Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a bit of an oddity. Honestly, it’s the black sheep of the brick-built Wizarding World. While Sorcerer’s Stone gets a billion remakes and Deathly Hallows finally got its due with the Gringotts expansion, the fifth installment occupies this weird, dark middle ground. It's the point where the movies got moody, Harry got angry, and the Lego sets had to somehow translate a 700-page book about teenage angst and government bureaucracy into plastic toys for kids.
It didn't always go smoothly.
If you look back at the 2007 wave, which was the original era for Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, things were transitionary. Lego was moving away from the yellow-skinned minifigures of the early 2000s and leaning into the flesh-toned, more movie-accurate designs. But because the movie was so focused on the Ministry of Magic and the Room of Requirement, the designers had to get creative. They couldn't just keep making Hagrid’s Hut over and over again. They had to make offices. And somehow, they made it work.
The 2007 Classic That Started It All
The flagship was 5378 Hogwarts Castle. This was the third iteration of the castle, and frankly, it's a vibe. It was the first time we saw the "sand green" roof tiles really define the aesthetic. But the most important thing about this set wasn't the build itself—it was the inclusion of Thestrals. In the book, Harry can only see them because he witnessed Cedric's death. In Lego form, they were just these cool, skeletal molded horses that looked absolutely rad.
You also got Dolores Umbridge.
Lego Umbridge is a masterpiece of character design because you hate her immediately. Even in brick form, that pink suit radiates pure malice. The 2007 version of the castle also gave us our first Room of Requirement, which was basically just a sliding door mechanism, but back then? It felt like magic. We didn't have the specialized "glitter" bricks or the fancy hidden compartments we have now. We had basic plates and a lot of imagination.
The set also included a Greenhouse with Mandrakes. It’s funny because Mandrakes are technically more of a Chamber of Secrets thing, but Lego has always played fast and loose with the "accuracy" of specific scenes to make sure the play value is there. Kids don't want a set of a courtroom; they want plants that scream.
Why 76403 The Ministry of Magic Changed the Game
Fast forward to the modern era. Specifically, 2022. Lego finally gave us the "big one"—the Ministry of Magic. This is arguably the most ambitious Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix set ever made. Why? Because it’s modular.
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Most Lego buildings are "dollhouse style," meaning they are open in the back. The Ministry (set 76403) is different. It’s a series of phone-booth-style stacks that you can rearrange. It captures that oppressive, subterranean feeling of the London Ministry perfectly. You get the fountain, the "Magic is Might" vibe (though that’s technically later in the timeline, the set blurs the lines), and those tiny little paper airplanes (Interdepartmental memos) flying around.
The minifigure lineup here is insane. You get Albert Runcorn, Mafalda Hopkirk, and Reg Cattermole—who are actually Harry, Ron, and Hermione in disguise. It’s a deep cut. It shows that the designers at Lego aren't just skimming the Wiki; they're fans. They included the red phone booth entrance, which is iconic, and the Prophecy Hall.
The Prophecy Hall is a highlight. In the movie, it's this endless, shimmering abyss of glass orbs. In the set, it’s a few translucent blue studs on a shelf. It sounds underwhelming when I say it like that, but in the context of the build, it’s a clever use of parts. It’s "kinda" minimalist, but it gets the point across.
The Room of Requirement and the DA
You can't talk about Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix without mentioning the 2020 Room of Requirement (75966). It’s a tiny set. Like, really small. But it’s significant because it gave us the Patronuses.
The translucent blue Hare and Otter are beautiful.
This set focuses on Dumbledore’s Army. It’s got the sliding wall—which is a much better version than the 2007 one—and the rules of the school posted on the outside. It’s a "play set" in the truest sense. It’s meant to be tucked into a larger Hogwarts display. The interesting thing about this specific set is how it handled the training dummies. They used a mechanical droid-like build to represent the Death Eater targets the students practice on. It’s a small detail, but it adds that layer of "training for war" that defines the fifth book.
Comparing the Old vs. the New
People always ask which era is better. The "Grey Roof" era or the "Green Roof" era?
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- The Build Experience: Modern sets use SNOT (Studs Not On Top) techniques. The walls aren't just bricks stacked on bricks; they are complex assemblies that allow for more texture.
- Minifigures: The 2007 figures are nostalgic but the new ones have leg printing and double-sided faces. Harry actually looks stressed out in the new sets, which is lore-accurate for Order of the Phoenix.
- Price: Let’s be real. Lego has gotten expensive. The original 5378 was $89.99 back in the day. A comparable modern Hogwarts layout will set you back $400 if you want the full "modular" experience.
Honestly, the older sets had a charm that the new ones sometimes lack. They felt more like "toys." The new ones feel like "models." If you're a collector, you want the new stuff. If you're looking for that raw, 2000s Lego energy, you hunt down the retired sets on BrickLink.
The Grappling with Grawp
One of the weirdest additions to the Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sub-theme was 75967 Forbidden Forest: Umbridge's Encounter.
This set gave us Grawp.
Grawp is a brick-built giant. Usually, Lego makes "Big-Figs" (like the Hulk or Hagrid) using a single large mold. For Grawp, they decided to make him out of standard pieces so he could be articulated. It was a polarizing choice. Some people think he looks a bit blocky and awkward. Others love that you can actually sit a minifigure in his hand. The set also includes two Centaurs, which were a brand-new mold at the time. They used to be two pieces—a horse body and a human torso—but the new ones are a single, cohesive piece. It’s a huge improvement.
Missing Pieces: What We Still Don't Have
Despite all the sets we’ve gotten, there are massive gaps. We still don't have a dedicated St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. That’s a huge part of the Order of the Phoenix book. We see Neville’s parents, we see Gilderoy Lockhart in the memory ward—it’s a heavy, emotional chapter that Lego has completely ignored.
Probably because a hospital isn't as "fun" to build as a castle.
We also haven't seen a proper Grimmauld Place in its full glory. We got 76408 12 Grimmauld Place, which is cool because it actually "slides" open between two Muggle houses. It’s a brilliant bit of engineering. But it feels a bit cramped. The interior is tiny. I’d love to see a "Designer Series" version of the Black family home that really captures the gloom and the screaming portrait of Walburga Black.
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Actionable Tips for Collectors
If you're looking to dive into the world of Lego Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, don't just buy everything with a lightning bolt on the box. You have to be strategic.
Check the modular compatibility. If you are building the "New Hogwarts" (the 2021+ system with the green roofs), look for sets that specifically mention they connect. The Room of Requirement (75966) is actually part of the previous grey-roof system (2018-2020), so it won't "snap" onto the new 2021 sets without some modification. You’ll need some extra 1x2 plates with holes to make them play nice together.
Hunt for the Ministry of Magic now. That set (76403) is one of the most unique things Lego has done in years. Because it’s a bit of an "ugly" building—it's basically a bunch of dark green boxes—it didn't sell as well as the flashy castles. That means it’s likely to be retired sooner and might actually go up in value because of the unique minifigures.
Don't sleep on the "Magical Trunk."
The 76399 Hogwarts Magical Trunk isn't specifically an Order of the Phoenix set, but it’s the best way to get the "casual" clothes for the characters. In the fifth movie, the kids wear a lot of hoodies and jackets rather than robes. This set lets you customize your own "DA members" with those more modern looks.
Verify the used market. If you're buying the 2007 castle on eBay, check the capes. The old-style capes were made of a stiff fabric that frays easily. Also, the Thestral molds are prone to losing the "wings" if they were played with heavily. Always ask for a photo of the "wing clips" before dropping $200 on a retired set.
The beauty of this specific era of Lego is that it reflects the turning point of the series. It’s where things got serious. Whether you’re building the hidden halls of the Ministry or just trying to get a tiny brick-built bird to sit on Dumbledore’s shoulder, these sets capture a very specific, very moody magic. Just don't let Umbridge catch you.