How to watch

The Harry Potter and Wizarding World movies in the correct order

The complete Harry Potter watch guide 🧙‍♂️

Last updated: July 6 2025

Written by: ChronoChris

Harry Potter is a beloved fantasy series based on the novels by J.K. Rowling, following a young wizard's journey through the magical world of Hogwarts and beyond. The original films captured a generation, and the Wizarding World has since expanded with prequels exploring earlier magical events.

The Wizarding World is home to rich lore, unforgettable characters, and powerful themes of friendship, courage, and sacrifice. Whether you're diving in for the first time or revisiting the magic, the order you watch the movies in can change how you experience the story.

This guide breaks down both the chronological order of events in the Wizarding World, and the original release order of the films.

⏱️ Chronological Order

Chronological order starts with the Fantastic Beasts prequels, taking place decades before Harry’s birth, and moves forward into the familiar story of Harry Potter at Hogwarts.

  1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)IMDb
  2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)IMDb
  3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)IMDb
  4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)IMDb
  5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)IMDb
  6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)IMDb
  7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)IMDb
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)IMDb
  9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)IMDb
  10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)IMDb
  11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)IMDb

This order is best if you want to follow the timeline of the Wizarding World from its roots in the 1920s up through the Battle of Hogwarts and beyond.

đź“… Release Order

Release order offers the experience fans had as the story unfolded in theaters—beginning with Harry’s first steps into the magical world and later expanding with the prequels.

  1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)IMDb
  2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)IMDb
  3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)IMDb
  4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)IMDb
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)IMDb
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)IMDb
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)IMDb
  8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)IMDb
  9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)IMDb
  10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)IMDb
  11. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)IMDb

This path is perfect if you're watching for nostalgia or want to experience the story as it was originally told to audiences.

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you're brand new to the Wizarding World, release order gives the best introduction. But if you're already familiar, chronological order adds deeper context to the world of magic and its history.

Either way, you’ll be swept into a world of wonder, danger, and timeless magic.

đź”— Related Guides

  • Indiana Jones Watch OrderGuide
  • Star Wars Watch OrderGuide
  • Marvel Cinematic Universe Watch OrderGuide

Spotted a missing spell or timeline twist? Let us know so we can update the guide!