The Harry Potter films starred so many great British actors, but, happily, the franchise isn’t the only time they’ve shared the screen. Actors Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon and Jim Broadbent are just a few of the actors who’ve worked together outside of all things Hogwarts. Of course, the younger stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, have had less chance (and less interest) to reteam with their Potterverse colleagues. Here are 21 movies that feature three or more Harry Potter actors (including those from “Fantastic Beasts.”)
‘The Pale Blue Eye’ (Three ‘Potter’ stars)
Harry Melling (the one-time Dudley Dursley) plays a young Edgar Allan Poe in this period mystery. Timothy Spall, who played Peter Pettigrew, and Toby Jones, who voiced Dobby, co-star.
‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ (Three ‘Potter’ stars)
In this existential Coen Bros. western, Harry Melling plays a legless and armless entertainer, Brendan Gleeson (Mad-Eye Moody) is a man who takes a strange stagecoach ride and Ralph Ineson (aka Death Eater Amycus Carrow) leads a posse.
‘The King’s Speech’ (Three Potter stars)
Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix LeStrange) earned an Oscar nom for her role as the future Queen Mother in this biopic about King George VI. Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) and Timothy Spall costarred as, respectively, King George V, and Winston Churchill.
“Topsy Turvy” (Three Potter stars)
Mike Leigh’s film about the making of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta “The Mikado,” stars Jim Broadbent (Horace Slughorn) as Gilbert and features Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle) and Timothy Spall as prima donna performers.
‘The Theory of Everything’ (Three Potter Stars
Besides Eddie Redmayne (the future Newt Scamander) in an Oscar-winning turn as Stephen Hawking, the biopic features David Thewlis (Remus Lupin) as fellow physicist Dennis Sciama, and Simon McBurney (who voiced Kreacher the House Elf) as Hawking’s father Frank.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’ (Three Potter stars)
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Kenneth Branagh (who played vain professor Gilderoy Lockhart) made several films with then-wife Emma Thompson (Professor Sybil Trelawney), including this Shakespearean romp. Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge) also co-starred.
Henry V (Three Potter stars)
Kenneth Branagh (in his directorial debut) costarred with Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) in this 1989 Shakespearean adaptation.
‘Love Actually’ (Three Potter stars)
Lest we forget, Alan Rickman (Severus Snape) broke Emma Thompson’s heart in this multi-story Christmas tale, which also features Bill Nighy, who played Ministry of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, as an aging but randy rock star.
‘The Pirates! Band of Misfits’ (Three Potter stars)
This animated comedy features the voices of David Tennant (who played Barty Crouch, Jr.), Imelda Staunton and Brendan Gleeson.
‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (Four Potter stars)
Alan Rickman is a riot as the voice of a depressed robot named Marvin (played by Warwick Davis) in this sci-fi comedy based on the classic book by Douglas Adams. Bill Nighy is Slartibartfast and Richard Griffiths (Mr. Dursley) voices Jeltz.
‘King Ralph’ (Four Potter stars)
This 1991 comedy, where John Goodman ends up as the king of England, costars John Hurt (wand purveyor Garrick Ollivander), and Richard Griffiths, as well as Julian Glover, who voiced giant spider Aragog, and Leslie Phillips, who was the voice of the Sorting Hat.
‘Gosford Park’ (Four Potter stars)
Robert Altman’s final film featured Maggie Smith (Professor Minerva McGonagall), Michael Gambon, Kelly McDonald (Helena Ravenclaw), and Sophie Thompson (Ministry of Magic witch Mafalda Hopkirk).
‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ (Four Potter stars)
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” stars Colin Farrell, Johnny Depp and Jude Law played variations of Heath Ledger’s character in Terry Gilliam’s fantasy film. Verne Troyer — who played but did not voice Griphook — appeared as Percy.
‘Arthur Christmas’ (Four Potter stars)
This animated Christmas comedy features the voices of Jim Broadbent as Santa Claus, Bill Nighy as Grandsanta, Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Claus and Robbie Coltrane as the lead elf.
‘Brave’ (Four Potter Stars)
Kelly McDonald voices rebellious princess Merida and Emma Thompson plays her mother in this Pixar film, which also boasts the voice talents of Julie Walters (Molly Weasley) and Robbie Coltrane.
‘Sleepy Hollow’ (Four Potter stars)
The cast of this delightfully spooky Tim Burton film includes “Crimes of Grindelwald” star Johnny Depp, Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter), Richard Griffiths, and Michael Gambon.
‘In Bruges’ (Four Potter stars)
Martin McDonagh’s black comedy starred Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell trying to thwart Ralph Fiennes’ gangster, with Farrell’s character romantically involved with Clémence Poésy’s. She played Fleur Delacour, Bill Weasley’s beloved, in the Harry Potter films.
‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’ (Four Potter stars)
Kenneth Branagh directs himself, Helena Bonham Carter and John Cleese (Nearly Headless Nick) in this version, which starred Robert De Niro as the monster.
‘Sweeney Todd’ (Five Potter stars)
Besides leads Johnny Depp (Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts,”) and Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Burton’s ultra-Gothic adaptation of the musical includes Timothy Spall and Alan Rickman. Not to mention future “Stranger Things” star Jamie Campbell Bower, who played young Gellert Grindelwald in “The Deathly Hallows: Part 1.”
‘Paddington 2’ (Five Potter stars)
The first film featured Imelda Staunton and Michael Gambon as the voices of Paddington’s aunt and uncle, Jim Broadbent (aka Horace Slughorn) as eccentric shopkeeper Mr. Gruber, and Julie Walters as the Browns’ housekeeper Mrs. Bird. The sequel, which is even better than the first, adds Brendan Gleeson as a hardened criminal Knuckles McGinty, who ends up taking the little bear under his wing.
‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ (Six Potter stars)
This spy tale features a who’s who of British cinema, including six Potter alums: Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Simon McBurney, Ciaran Hinds (Aberforth Dumbledore), and Roger Lloyd-Park (Barty Crouch Sr.).
