story follows a young boy named Percy (Logan Lerman) who, when accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt, discovers that he is a descendant of a Greek god and fights against a classic mythical foe. It follows sending him on a journey of self-discovery. While the film is definitely made for children and young adults, it utilizes the lore in a surprisingly clever and fun way, modernizing Greek mythology in a fun way.Percy Jackson: His story called Sea of Monsters There is also a second movie, but the film adaptation ends there.
read us thunder thief review Or dive into upcoming updates percy jackson series.
Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)
One of the best and funniest movies on this list is Howl’s Moving Castle. This is Hayao Miyazaki’s wonderfully magical and original animated story from the heart that establishes a whole new universe of lovably complex characters and creatures. When young and timid Sophie is cursed by a witch to become an old woman, she runs into a stubborn and reckless young wizard named Howl. The themes and imagery may be a bit disturbing and adult-oriented, but the multiple subplots and established canon are enough to draw nearly any audience into this wonderful story.
See the list of best studio ghibli movies More like this.
The Seventh Son (2014)
While some might consider it a completely unnecessary and complicated tale of random, magical happenings, Seventh Son still holds some delightful details worth discovering. When Queen Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore) escapes from the prison where Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) put her in, he has to recruit another apprentice. all. The story is a little disjointed and has plot holes, but the characters and creatures are original enough to hold your attention.
read us Seventh Son review.
Doctor Strange (2016)
Perhaps the thematically farthest film from Harry Potter on this list, Doctor Strange steps into Marvel territory turning magical universes into superhero tales. When the ingenious neurosurgeon of A.D.A. was in a life-changing car accident, he sought out mystical art to heal himself, but discovered a lot about himself and the universe at large. The basics of magic in this movie are quite different, but it opens up the imaginary possibilities of what magic can do in such a universe.
read us Doctor Strange review.
Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Based on the children’s book series of the same name, The Spiderwick Chronicles achieves its goal of entertaining its target audience: children. When the Grace family moved into the Spiderwick Manor, formerly owned by Professor Arthur Spiderwick, their great relative wasn’t as crazy as he thought after encountering fantastical creatures in the nearby woods. I realized that it might be. The characters in the film aren’t as masters of magic as the Hogwarts students, but the concept of an interconnected magical world is always present, albeit a little less fun.
Read our review of The Spiderwick Chronicles.
Matilda (1996)
If the character Harry Potter was the most relevant and interesting part of the film series for viewers, Matilda could be an engaging and entertaining film. Matilda (Mara Wilson) has to live with her horrible and rude family and a ruthlessly cruel headmaster. Her magic doesn’t match the scale of the Harry Potter series, but just like Harry does throughout the film series, Matilda uses her powers in mischievous yet helpful ways.
Fantastic Beasts Series (2016-2022)
The closest thing to the real thing is the Fantastic Beasts movie series. This is a prequel series that focuses on Harry Potter characters deep within the existing canon. While the first film focuses almost entirely on the famous Hufflepuff wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his obsession with the magical creatures of the wizarding world, the magic and history of Hogwarts is yet to be explored. We have a lot. With young renditions of wizards like Dumbledore, the infamous Grindelwald, and other surnames, it is sure to be recognized.
read us Review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Another film based on the book of the same name, Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children’s Home is arguably second in the story universe after the Harry Potter series. Jacob (Asa Butterfield) A misguided soul named , follows her father’s mysterious trails to discover Miss Peregrine’s home for queer children. Where time stands still, the children are a little different and deadly creatures always lurk. Arguably one of the most (if not the most) creepy and disturbing films on this list. You can imagine this story as if Tim Burton were in charge of the Harry Potter series.
read us Review of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
Stardust (2007)
Magic isn’t the main focus of this fun and engaging film, but Stardust is full of great characters, imaginative hardships, and endless adventures. Tristan Thorn (Charlie Cox), from a small village on the border of a magical land, embarks on a quest to retrieve a shooting star for the woman he loves, but encounters more than he bargained for. The film’s compelling and diverse characters are pretty much what makes it great, with the added bonus of an exciting and romantic fantasy story that keeps viewers coming back for more.
read us stardust review.
