The Harry Potter film series is one of the best and most wondrous to hit screens so far this century. That is the kind of impact that J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' book series has generated. The worldwide phenomenon which centers on a British boy who attends a school for wizards enchanted legions of readers with its unforgettable characters, riveting narrative, engrossing world, and, of course, a wondrous system of magic spells.
The spells in Harry Potter cover a multitude of purposes, from completing mundane housework to self-defense to eliminating one's enemies with extreme prejudice. With the wizarding world still front-of-mind as a trending pop-culture series, it’s little surprise that the Harry Potter tale is set to be adapted for the small screen, with a seven-season series reportedly ordered by Max. While it remains to be seen if the series will be able to re-capture the captivating sense of movie magic that made the films thrive, it seems a safe bet that these iconic spells will feature in the show at some point.
Harry Potter
- Created by
- J.K. Rowling
- First Film
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- Latest Film
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
- Cast
- Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint , Emma Watson
All eight Harry Potter films are available to watch on Max.
20 Arresto Momentum
Slowing Charm
The slowing charm doesn't necessarily sound like the most important of enchantments, but it did prove to be effective when Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) used it to save Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Harry's third year at Hogwarts presented a drastic escalation in terms of dangers faced in the wizarding world, with the escape of the notorious Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) putting the young wizard's life in great peril.
With the dreaded dementors patrolling the school grounds, nowhere was safe for Harry, a fact evinced when Potter was attacked during a Quidditch match. Falling from his broomstick unconscious, Harry tumbled towards the ground before Dumbledore bellowed "Arresto Momentum" to slow his descent. The spell was absolutely imperative, while the scene as a whole helped establish The Prisoner of Azkaban as the darkest film in the franchise.
19 Levicorpus
Dangling Jinx
"Levicorpus", otherwise referred to as the Dangling Jinx, was an incantation that was adapted quite interestingly from the novels to the films. In Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry used it on Ron as a prank, resulting in his friend helplessly dangling upside down in midair as if he was being hoisted by his ankles.
In Professor Snape's (Alan Rickman) flashback sequence in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the spell appears to have the identical effect as a young James Potter (Robbie Jarvis) uses it to torment Severus. However, it is shown to have a different effect when Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch) casts it against a Death Eater in the film's climax, with the masked assailant being flung back high in the air. Despite its inconsistencies, "Levicorpus" is a famous spell, one which could even be cast non-verbally in the books.
18 Ascendio
Ascending Charm
A charm that was initially created for the films, "Ascendio" made its first-ever appearance in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry cast it to complete (and survive) the second task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Having rescued Ron (Rupert Grint) and Gabrielle Delecour (Angelica Mandy) from the Great Lake, Harry is being dragged deeper down by Grindylows and, with the effects of the Gillyweed wearing off, casts the ascending charm to propel himself out of the water.
J. K. Rowling incorporated the spell into Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald with Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) casting it in the French Ministry of Magic, resulting in towers rising from the floor to propel him upwards. The spell has become a popular one given it has only made a handful of appearances across all the Harry Potter entities, and it remains a fine example of the films' innovation and creativity.
17 Petrificus Totalus
Full Body-Bind Curse
Also known as the Full Body-Bind Curse, "Petrificus Totalus" is a spell that caused temporary paralysis to whoever was unfortunate enough to fall victim to it. The person under its effect would experience their arms snapping to their sides, their legs stiffening dead straight, and their petrified body collapsing as they were left completely immobilized. Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) famously used it on Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) when he caught her, Harry, and Ron sneaking out of the dormitory.
Neville himself also used the spell on a Death Eater during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, while Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) and Newt Scamander were other known users in the franchise. While handy in combat, the Full Body-Bind Curse was typically associated with young and inexperienced witches and wizards. Its slapstick effect helped make it a memorable spell from the films.
16 Bombarda
Exploding Charm
Another spell that was created specifically for the films, the Exploding Charm - as its name would suggest - sees the sorcerer effectively bomb whatever object their wand is aimed at. It first appeared in The Prisoner of Azkaban when Hermione cast it to break Sirius Black out of prison. In the novel, she used the unlocking "Alohamora" charm, but "Bombarda" gave the moment on screen more of an urgent, dramatic punch.
Additionally, the spell can be cast with varying levels of explosive impact, as was displayed in The Order of the Phoenix when Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) used the incantation "Bombarda Maxima" to burst in on Dumbledore's Army in the Room of Requirement. It has since been mentioned in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
15 Obliviate
Memory Charm
The magical community of Harry Potter relies on secrecy to protect themselves from the non-magical society of Muggles and to maintain peace between both worlds. As such, the Memory or Forgetfulness Charm is an invaluable asset that allows wizards and witches to erase memories of things, people, and events that they do not want to remain known.
However, this powerful spell could also just as easily be used for sinister intent, as was the case with Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) who abused his skill with memory charms to steal the achievements of others and paint himself a hero. While his narcissistic - and slightly hilarious - use of the spell certainly made it memorable, the charm also had a more somber side. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Hermione cast the spell on her parents to keep them safe from Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
14 Legilimens
Legiminency Spell
A spell used by Professor Snape in The Order of the Phoenix to train Harry to defend himself against Lord Voldemort, the Legilimency spell enabled the sorcerer who cast it to explore the mind of the target, allowing them to witness their memories and see their thoughts and feelings. The most effective use of the spell in the films came when Harry cast a shield against it while being mentored by Snape, giving him insight into Severus' mind.
It revealed how Snape was constantly bullied by Harry's father when they were students at Hogwarts, giving more context to Snape's complicated antagonism towards Harry. While the spell was used more prolifically in the novels, the manner in which the films employed it was impressively efficient, using its apparent flashback qualities to delve into character backstories with rewarding results.
13 Riddikulus
Boggart-Banishing Spell
With the Harry Potter films always having a penchant for comedy, few spells embraced the truly wondrous hilarity of Hogwarts and the wizarding world quite like "Riddikulus". The spell was used to combat boggarts, vicious shape-shiting creatures that would take the form of whatever its observer feared most. Vanquishing terror and unease with laughter, the Boggart-Banishing Spell would see the boggart change into something humorous.
An enjoyable hallmark of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class for third-year students, "Riddikulus" was famously used by Harry and his classmates in The Prisoner of Azkaban under the tutelage of Professor Lupin (David Thewlis). The highlight of this sequence was when Neville Longbottom transformed the imposing Severus Snape into Snape dressed as an old lady.
12 Imperio
Imperius Curse
One of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Imperius Curse sees the affected target succumb to the complete control of the spell caster. While its mind control effect is unsettling and often used for evil, it is by far the least used of the three Unforgivable Curses throughout the series.
Additionally, the films never exhibited it being used to its most devastating effect. Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant) displayed the Unforgivable Curses in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class while disguised as Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) in The Goblet of Fire and Harry cast it on a goblin in Gringotts in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Neither example came close to the most disturbing uses of the spell in the franchise's extended lore.
11 Accio
Summoning Charm
A spell of great convenience, "Accio" was a summoning charm that allowed the caster to call upon desired objects from virtually anywhere and have them brought to their current location. Harry used it twice while competing in the Tri-Wizard Tournament in The Goblet of Fire, firstly to summon his broom while facing the Hungarian Horntail before using it again to summon the Tri-Wizard Cup (which was actually a portkey) and escape Lord Voldemort.
Several other characters, from Hogwarts students to famed figures in the Wizarding World, have also benefited from this incredibly useful spell, with Newt Scamander using it on several occasions throughout his adventures. To be used successfully, the caster needed to clearly envision whatever it was they were trying to summon.
10 Reparo
Mending Charm
A spell used to mend broken things, Reparo would be an incredibly useful charm to have in real life. From putting together broken windows to making whole a shattered teacup, this straightforward and memorable spell has likely helped numerous Hogwarts students cover up accidents in the classroom. A variant of it – Oculus Reparo – is also famously used by Hermione to repair Harry's glasses more than once.
That said, the simple spell had clear limitations, and it was unable to fix things imbued with complex and powerful magic. Draco Malfoy learned this when he tried to use the Mending Charm to repair a damaged Vanishing Cabinet to no avail in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Also, it usually wouldn't fix magic wands either, with the sole exception being when the spell was cast from the Elder Wand.
9 Alohomora
Unlocking Charm
Proving itself to be one of the greatest assets to Harry Potter and his friends as they go about their misadventures, the "Alohomora" spell was one of the most used incantations throughout the film series. Requiring precision and concentration to be used effectively, the Unlocking Charm (as the name would suggest) enabled sorcerers to unlock things such as doors or windows.
Hermione uses the spell several times throughout the films to gain access to forbidden areas, like the entrance to the third-floor corridor of Hogwarts and to Regulus Black's bedroom. It was also infamously used by Lord Voldemort to break into the Potter household the night he murdered Lily and James and tried to kill Harry. As effective as Alohomora was, there was also an "Anti-Alohomora Charm" which rendered such unlocking spells useless.
8 Sectumsempra
Lacerating Curse
While there were plenty of spells in Harry Potter that have become staples of the series through frequent usage, there were a handful of other spells that made their mark due to their darker natures. A prime example of this was the mysterious "Sectumsempra" spell which Harry discovers in the textbook as being the creation of a wizard dubbed the "Half-Blood Prince."
When Harry and Draco Malfoy engage in a fight, Potter impulsively casts the spell and discovers it to be a Lacerating Curse, one which could have killed Malfoy had Professor Snape not shown up and reversed the curse's effects. The spell served as a pointed and shocking example of how dark Harry Potter could get, and has become a memorable incantation due to the mystique surrounding it and its shocking payoff, as well as the peek it offered into the psyche of the enigmatic Severus Snape.
7 Crucio
Torture Curse
One of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus Curse (also known as the Torture Curse) is used to inflict excruciating pain on the spellcaster's victim. It is surprisingly one of the most used incantations throughout the Harry Potter films and is used by some wizards that fans may not expect, including Harry Potter himself, who used it on Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) after she killed Sirius Black in The Order of the Phoenix.
While a confronting spell, the films never showcase it being used for too long, as the ramifications of the curse can be incredibly horrific. The most tragic tale of the spell was how it was used by several Death Eaters on Neville Longbottom’s parents for such a prolonged period of time that they descended into madness.
6 Lumos
Wand-Lighting Charm
The wizarding world's convenient and much cooler equivalent to the flashlight, the Wand-Lighting Charm was an ever-handy spell that turned the tip of a sorcerer's wand into a robust source of illumination. While it may not have been as awe-inspiring or extravagant as some of the other spells displayed throughout the franchise, it was a wondrously immersive, ubiquitous, and effective trick up every witch and wizard's sleeve.
A commonly used mainstay throughout the franchise, the simple charm has been firmly established in the Harry Potter iconography. Additionally, "Nox" was the incantation used to extinguish the light source. While folks in the real world can resort to a torch to get the same effect (making it one of the more useless Harry Potter spells), iPhone users can at least say "Lumos" and "Nox" to Siri to activate the flashlights on their own devices.
5 Stupefy
Stunning Charm
While there were a great many spells which were used regularly throughout the franchise, it was "Stupefy" which was most prolific, being used almost thirty times across the movies. A major reason for it being used on so many occasions was the Battle of the Department of Mysteries during the epic, perfectly executed climax of The Order of the Phoenix, in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione all used it multiple times in their fight against the Death Eaters.
Referred to as the Stunning Charm, the spell enabled the caster to temporarily incapacitate their target without dealing any serious or lasting damage, with the victim being rendered unconscious at worst. The non-lethal yet effective nature of the spell made it a favorite among the members of Dumbledore's Army.
4 Wingardium Leviosa
Levitation Charm
Making things float is a standard magical power in any fantasy universe. Harry Potter is no exception, with Harry and his friends having to learn the Levitation Charm as one of their most basic Hogwarts spells. Despite its simplicity, the charm has earned an iconic standing in the franchise due to the role it plays in establishing the close and enduring friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
In the beginning, Ron is frustrated as he struggles to grasp the correct elocution of the charm. His frustration was far from eased when Hermione, who breezed through the lesson with her trademark perfection and focus, turned her attention towards tutoring him. Later, when Hermione is attacked by a mountain troll, Harry and Ron rush to help her, with the latter ultimately defeating the monster using the spell and Hermione's advice.
3 Avada Kedavra
Killing Curse
The most notorious spell in the Harry Potter world, and the worst of the three Unforgivable Curses, "Avada Kedavra" was aptly designated as the Killing Curse as it caused instantaneous death to its target. It was the favored spell of Lord Voldemort, who used it to claim the lives of countless victims in the Harry Potter universe over the course of his reign of villainy.
As peculiar as the incantation sounds, the curse was no laughing matter, made distinct by its ominous green glow and the terrible immediacy with which it claimed the life of a victim. Making the spell even worse was the fact that there was no way to counter it or defend against it, except through the powerful magic generated by sacrificial love, which was what protected Harry from being killed by Voldemort when he was an infant.
2 Expecto Patronum
Patronus Charm
No movie in the Harry Potter franchise was defined by a single spell in the same way that "Expecto Patronum" has come to embody The Prisoner of Azkaban. With the Dementors lurking around Hogwarts with an unpleasant predisposition towards Harry Potter, Professor Lupin took the young wizard under his wing and helped him master the art of utilizing the Patronus Charm. A protective, spirit-like entity that deterred the Dementors, it also took on an animal form that reflected the caster's truest self.
In this regard, Harry Potter's stag Patronus has become one of the most iconic images of the films, but other Patronuses - such as Snape's doe and Luna Lovegood's hare - have become just as admired by fans of the series. Likewise, the spell itself has become universally adored for its soul-saving power, but also for its emblematic and symbolic uniqueness to each character.
1 Expelliarmus
Disarming Charm
Of all the spells that feature in the franchise, from the wondrous and enchanting to the terrible and horrific, it could only be Harry Potter's signature spell which stands as the most iconic. The Disarming Charm, "Expelliarmus" enabled the caster to disarm another witch or wizard by forcing their wand out of their hand. With enough power behind it, the spell could also send an opponent flying backwards.
The charm was first demonstrated by Severus Snape when he used it in a mock duel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry began using the spell as his go-to charm in combat not long after, favoring it for its non-lethal yet effective quality. He most famously used it against his archenemy, Lord Voldemort, whose own use of "Avada Kedavra" backfired as a result of his use of the Elder Wand, resulting in his demise.