While there are plenty of people out there who think the books are better than their film adaptations, the Harry Potter films have become an essential part of the franchise. The movie universe extended beyond the original series with 3 additional Fantastic Beasts prequels that introduced us to a whole new part of the wizarding world. Now that Hogwarts Legacy has arrived as well, it’s a good time to revisit the Potter timeline to see where it all fits together.
If you’re new to the series or just forgot the correct movie order, we’ve got you covered with our guides below. Here’s how to watch the Harry Potter movies in chronological order or by release date.
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How many Harry Potter movies are there?
Although there were only 7 books in the original series, there is a total of 11 films in the Harry Potter franchise. This includes 8 movies based on the books (2 parts for Deathly Hallows) and 3 Fantastic Beasts prequels. Outside of the movies, there’s a Broadway play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as many Harry Potter games – including the newest, Hogwarts Legacy.
Where does the Hogwarts legacy fit into the Harry Potter timeline?
Hogwarts Legacy takes place before any of the main films circa 1890. For context, the Fantastic Beasts films begin in the 1920s and the Harry Potter films begin in the 1990s. And although it takes place before the films, there are some surnames in the Hogwarts Legacy that you will recognize from the books and movies and Hogwarts Castle is exactly the same.
Harry Potter movies in chronological order
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Set in 1926, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the first Harry Potter spin-off to hit theaters. Considering it takes place around 70 years before Harry starts studying at Hogwarts, it’s the first movie you’ll want to watch if you’re following chronological order. The first Fantastic Beasts movie focuses on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he navigates New York and the magical underpinnings of the United States.
Read our Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Just a few months after the end of the first prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald takes us back to England and features even more tie-ins to the original Harry Potter films. We get a look at a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and we’re even introduced to a young Minderva McGonagall (Fiona Glascott). The film itself mainly focuses on the villain revealed in the first film, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).
Read our The Crimes of Grindelwald Review
3. Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore is the first Fantastic Beasts film to see a true time jump. Set 5 years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, the third film in the Fantastic Beasts series largely focuses on Grindelwald himself once again – who is actually played by Mads Mikkelsen this time around. There are some time jumps due to a creature called the Qilin, but most of the movie is set in the 1930s.
Read our Dumbledore’s Secrets Review.
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the first film in the original series. And while most of the film is set in 1991, the true beginning of the film is technically 1980 – the year Harry is born and Hagrid leaves him at the Dursley household. As this is the first Harry Potter film released, it gives us our first look at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), as well as our initial foray into the wizarding world through a different lens. bundle of clothes. .
see more about The Sorcerer’s Stone.
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film released in the franchise and thus follows Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. This places the film between 1992 and 1993, when Harry discovers truths from the past of giant spiders and a ghost-like young Voldemort. It also gives us our first introduction to Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) and Dobby the house-elf.
see more about The Chamber of Secrets.
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film in the original series and coincides with Harry’s third year of classes at Hogwarts – taking place in 1993. This is the first film where we start to really see the darker side of the wizarding world. as we are introduced to the likes of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall). We also get an introduction to werewolves from new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupine (David Thewlis) and, of course, the terrifying soul-sucking dementors of Azkaban.
Read our Review of The Prisoner of Azkaban.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth film in the original series and coincides with Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts. Taking place in 1994, The Goblet of Fire breathes new life into Hogwarts with the addition of the Triwizard Tournament and Yule Ball. We are introduced to important new characters like Mad Eye Moody (Brendand Gleeson) and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson). We also saw a professional Quidditch tournament for the first time, as well as members and teachers from other schools of magic. This is also the first film in which Harry comes face to face with a fully alive Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
Read our goblet of fire review.
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth film in the original series and is set in 1995. Harry begins his fifth year at Hogwarts with a newfound family of sorts and we get our first look at some of the other members of the Order of the Phoenix like the shapeshifter Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena). We also get our first introduction to Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), who plays a major role in the upcoming films. There’s also a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher with a penchant for cruelty that everyone hates, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton).
Read our Review of The Order of the Phoenix.
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth film to be released and is set in 1996. As Harry enters his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he is starting to really grow up after facing even more deaths. In this movie, we get our first true look at the motives of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). We also get to see Voldemort and the Death Eaters on the loose as Dumbledore reveals more secrets about the prophecy Harry is part of. While this movie starts to get pretty dark, it’s also where we see more of Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and expand on her relationship with Harry.
Read our The Half-Blood Prince review.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is set in 1997 and coincides with the seventh and final book in the series. This is the first movie that splits the story of a single book into two movies, and for good reason, as there’s a lot of story to unpack. In what would have been Harry’s seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione and Ron set out into the real world to find and destroy Horcruxes. With some action and deep character growth between Harry, Ron and Hermione, it’s clear the franchise is reaching its climax here. We also get a deeper look at the relationships between Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters.
Read our Review of The Deathly Hallows – Part 1.
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the last film in the Harry Potter series chronologically. Set in 1998, this film is a continuation of part 1 starting right where the previous film left off. As Harry and his friends reveal more information about the prophecy Harry is part of, they finally return to Hogwarts for a final showdown against Voldemort and the Death Eaters. It’s an emotional battle that ends with the deaths of some fan-favorite Harry Potter characters, but we get to see the true heroism of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and a pretty definitive ending to the story.
Read our Review of The Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
How to Watch Harry Potter Movies by Release Date
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’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: Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Looking for more movie schedules? Check out our guide on how to watch Lord of the Rings in order, as well as our Star Wars guide in order. And if you’re looking for merchandise, check out our collection of Harry Potter merchandise on the IGN store.