Harry Potter is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy film series ever. The first Harry Potter film introduced us to Harry, Hermione, and Ron when they were 11, 10, and 12 years old, respectively. In the final film, we saw them as teenagers, so basically, we witnessed them growing up. Hence, any film that has stayed around us for many years always holds a special place in our hearts. And that’s the reason why, after so many years, fans never get tired of binge-watching their favorite film series. Well, if you are one such fan, here’s the watch order of the Harry Potter movies.
How Many Harry Potter Movies Are There?
There are a total of 11 Harry Potter movies. Out of these, eight movies tell us the story of Harry Potter from his birth to his time in Hogwarts and defeating Voldemort. These movies are inspired by JK Rowling’s novels. However, three more movies were released after the original franchise under the Fantastic Beasts titles. These Fantastic Beasts movies take us around 70 years before the birth of Harry Potter. We have listed all Harry Potter movies as well as Fantastic Beasts movies below.
Harry Potter Movies in Order: Chronological Order Explained
Whenever a franchise delivers several films/TV Shows, it certainly becomes difficult to figure out its watch order, isn’t it? So, if you are wondering what is the correct order to watch Harry Potter movies, it isn’t much complicated. Thankfully, all Harry Potter movies follow a linear storyline, making it easy to follow. Here, we have mentioned the chronological watch order for the Harry Potter movies.
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Release Date– November 18, 2016
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.2/ 74%
- Directed by: David Yates
The final Harry Potter movie from the original franchise was released in 2011, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them came out in 2016. However, this spin-off film takes place several years ago the events of the first Harry Potter film. So, basically, it takes us to a time when Harry Potter wasn’t a part of the world of Hogwarts. It became one of the highest-grossing films of 2016, bagged several nominations, and won many accolades, including the British Academy Film Awards. The film introduced us to a new set of cast and characters, including Eddie Redmayne’s Newt, Colin Farrell‘s Graves, Johnny Depp’s Gellert Grindelwald, and more.
The Muggles are causing chaos in the world of the wizards, and someone has to step in to prevent the destruction. That’s when our protagonist, Newt Scamander, arrives in New York with his leather suitcase. However, he isn’t aware that he has to fight the infamous wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who is in no mood to show mercy on the wizarding world.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Release Date– November 16, 2018
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 6.5/ 36%
- Directed by: David Yates
While the first film only sees a brief glimpse of the ultimate villain, Gellert Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald brings him into action. Despite coming with the stunning visuals and best cinematography, the film couldn’t impress the fandom. However, it still got a decent audience who didn’t want to miss the final appearance of Johhny Depp’s bad guy in the film.
Grindelwald looks forward to ruling over the entire wizarding and non-magical world. To stop him, Albus Dumbledore seeks help from his former student Newt Scamander, who, unaware of the threats, steps forward for the greater cause.
3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
- Release Date– April 8, 2022
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 6.2/ 46%
- Directed by: David Yates
It is the final installment in Fantastic Beasts as well as the Harry Potter movies. The film sees Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald. Following the tragic events of the previous film, Newt buckles up to embark on a new adventure. Again, the film couldn’t perform well at the box office because fans didn’t find the story promising. However, the film was still praised for its great visuals.
Grindelwald has risen in terms of followers, so now it’s turn for Newt to come up with a solid plan. Dumbledore asks the boy to lead a group of witches and wizards to tackle the villain. Apart from all the action, we get to learn about some of Albus Dumbledore’s darkest secrets.
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
- Release Date– November 1, 2001
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.7/ 80%
- Directed by: Chris Columbus
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first movie in the Harry Potter franchise. It introduced us to the magical world of Hogwarts, and we also got to meet the legendary trio for the first time. Harry, Ron, and Hermoine succeeded in gathering a massive audience for the franchise. Be it the adults or the children, Harry Potter managed to sit on everyone’s watchlist.
The movie opens up with Hagrid, Dumbledore, and Minerva McGonagall delivering an orphan child named Harry at the door of the boy’s relatives. He grows up being ill-treated by the family until Hagrid shows up, and Harry learns about his origins. He then embarks on a journey that was meant for him, and that’s when he meets Ron and Hermoine.
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Release Date– November 15, 2002
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.2/ 82%
- Directed by: Chris Columbus
The second Harry Potter movie was released a year after the first one, and we get to see Harry spending his summer break with his abusive relatives. One night, Dobby, the house-elf, shows up in Harry’s bedroom, and he warns the boy not to return to Hogwarts for his second year. He tells him about the unforeseen danger that has been looming over the school of wizards and witchcraft. Even though Harry ignores the warning, his departure to the school is interrupted by his evil uncle and aunt. However, Ron and his brother come to his rescue and help him escape the captivity in their flying car.
A dangerous enemy emerges from the shadows and takes Ginny Weasley as his puppet. However, Harry succeeds in protecting his best friend’s sister and sending the enemy back to the place they belonged to.
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Release Date– June 4, 2004
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.9/ 90%
- Directed By- Alfonso Cuarón
The third film shows Harry, Ron, and Hermione entering their third year at Hogwarts. While the majority of the cast from the first two Harry Potter films make a comeback, we also get introduced to a few new faces, including Garry Oldman’s Sirius Black, David Thewlis’ Remus Lupin, and more. The installment received heavy praise from the worldwide fandom as it explores the dark theme of the source material more appropriately than the previous ones.
The film again starts with Harry staying with the Dursleys, but this time, he bravely punishes the one who tries to disrespect his deceased parents. Later, Harry takes a sigh of relief after learning that he won’t get punished for using magic outside of school anymore. After reuniting with his friends, Harry learns that a lunatic prisoner named Sirius Black, who is also a loyal follower of Voldemort, has escaped the prison and is coming after him.
The episode also brings the Dementors into the picture. These vile creatures arrive at the school to capture Black.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- Release Date– November 18, 2005
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.7/ 88%
- Directed By- Mike Newell
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sees Mike Newell replacing Alfonso Cuarón as the director. Newell has blessed the industry with some masterpieces, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Donnie Brasco, and more. And his direction made Harry’s fourth adventure even more enjoyable.
Fortunately, this time, we don’t have to see Harry suffering at his relatives’ residence. Instead, the fourth film of the franchise sees our boy having fun with his best friend Ron and his family.
On the other side, at Hogwarts, everyone is excited for the Triwizard Tournament, which involves players from three different schools. The players are chosen by ‘The Goblet of Fire.’ While the magical object was supposed to select three players, it ended up choosing Harry as the fourth one. Despite being uninterested, the young wizard has to participate in the tournament and compete for the win in the fourth Harry Potter movie.
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Release Date– July 11, 2007
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.5/ 78%
- Directed By- David Yates
Harry gets expelled from Hogwarts for using magic on the Dementors who attacked him when he was at the Dursleys. However, he was later declared innocent and taken back to the school. The fourth year at school is the hardest for Harry as he and Dumbledore fail to convince the other students that Voldemort has returned. Ministry recruits Dolores Umbridge as the new professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, but when she refuses to teach the students the defensive spells, our lead trio forms a secret group to learn about the spells.
In the midst of all the chaotic events at the school of wizards and witchcraft in this Harry Potter movie, we get to see a romance angle between Harry Potter and the gorgeous Cho Chang.
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Release Date– July 15, 2009
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.6/ 83%
- Directed By- David Yates
Things get even darker in the sixth installment of the franchise, as Voldemort is all set to cause destruction in the world of wizards and muggles. The evil force imprisons Lucius Malfoy and uses his son, Draco, for his cause.
When Draco’s mother and his aunt seek Snape for help, he assures them to keep Draco safe and to carry over the task if the boy fails. Harry, Hermione, and Ron spy on Draco to find out what he is up to. While the trio struggles to expose the bad guys, they also continue dealing with their personal life issues. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the movie where we see the tragic death of Dumbledore at the hands of Snape.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
- Release Date– November 19, 2010
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 7.7/ 77%
- Directed By- David Yates
Following the death of Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine receive the things that their beloved headmaster had left for them. Snape tells Voldemort that Harry Potter is not under the protective spell of his mother, but now the Order of Phoenix will move the boy to somewhere beyond their reach. The Dark Lord’s death eaters start terrorizing everyone at Hogwarts, but the lead trio doesn’t lose hope and starts with their quest to find the remaining Horcruxes that would eventually end the story of Lord Voldemort.
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
- Release Date– July 15, 2011
- IMDb/Rotten Tomatoes– 8.1/ 96%
- Directed By- David Yates
In order to find the rest of the Horcruxes, Ron and Hermoine break into Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault. Despite finding one at the place, the magical item gets snatched by Griphook. They learn that the other one is in Hogwarts, but Snape has already warned the students not to help the trio. Before they can get their hands on the Horcruxes, Voldemort learns about their mission and does every possible thing to stop them.
The eighth film of the Harry Potter franchise comes as an emotional turmoil for the fans as none of them were ready to let go of their favorite characters whom they had seen grow up on screen.
Harry Potter Movies in Release Date Order
If you are interested in watching Harry Potter movies in the order in which the creators wanted you to watch, it’s better to follow the release date order. The only difference is you will be watching all three Fantastic Beasts movies after all eight Harry Potter movies. Here are all Harry Potter movies in release date order.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: 2001
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: 2002
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: 2004
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: 2005
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: 2007
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: 2009
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1: 2010
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2: 2011
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: 2016
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: 2018
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: 2022
