OrderToWatch

Wizarding World watch order

Harry Potter movies in order, release and chronological. Updated October 20, 2026.

Start the Wizarding World with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and watch the eight Harry Potter films in order. The three Fantastic Beasts films are set decades earlier and come first chronologically, but their payoffs (Dumbledore, Grindelwald, the Lestranges) lean on Harry Potter, so they work best after.

How to watch the Harry Potter movies in order: the full guide

All 11 films and series in the Wizarding World franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001); the first in chronological order is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (set in 1926).

Release order

  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Movie, 2001): Harry arrives at Hogwarts: the place to start.
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Movie, 2002): Year two, and an early clue to Voldemort's Horcruxes.
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Movie, 2004): Year three introduces Sirius Black and Lupin.
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Movie, 2005): The Triwizard Tournament ends with Voldemort's return.
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Movie, 2007): Dumbledore's Army and the fight at the Ministry.
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Movie, 2009): Snape's secret and the Horcrux hunt begins.
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Movie, 2010): Harry, Ron and Hermione on the run.
  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Movie, 2011): The Battle of Hogwarts ends the saga.
  9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Movie, 2016): Newt Scamander in 1920s New York; a prequel best watched after the Harry Potter films.
  10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Movie, 2018): Grindelwald's rise and a young Dumbledore.
  11. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (Movie, 2022): The last Fantastic Beasts film so far.

Chronological order

  1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (set in 1926): Newt Scamander in 1920s New York; a prequel best watched after the Harry Potter films.
  2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (set in 1927): Grindelwald's rise and a young Dumbledore.
  3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (set in 1932): The last Fantastic Beasts film so far.
  4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (set in 1991): Harry arrives at Hogwarts: the place to start.
  5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (set in 1992): Year two, and an early clue to Voldemort's Horcruxes.
  6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (set in 1993): Year three introduces Sirius Black and Lupin.
  7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (set in 1994): The Triwizard Tournament ends with Voldemort's return.
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (set in 1995): Dumbledore's Army and the fight at the Ministry.
  9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (set in 1996): Snape's secret and the Horcrux hunt begins.
  10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (set in 1997): Harry, Ron and Hermione on the run.
  11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (set in 1998): The Battle of Hogwarts ends the saga.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Harry Potter movies in?

Start the Wizarding World with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) and watch the eight Harry Potter films in order. The three Fantastic Beasts films are set decades earlier and come first chronologically, but their payoffs (Dumbledore, Grindelwald, the Lestranges) lean on Harry Potter, so they work best after.

How many Harry Potter movies and shows are there?

There are 11 titles in the Wizarding World franchise: 11 films and 0 series, released from 2001 to 2022.

How long does it take to watch all the Harry Potter movies?

About 26 hours for all 11 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (8 titles) take about 20 hours.

What is the first Harry Potter title in chronological order?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, set in 1926. In release order the first is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001).

Which Harry Potter titles can I skip?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.