In many cases, readers know perfectly well that books are superior to their film adaptations, and the Harry Potter series is no different. Whether it was Ginny's personality, the omission of Luna's friend mural, or the specifics of the final battle, there are many details that fans were disappointed to see changed in the films.
However, there are still many redeeming factors for the movies. From slight alterations to completely new stories, there are nuances within the films that some fans prefer over the books, and Redditors have taken to sharing some of their favorites.
Nice One, James!
Harry had a very brief reunion with his long-lost godfather, however, they still shared some very lasting wholesome moments. One of these is in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when Sirius and Harry are fighting alongside one another in the Ministry, and Sirius says to him, "Nice one, James!"
The moment is heartwarming as it not only once more reminds Harry that he reflects his father's looks and bravery, but also since it shows audiences that Sirius sees his friend living on through Harry. Redditor TopTopTopcina thinks this scene from the movies was executed very well, symbolizing "a huge part of Harry and Sirius’s relationship."
Harry and Dumbledore Apparating
The books and movies alike repeatedly made Dumbledore a very humble individual when it comes to his immense power and authority. Despite being one of the most powerful wizards to ever exist in the Wizarding World - not to mention having faced both Grindelwald and Voldemort - he often downplays his own abilities. This is why Dumbledore's moments of cockiness and acknowledging his position are so much more appreciated.
Reddit user IHeartStuffLegoFluff really enjoyed how "they adjusted how Harry and Dumbledor got to the cave in HBP. The simple statement of Dumbledore 'Well, being me has its advantages.' It just reminds you so perfectly how powerful he truly is. You're just like 'yeah, I buy it. He's Dumbledore.'"
Bellatrix LeShattered
Despite many unpopular opinions about Molly Weasley, she is undeniably a fierce witch and a very devoted mother, meaning that if anyone messes with her children, they better watch out. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, this means Bellatrix Lestrange, who goes after Ginny until Molly intervenes and finishes her off. A fitting end for a horrible and ruthless death eater.
Redditor Avaracious7899 preferred the movie's portrayal of that scene over the books, stating that they "actually prefer Molly shattering Bellatrix outright rather than just Stun-freezing her heart. It's not a big deal, but it just looks more satisfying with how awful Bellatrix was as a person, and it makes better fodder for jokes..."
The Price of Being Ron
Ron Weasley often gets flack from his older siblings, particularly the Weasley prankster twins, Fred and George. Even as they get older and eventually run their own very successful joke shop, Fred and George's relationship with their younger brother never changes, accurately representing the older vs. younger sibling dynamic.
Reddit user AlwaysTheRae thought this was especially true in the scene from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when the twins double the price for Ron from five to ten galleons: "Fred and George were slightly kinder to Ron in the books (removing the Knut) but the movie made this scene way more iconic."
Harry Encouraging Dumbledore's Army
Harry's had to grow up quicker than a lot of his fellow classmates, given that the fate of the Wizarding World was placed upon his too-young shoulders as soon as he stepped into it. Despite this burden, he uses this extra maturity and responsibility to mold himself into a leader worth following.
Reddit user Connected-VG points out an altered moment in the Order of the Phoenix film that showcases this well: "Harry's outburst about what it's like to face real danger outside the classroom. I thought it was more powerful that he said all those things in the movie to the whole DA group instead of just Ron and Hermoine."
Not-So-Humble Harry
Despite his vastly different priorities and responsibilities, at the end of the day, Harry is still a teenager trying to navigate normal coming-of-age problems, such as relationships and dating. This is showcased especially well in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Hermione mentions Romilda only likes him for being the Chosen One and Harry rebuffs "But I AM the Chosen One!"
It's a favorite movie moment for fans, such as Redditor TopTopTopcina who stated that the scene makes them "laugh every time. Harry isn’t a typical teen at all due to everything he’s been through, but this moment made him more human and relatable."
Francis the Fish
Although Horace Slughorn is a complex person, he does have many redeeming moments that establish him as one of the nicest Slytherin characters, such as his immense care for his students. Case in point: the story he tells Harry about Francis the Fish in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
As explained by Reddit user whalehello_, Slughorn tells Harry "the story of how lily (as a student) gifted him a bowl of water with a lily floating in it that transformed to a fish when he walked up to it, and the fish died when lily died" - a very emotional scene that made many film watchers tear up and add to their list of moments won by the films.
Freeing Dobby
Dobby was undoubtedly one of the best characters in the films, even with many of his best book scenes being cut from the movies. His pureness, resourcefulness, and overall cuteness made him a memorable elf and the entire fandom mourned his death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. One of his other most unforgettable and quotable scenes is when he receives his freedom in the form of a sock.
Redditor Few_One commends Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for executing this scene better than the book: "When Harry tricks Lucius into liberating Dobby. In the film, the sock is inside the diary while in the books, Harry puts the diary inside the sock which is pretty weird," making Dobby's emancipation in the film much more surprising and impactful.
Harry and Hermione's Dance
There are many reasons Hermione was actually Harry's best friend, such as how they keep one another grounded, motivated, and loved during their tumultuous times. However, their friendship is also full of immense trauma, with far too few moments of carefree happiness than they deserved.
This is why the scene of them dancing in the seventh film is all the more important and cherished. Reddit user life_uh_findsaway93 says they loved that scene as it's "sweet and seeing them kind of 'let loose' for a minute reminds the viewer that they're still technically kids while trying to save the entire wizarding world. It brings it even more into perspective the enormity of the task on their shoulders."
I Must Not Tell Lies, Professor
Dolores Umbridge is easily one of the most hated characters in the Harry Potter series. With her merciless dictator-esque rule on Hogwarts, she was arguably a bigger villain than Voldemort in the fifth film, which is why the scene of Harry and Hermione leaving her with the centaurs was so monumental.
Redditor juicy-barber quotes Harry's iconic "I'm sorry Professor, but I must not tell lies" as one of the best movie moments that beat the books, with IHeartStuffLegoFluff agreeing and saying they "always forget that it's not part of the book," given how great of a moment it truly is.