How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order

The Harry Potter Movies Timeline

Before delving into the world of magic and witches, it’s important to understand the chronological order of the Harry Potter movies. This will ensure you get the most out of your movie experience and aid in comprehension of the captivating story.

The Prequel: Fantastic Beasts Series

Start your journey into the magical world with the prequel movies. These movies are based on events that happened long before the birth of Harry Potter. Fantastic Beasts movies occur in the following order:

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

The Main Series: Harry Potter Movies

After watching the events unfold from the Fantastic Beasts series, it’s time to dive into the main Harry Potter movies. These films introduce the beloved characters and the magical world of Hogwarts. Here’s the chronological order for the Harry Potter movies:

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’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)

By following this order, you can experience the complete story from the magical universe, starting from the early days of Grindelwald to the battle between Harry and Voldemort. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of magic and myth, and don’t forget to have a magical experience!

Harry Potter Movies According to Release Dates

As a fan of the Harry Potter movies, you might want to watch the series in the order they were released. Here is a list of the Harry Potter movies and their release dates, including the Fantastic Beasts prequel films:

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (also known as Sorcerer’s Stone) – November 16, 2001
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – November 15, 2002
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – May 31, 2004
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – November 18, 2005
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – July 11, 2007
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – July 15, 2009
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – November 19, 2010
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – July 15, 2011
9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – November 18, 2016
10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – November 16, 2018
11. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – April 15, 2022

To watch the movies in their release order, start with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and continue through Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. After completing the eight main Harry Potter films, move on to the Fantastic Beasts series, set several decades before the events of the Harry Potter movies and introduces new characters and magical creatures. First, watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, then Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and finally, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

If you prefer a more immersive experience, try watching the movies in their chronological order, which flips the order of the Fantastic Beasts films and the original Harry Potter series. Enjoy your magical journey through the wizarding world!

Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Story Order

Before diving into the chronological order of the Harry Potter movies, it’s essential to distinguish between two timelines: the order in which the films were released and the chronological events they depict. For a better understanding and appreciation of the complete story, you’ll want to watch the movies in the following sequence:

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016): Set in 1926, this movie is the first prequel spin-off in the Harry Potter universe.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018): The second installment in the prequel series, which takes place a few years later.
3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001): The first movie in the main Harry Potter series and the beginning of Harry’s journey at Hogwarts.
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002): The second film, following Harry’s second year at Hogwarts.
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): The third movie, featuring Harry’s third year and the introduction of Sirius Black.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005): In the fourth film, Harry competes in the Triwizard Tournament.
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007): The fifth movie, where Harry and his friends form Dumbledore’s Army.
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009): The events of the sixth film explore Voldemort’s past and a vital potion book.
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010): The first part of the final movie, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Horcruxes.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011): The epic conclusion to the story, with the final battle between Harry and Voldemort.

This list covers all the movies in the Harry Potter universe, including the main saga and the Fantastic Beasts prequels. By watching the movies in this chronological order, you’ll experience the storyline’s development in the order the events unfolded for the characters. As a professional, this is the recommended order to enjoy the wizarding world cohesively.

Details of The Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order

In this section, we’ll discuss how to watch the Harry Potter movies in chronological order, which includes the Fantastic Beasts movies, the main Harry Potter series, and The Cursed Child.

The Fantastic Beasts Movies

Before diving into the world of Harry Potter, you should start with the prequel films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. These movies are set in the 1920s, decades before the events of the main series, and follow the adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander.

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

The Main Harry Potter Series

Once you’ve watched the Fantastic Beasts movies, you can move on to the main Harry Potter series. These films, based on the books by J.K. Rowling, depict the life and adventures of young wizard Harry Potter and his friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The movies should be viewed in the following order:

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

The Cursed Child

After completing the main Harry Potter series, you can explore the story of Harry’s life as an adult in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This is not a movie but a two-part stage play set 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows. If you can’t attend a live performance, you can read the published script, which is available as a book, to understand the chronological order of the Harry Potter universe fully.

Potterverse Expanded Universe

As you explore the Potterverse, it’s essential to know the chronological order of the films to fully immerse yourself in the rich world of wizards and magic. Beginning with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series, the universe has expanded to include prequels and spin-offs, bringing the total number of films to 11.

Chronological Order of the Films:

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) – Set in the 1920s, this film introduces Newt Scamander and his adventures in New York City. It offers a unique look into the magical world before the events of the main Harry Potter storyline.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) – This sequel to Fantastic Beasts delves deeper into the dark wizard Grindelwald’s sinister plans and strengthens the connections to the world of Harry Potter.
3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) – The first film in the main Harry Potter series, which introduces young wizards Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they embark on their journey at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – The trio returns to Hogwarts for their second year, uncovering dark secrets hidden within the school.
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – As they enter their third year, the friends encounter the story of Sirius Black, a dangerous fugitive with connections to Harry’s past.
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) – The excitement of the Triwizard Tournament overshadows Harry’s fourth year, where he finds himself competing against other wizarding schools.
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) – Emphasizing the return of the dark lord Voldemort, Harry and his friends create a secret defense group called Dumbledore’s Army.
8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) – As their sixth year unfolds, the dark forces around Hogwarts become more apparent, and Harry learns more about Voldemort’s past.
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010) – As the final battle approaches, the trio leaves Hogwarts to search for the Horcruxes – items containing pieces of Voldemort’s soul.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) – The epic conclusion to the series where Harry, Ron, and Hermione continue their quest and face Voldemort in the final showdown.
11. Untitled third Fantastic Beasts film (expected in 2022) – This upcoming film will continue Newt Scamander’s story and further explore the magical world in the years preceding Harry Potter’s arrival at Hogwarts.

By following this chronological order, you’ll be able to experience the full scope of the Potterverse and gain a better understanding of the characters, magical creatures, and connections between them. Happy viewing!

Last Updated : 05 November, 2023