Out of all the Hogwarts Professors, those responsible for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts have the worst track record overall and usually end up causing a great deal of trouble for Harry Potter. This position has been cursed ever since Galatea Merrythought resigned, and Tom Riddle was denied the chance to assume her role as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor of Hogwarts. Needless to say, Voldemort's bruised ego soured the pot for everyone.
Whether or not the Death Eaters are on a public warpath, it is vital for young witches and wizards to know how to protect themselves against malicious magic or sinister creatures; however, most DADA Professors have ulterior motives that are unconcerned with teaching. The following candidates will be ranked from worst to best in terms of likeability, efficiency as educators, and the threat level they pose to the Hogwarts residents.
9 Dolores Umbridge (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
With a cast of truly detestable Death Eaters and underhanded schemers to compete with, it's quite an accomplishment for an ordinary government official like Dolores Umbridge to claim the prize of the most hated character in the series. Studying under her stern thumb is tantamount to torture (particularly when her bloodthirsty quill comes out to play).
This pink-clad kitty-loving witch is more concerned with flexing her power and indoctrinating the kids to follow the Ministry of Magic's delusions than actually teaching them to defend themselves. Umbridge plays her students against each other, planting spies and authoritative bullies in advantageous positions. Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts was a bleak one indeed; at least he had Dumbledore's Army to keep him going!
8 Amycus Carrow (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)
Unlike most other entries, Amycus Carrow is unconcerned with deception and openly rules with an iron fist now that Death Eaters roam free and Snape has usurped Hogwarts. Thankfully, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are not subjected to Carrow's classes, where he completely removes the Defensive aspects of his curriculum and chooses to celebrate the Dark Arts instead.
The Cruciatus Curse gets dished out willy-nilly to anyone who defies the new regime, and Carrow even forces the students to inflict torture on his behalf, against their will. According to Neville, Amycus "made Umbridge look tame," as his sadistic tendencies were met with little contention, besides the rebellious DA with a vengeful Longebottom at the helm.
7 Gilderoy Lockhart (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
While Lockhart is hardly the most dangerous Defense Against Dark Arts Professor around, he is so cringe-worthy, egotistical, and utterly fake that he doesn't deserve to surpass the other more capable (and evil) candidates. Lockhart "earned" his qualifications by tracking down intriguing individuals and stealing their stories before erasing their memories; Obliviate is arguably the only spell this brash blondie has mastered.
Lockhart is so incompetent that he gets bested by a troupe of little cornish pixies during his first lesson, and it's all downhill from there. Some would say he has found his rightful home now, away from impressionable minds and under constant surveillance at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.
6 Quirinus Quirrell (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
Quirrel himself is not much to write home about; being a rather bland individual who's scared of his own shadow doesn't seem conducive to the infamous Defense Against The Dark Arts position. Quirrel learned the hard way that book smarts don't always translate well into real-world adventures unless forming a parasitic bond with the Dark Lord is the desired result one is looking for.
While Snape steals all the antagonistic attention, poor, pathetic Quirrel quietly goes about his business in search of the Philosopher's Stone. His teaching methods are neither here nor there; his lessons are lacking in interactive experiences but also don't involve any pain or torture, so props there!
5 Barty Crouch Jr. As Mad-Eye Moody (Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire)
Now, this guy really pulled the wool over everyone's eyes as he quickly ascended to becoming one of the most beloved Professors at Hogwarts (potentially over and above the lovable Lupin) due to his quirky nature, incredible intelligence, and no-nonsense attitude. There are no kids' gloves when it comes to Mad-Eye Moody's classes, and Malfoy the Ferret will remain one of the most epic moments in Harry Potter history!
Behind Mad-Eye's overly-efficient teaching strategies lies a dark secret; in fact, the students have yet to meet the real Auror, who is being held captive by Voldemort's fanboy. Barty Crouch Jr. Escaped his house-arrest situation and has been using a Polyjuice Potion all along to get closer to Harry and prove his worth as a devout Death Eater. He was still a good teacher, nevertheless!
4 Dinah Hecat (Hogwarts Legacy)
New features and characters are constantly being added to the ever-expanding Harry Potter Lore, while the gaming side of things implements a deep history with their thoughtfully placed newcomers. Dinah Hecat is introduced in Hogwarts Legacy as one of the earliest Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, who decided to take up teaching after retiring from her service as an Unspeakable for the Ministry of Magic.
Hecat is rather strict; however, considering her classes are more practical than theoretical, rigid guidelines must be implemented to ensure the students' safety, especially with so many aspiring Dark Wizards enthusiasts roaming the halls! Every student has something to gain from Hecat's vast wisdom and years of experience, while her quick-witted comebacks are both shocking and amusing.
3 Severus Snape (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Snape has been after the Defense Against Dark Arts position since day one. While most assume that Dumbledore feared that the subject might be a bit too close to home, it turns out that he was only trying to save his undercover ally from the notorious curse.
Even though Snape is still hated for the most part at this stage in the game, his teaching skills are on point, arguably better than when he was the official Potions Master. Snape has possessed a keen interest in the Dark Arts from a young age, and while it may be a bit creepy and offputting, his extensive wisdom is ripe for the students' picking. Moreover, he is technically the only DADA Professor who didn't try to murder Harry, which elevates his status considerably.
2 Albus Dumbledore (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald)
Although it is rather strange to see Dumbledore as a DADA Professor (as he was believed to have taught Transfiguration only), this role appears to have been his first stop in his Hogwarts career. After witnessing the world's cruelty firsthand, the young Dumbledore's goal is to arm his students with the tools to defend themselves, which Newt Scamander and Leta Lestrange benefit from greatly.
Much like the Dumbledore that die-hard fans know and love, this younger version is highly invested in his learners' wellbeing, taking the time to learn their strengths and weaknesses and adapting his teaching methods accordingly. As to be expected, Professor Dumbledore has always known how to bring a lighthearted, playful aura to the room, accompanied by a naughty twinkle of the eye.
1 Remus Lupin (Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban)
Yes, sure, Lupin could have easily killed a bunch of innocent children, being a werewolf and all, but he didn't. He will remain hands-down the greatest of all time as the only truly admirable DADA Professor during Harry's academic career. He is also a compassionate and admirable father figure and arguably the very reason Harry even became an Auror in the first place.
It's safe to say that very few students dread Lupin's lessons unless they are particularly fearful of the creatures they might face while practicing their spellcasting techniques. It is clear that Lupin carefully plans out each class, ensuring to collect the appropriate resources to make learning as engaging as possible. This knight in shabby armor never allowed people's misconceptions to harden his heart (which could have easily caused a villainous origin story) and was sadly snuffed out much too early.