How Do You Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Order?

By ReelVerse Editorial TeamPublished 6 min read

Abstract cinematic art of a generic castle on a hill with floating candles and a winding gold, magenta, and violet film strip

Quick Answer

Watch the eight Harry Potter movies in release order, which is also story order: Sorcerer's Stone (2001) through Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011). The three Fantastic Beasts films (2016 to 2022) are prequels set from 1926 to the 1930s. For a first viewing, watch them after Harry Potter; for chronological order, watch them first.

On this page
  1. The Harry Potter watch order
  2. Where do the Fantastic Beasts movies fit?
  3. What is the Wizarding World chronological order?
  4. What are the Fantastic Beasts movies about?
  5. Should you watch Fantastic Beasts before Harry Potter?
  6. Which Harry Potter movies are OK for kids?
  7. What comes after the Harry Potter movies?
  8. Who directed the Harry Potter movies, and how long are they?
  9. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Our Take
  11. Sources

Key Takeaways

  • The eight Harry Potter films must be watched in order; release order and story order match.
  • The three Fantastic Beasts films are prequels set in 1926, 1927, and the 1930s.
  • We recommend Harry Potter first, then Fantastic Beasts, for new viewers.
  • All 11 Wizarding World films run 1,571 minutes, about 26 hours, in total.

The Harry Potter watch order

There are eight Harry Potter films, released from 2001 to 2011, and their release order is also their story order. Watch them in this sequence:

  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (2010)
  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011)

Release dates and other film details come from Wikidata [1]. The first film's original UK title, also used in many other markets, is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone; Sorcerer's Stone is the US title, so you may see either name.

The films adapt J.K. Rowling's seven novels [1]. The first six each cover one year of Harry's time at Hogwarts, and the seventh book was split into two films. Because every film picks up where the last one left off, the main series only makes sense in order.

Which Harry Potter watch order should you choose? Flowchart: new viewers start with Sorcerer's Stone and watch all eight Harry Potter films; viewers who have seen them add the three Fantastic Beasts films next; rewatchers can try story order with Fantastic Beasts first. Have you seen the Harry Potter films? Not yet Start with Sorcerer's Stone. Watch all eight. Yes, all eight Add the three Fantastic Beasts films next. Rewatching Try story order: Fantastic Beasts first. The Fantastic Beasts films are prequels.
Pick an order based on what you have already seen.

Where do the Fantastic Beasts movies fit?

Warner Bros. sells the films together as the Wizarding World 11-Film Collection [3]: the eight Harry Potter films plus three Fantastic Beasts films [1]. The Fantastic Beasts films are prequels, set decades before Harry is born.

In release order, the full list is:

  1. to 8. The eight Harry Potter films (2001 to 2011)
  2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
  3. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
  4. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

What is the Wizarding World chronological order?

Wikidata lists the period the Fantastic Beasts films are set in: 1926 for the first, 1927 for the second, and the 1930s for the third. The Harry Potter films with a listed period fall between 1991 and 1998 [2]. That gives this story order:

  1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (set in 1926)
  2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (set in 1927)
  3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (set in the 1930s)
  4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
  11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Story years compared with release years for the Wizarding World films Two timelines. In the story, the Fantastic Beasts films are set from 1926 to the 1930s and the Harry Potter films from 1991 to 1998. In release order, the Harry Potter films came out from 2001 to 2011 and the Fantastic Beasts films from 2016 to 2022. Two timelines When the story happens 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 Fantastic Beasts 1926 to 1930s Harry Potter 1991 to 1998 When the films came out 2000 2008 2016 2024 Harry Potter films: 2001 to 2011 (gold). Fantastic Beasts films: 2016 to 2022 (magenta). Story periods: Wikidata.
The prequels came out last but are set first. Story periods: Wikidata.

What are the Fantastic Beasts movies about?

These are premise-level summaries with no major spoilers.

  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016): magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in 1926 New York with a case full of magical creatures, and some of them escape.
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018): the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald gathers followers, and a young Albus Dumbledore asks Newt for help.
  • Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022): Dumbledore and Newt's group try to stop Grindelwald's rise to power in the wizarding world.

All three were directed by David Yates and are based on original screenplays rather than novels [1]. Their story stops in the 1930s, so there is still a gap of decades before Harry's first year.

Should you watch Fantastic Beasts before Harry Potter?

For a first viewing, no. We recommend all eight Harry Potter films first, then the three Fantastic Beasts films. In our view, the Fantastic Beasts series assumes you already know Harry's world, and several of its biggest moments rely on names, places, and family histories that the Harry Potter films introduce. Watching the prequels first also means meeting a young Albus Dumbledore before you know why he matters.

Chronological order is a good choice for a rewatch, especially if you want to follow Dumbledore's history from the 1920s to Harry's school years.

If you only want one series, the Harry Potter films stand on their own. The Fantastic Beasts films are optional extras; their story is not required to follow Harry's.

Which Harry Potter movies are OK for kids?

The ratings change as the characters grow up. According to Wikidata, the first three films are rated PG, Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix are PG-13, Half-Blood Prince is PG, and both Deathly Hallows films are PG-13. All three Fantastic Beasts films are rated PG-13 [1].

MPA ratings of the Wizarding World films in release order Rating strip: Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets, and Prisoner of Azkaban are PG; Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix are PG-13; Half-Blood Prince is PG; both Deathly Hallows parts and all three Fantastic Beasts films are PG-13. MPA rating by film 1. Sorcerer's Stone PG 2. Chamber of Secrets PG 3. Prisoner of Azkaban PG 4. Goblet of Fire PG-13 5. Order of the Phoenix PG-13 6. Half-Blood Prince PG 7. Deathly Hallows 1 PG-13 8. Deathly Hallows 2 PG-13 9. Fantastic Beasts PG-13 10. The Crimes of Grindelwald PG-13 11. The Secrets of Dumbledore PG-13 Release order. Ratings: Wikidata.
Ratings as recorded in Wikidata.

The series grows noticeably darker after the first three films. A practical approach for families is to watch the first three PG films, then preview each PG-13 film, starting with Goblet of Fire, before showing it to younger children. One option is to space the films out, for example one per holiday break, so kids reach the later films when they are older.

What comes after the Harry Potter movies?

The newest Wizarding World project is HBO's TV adaptation of the books. Its first season, an eight-episode adaptation titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is set to debut at Christmas 2026, according to a Warner Bros. Discovery announcement dated September 2, 2026 [4]. The series is based on J.K. Rowling's books and is written by Francesca Gardiner [4].

The TV series is a new adaptation with a new cast, not a continuation of the films, so it does not change the film watch order above. You can watch the films before or after the series.

If you are planning a pre-Christmas rewatch starting in mid-November, a simple pace is two films a weekend: the eight Harry Potter films fit into four weekends, and the three Fantastic Beasts films add a fifth and sixth if you want the whole Wizarding World.

Who directed the Harry Potter movies, and how long are they?

Four directors made the eight Harry Potter films. Chris Columbus directed the first two, Alfonso Cuarón directed Prisoner of Azkaban, Mike Newell directed Goblet of Fire, and David Yates directed the last four. Yates also directed all three Fantastic Beasts films [1].

FilmYearDirectorRuntime (min)Rating
Sorcerer's Stone2001Chris Columbus152PG
Chamber of Secrets2002Chris Columbus161PG
Prisoner of Azkaban2004Alfonso Cuarón141PG
Goblet of Fire2005Mike Newell151PG-13
Order of the Phoenix2007David Yates133PG-13
Half-Blood Prince2009David Yates147PG
Deathly Hallows, Part 12010David Yates147PG-13
Deathly Hallows, Part 22011David Yates130PG-13
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them2016David Yates133PG-13
The Crimes of Grindelwald2018David Yates134PG-13
The Secrets of Dumbledore2022David Yates142PG-13

The eight Harry Potter films run 1,162 minutes, about 19 hours 20 minutes; adding Fantastic Beasts brings the total to 1,571 minutes, about 26 hours. Chamber of Secrets is the longest at 161 minutes, and Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is the shortest of the main eight at 130.

If you finish the Wizarding World and want another long fantasy or adventure series, try the Star Wars watch order, the Pirates of the Caribbean watch order, or, for something much longer, the Marvel watch order. For a holiday tie-in, several of the Harry Potter films include Christmas scenes at Hogwarts, so they pair well with our best Christmas movies in December.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Harry Potter movies are there?

There are eight Harry Potter films (2001 to 2011). With the three Fantastic Beasts prequels, the Wizarding World has 11 films.

Is Philosopher's Stone the same as Sorcerer's Stone?

Yes. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the original UK title, also used in many other markets; Sorcerer's Stone is the US title of the same film.

Do you need to watch Fantastic Beasts to understand Harry Potter?

No. The Harry Potter films stand on their own. The Fantastic Beasts films are optional prequels set decades earlier.

Which Harry Potter movie is the longest?

Chamber of Secrets, at 161 minutes as listed in Wikidata. The shortest of the main eight is Deathly Hallows, Part 2, at 130 minutes.

Is there a Harry Potter TV series?

Yes. HBO's series begins with an eight-episode first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, set to debut at Christmas 2026 according to Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a new adaptation, separate from the films.

Our Take

We think the right order for nearly everyone is all eight Harry Potter films, then Fantastic Beasts. The Harry Potter series builds its world one school year at a time, and the prequels assume you already know that world. In our opinion Prisoner of Azkaban is where the series finds its confident, slightly darker voice, so families with younger kids may want to pause after it for a while. Chronological order is worth trying on a rewatch, mostly for Dumbledore's story. This is editorial opinion, not a ranking based on scores.

Sources

  1. Wikidata film records (release dates, runtimes, directors, MPA ratings, source novels). Wikimedia Foundation.
  2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Q18199330), narrative set in 1926. Wikidata.
  3. Wizarding World 11-Film Collection. Warner Bros..
  4. HBO Original Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Unveils Official Second Teaser. Warner Bros. Discovery Pressroom.

Release dates, runtimes and ratings come from Wikidata and official sources and can differ by country or edition. We do not track which service is streaming a film right now, because that changes often.Spotted an error? Tell us.