10 Best Non-Wizarding World Movies of the Main Harry Potter Trio, Ranked Find help us

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25/12/2024

The HBO Harry Potter remake has begun searching for its cast members, leading to speculation over who will take on the three main iconic roles. Three new young stars will be catapulted to global fame, much like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint before them. Playing such famous characters presents many opportunities but also comes with significant baggage. It can lead to type-casting or become a shadow from under which the actors never quite escape.

Nevertheless, Harry Potter‘s golden trio have done a decent job of broadening their careers beyond just the Wizarding World, taking on various roles in other genres, as well as jobs outside of show business entirely. With this in mind, this list will look at the best non-Harry Potter movies that Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint have starred in. They run the gamut from Disney films and feel-good drama to zany horror and eccentric biopics, each demonstrating a new side of the stars.

10

‘Into the White’ (2012)

Rupert Grint

“War doesn’t care if you’re friends, enemies, or just people who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Into the White (aka Cross of Honour) is a World War II drama movie loosely based on a true story set during the German invasion of Norway. It follows a group of British and German soldiers who are forced to work together to survive after their planes are shot down in the wilderness. Grint has a major role as Gunner Robert Smith.

Overall, the movie is fine if a little unoriginal, retreading well-trodden ground and declining to take any real storytelling risks. The characters, while serviceable, are underdeveloped, undermining much of the possible drama. Still, it’s nice to see Grrint stepping outside of his comfort zone with a war film, especially so soon after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. It shows he’s willing to experiment, a trait he has consistently displayed throughout his post-Potter roles, especially in television.

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9

‘The Bling Ring’ (2013)

Emma Watson

Image via A24

“I was just, like, so fascinated by all of this. You can’t even imagine.” One of Sofia Coppola‘s most polarizing works, The Bling Ring is a satirical crime drama based on real-life events following a group of teenage thieves who break into the homes of celebrities. Emma Watson plays one of them, the Hollywood-obsessed Nicki. She and her pilfering pals quickly become consumed by the materialism and instant gratification of their actions, ultimately spiraling out of control.

While flawed, The Bling Ring is probably somewhat underrated, with some smart commentary on fame, entitlement, and the reality TV-ification of the media. It’s also a nice snapshot of the late 2000s/early 2010s when our current world of ubiquitous smartphones and social media was still in its early stages. Watson’s performance is one of the movie’s highlights, both cynical and comedic, proving that she was more than just Hermione Granger.

8

‘Driving Lessons’ (2006)

Rupert Grint

“I’m not scared, I’m just… confused.” In this cozy comedy-drama, Grint plays Ben, a shy and awkward teenager who begins to break free from the overbearing grip of his overprotective mother (Laura Linney). After enrolling in a driving school, Ben finds himself learning not only how to drive but also how to navigate the complexities of adulthood, relationships, and self-identity. His instructor (Julie Walters) becomes an unlikely mentor, guiding him through the ups and downs of life.

The result is a heartwarming (if slightly predictable) coming-of-age story. It’s elevated significantly by Walters, who does a lot to flesh out the character and make her seem larger-than-life. Rupert Grint is also very good in his role; this is arguably his best screen performance to date. For all these reasons, Driving Lessons winds up being a lot better than it might seem on paper.

Driving Lessons

Release Date: September 6, 2006
Director: Jeremy Brock
Cast: Laura Linney
, Rupert Grint
, Julie Walters
, Michelle Duncan
, Oliver Milburn
, Tamsin Egerton
, Nicholas Farrell
, Jim Norton
, Chandra Ruegg
, Rose Keegan
, Ricky Champ
, Jacques Kerr
, Annabelle Apsion
, Iain McColl
, Don Wetherhead
, John Yule
, Rita Davies
Runtime: 98 minutes

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7

‘Horns’ (2013)

Daniel Radcliffe

“I didn’t ask for this, but I’m not afraid of it anymore.” Horns is a dark fantasy horror based on Joe Hill‘s terrific novel, where Radcliffe plays Ig Perrish, a young man who is falsely accused of the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple). After a night of drunken despair, Ig wakes up to find that he has grown horns on his head, granting him the ability to compel people to confess their darkest secrets.

From here, Horns turns into a blackly funny adventure, as well as an exploration of anger and guilt. While not quite as good as the book, Horns is still enjoyable, and Radcliffe’s central performance is strong. The author was a big fan of the star’s work, saying, calling it a “wrenching, vulnerable, emotionally naked performance that isn’t like anything he’s ever done on screen before.” It was also an early indication of Radcliffe’s interest in character acting, as well as his willingness to take on strange, challenging roles.

Release Date: October 30, 2014
Director: Alexandre Aja
Runtime: 123minutes
Writers: Keith Bunin

6

‘My Week with Marilyn’ (2011)

Emma Watson

“Sometimes, I think the world is full of people trying to push me into a box, and I just want to explode out of it.” This biographical film dramatizes the brief but intense affair between Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) and Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), a young man who worked as a production assistant on the set of The Prince and the Showgirl. Watson has a supporting part as Lucy, a wardrobe assistant who forms a bond with Colin while navigating the whirlwind of Monroe’s celebrity status.

The finished product is charming, if not especially memorable, with a slightly underwhelming story but good performances and a lavish recreation of the 1950s. (The costumes, in particular, are wonderful.) Watson said she accepted the gig because the character was “really interesting and had a really good character arc and was really well formed even though it had a few scenes.”

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5

‘Knock at the Cabin’ (2023)

Rupert Grint

“We’re not here to hurt you. We’re here to make sure the world doesn’t end.” Another somewhat divisive movie, M. Night Shyamalan‘s Knock at the Cabin is a psychological horror thriller about a family staying at a remote cabin when four strangers break in, demanding that one of them be sacrificed to prevent the apocalypse. Not everybody like the movie’s third-act revelations, but taken as a whole, it’s an engaging watch.

Grint turns in one of his strongest performances as one of the intruders, whose increasingly unstable behavior adds to the growing sense of fear and paranoia. This is another example of the actor commendably trying something new. Grint is suitably chilling and volatile here, a far cry from the amiable Ron Weasley. Another notable part of the movie is the fact that the characters respond to extraordinary circumstances with a refreshing sense of logic and humanity. They mostly act like real people rather than plot devices.

Release Date: February 3, 2023
Runtime: 139 minutes

4

‘Little Women’ (2019)

Emma Watson

“Nothing is too much for a woman who knows how to think for herself.” Greta Gerwig pours her personality into this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott‘s classic novel. Little Women follows the four March sisters—Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Watson), Beth (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy (Florence Pugh)—as they navigate the challenges of growing up during the Civil War. Watson is the oldest of the sisters, who must reconcile her romanticized desires and ambitions with the realities of love and adulthood.

The rest of the cast is unbelievably stacked, including the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Bob Odenkirk, and Laura Dern, yet Watson successfully holds her own. It helps that Gerwig gives Meg far more agency than she’s ever received, making her as integral to the plot as Jo and Amy. In addition to the top-notch acting, the movie boasts a welcome amount of energy and pep, helping to dust off this well-worn narrative and make it entertaining once more. Not for nothing, the film received six Oscar nods, including for Best Picture.

Release Date: December 25, 2019
Cast: Emma Watson
, Timothée Chalamet
, Bob Odenkirk
, Florence Pugh
, Eliza Scanlen
, Abby Quinn
, Lilly Englert
, Chris Cooper
, James Norton
, Sasha Frolova
, Meryl Streep
, Saoirse Ronan
, Laura Dern
, Louis Garrel
Runtime: 135 minutes

3

‘Swiss Army Man’ (2016)

Daniel Radcliffe

“Man, you’re so beautiful, it’s disgusting.” Swiss Army Man is the most bizarre movie in Radcliffe’s post-Harry Potter career, taking his character acting to the extreme. Here, the former boy wizard plays a dead body that washes up on a beach. Hank (Paul Dano), a stranded man, discovers that the corpse has a range of abilities, from turning into a boat to providing survival tools. From here, Swiss Army Man quickly escalates into a surreal exploration of friendship, loneliness, and the desire for connection.

This movie could easily have collapsed into a baffling mess, but instead, it’s playful and quirky, thanks to the Daniels‘ visual ingenuity and the committed performances. Radcliffe is up for anything, utterly unafraid to look foolish on screen. It very much shows that Radcliffe hopes to escape the Harry Potter label, one offbeat role at a time. It’s easy to see why Swiss Army Man has already become a cult film.

Release Date: July 1, 2016
Runtime

2

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ (2022)

Daniel Radcliffe

“I just want to be as famous as I can be.” This wild biopic imagines the life of parody musician “Weird Al” Yankovic, with Radcliffe in the lead role. The film takes an exaggerated and humorous approach to Yankovic’s rise to fame, including absurd depictions of his relationships, his struggle with success fame, and his “feud” with Madonna (Evan Rachel Wood). Weird: The Al Yankovic Story‘s eccentricity and outlandish humor (in keeping with Yankovic’s music) make it an entertaining romp that blends fact with fiction, ultimately celebrating Yankovic’s unique contributions to pop culture.

The script gives Radcliffe a lot to work with, and he shines, resulting in arguably his most acclaimed performance (he was nominated for a ton of awards, including the Primetime Emmy). Radcliffe’s comedic timing is spot on, and he even learned to play the accordion for the role. Who knew that the boy lived would make such a great King of Parody?

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Release Date: September 8, 2022
Director: Eric Appel
Runtime: 104 minutes
Writers: Eric Appel

1

‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ (2012)

Emma Watson

“We accept the love we think we deserve.” Claiming the top spot on this list is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is probably the overall strongest project by a Harry Potter star. Based on Stephen Chbosky‘s beloved coming-of-age novel, the movie features Watson as Sam, a free-spirited high school senior who befriends the shy and introspective Charlie (Logan Lerman). It’s a tender study of friendship, mental health, and the struggles of growing up.

The movie is both stylish and thoughtful, taking its characters seriously and handling their issues with a light touch. The dialogue is fantastic, and the leads rise to the occasion with layered and affecting performances. Watson, especially, makes Sam remarkably complex, both energetic and insecure, and miles away from Hermione. The Perks of Being a Wallflower now rightly has a cult following, and, despite being set in the ’90s, remains a defining artifact of the early 2010s “Tumblr era”.