All The Harry Potter Movies In Order, From Sorcerer's Stone To Fantastic Beasts

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Revisit the Wizarding World again and again.

Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
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In 1997, when the first installment of the Harry Potter novels was published, the world was introduced to a wondrous fantasy world, as seen through the eyes of the titular young wizard, that continues to enchant and inspire today. Of course, these adventures might not be as popular today if not for the release of the Harry Potter movies, which broke box office records, received many award accolades, and left their mark on pop culture forever.

The Wizarding World is set to be revived once again as an upcoming Harry Potter TV show, which will eventually be exclusively available to stream with a Max subscription, which is also how you can revisit the original cinematic saga and its prequel series, the Fantastic Beasts movies However, that is not the only way to experience every adaptation of the classic YA fantasy novels, as we will show in our guide for how to watch or rewatch the Harry Potter movies in order of release date.

The Harry Potter Movies

Relive the original eight cinematic adventures starring the world's favorite young wizard on Max... or sometimes with a Peacock subscription... or sometimes on both. The Harry Potter movies like to shift between two of the best streaming services to subscribe to more often than the stairs at Hogwarts change direction.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry, Ron and Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson

Based on: Book 1 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone) introduces everyone to the 11-year-old title hero as he discovers that he is not just a neglected child but a wizard. He then travels to Hogwarts, the magical school where he meets his soon-to-be best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Quickly, our hero is tested when he learns that dark forces reside in Hogwarts trying to bring back He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (or, for those brave souls, Lord Voldemort) in what could be considered a non-traditional Christmas movie for some scenes set during the holidays.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)

The flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Christian Coulson

Based on: Book 2 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ron, Hermione, and Harry return to Hogwarts a little older, a little wiser, and just as troublesome. This time, Harry finds a mysterious diary from a former Hogwarts student named Tom Riddle, which leads Harry and his friends to more danger and mischief.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

Harry and Buckbeak in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman

Based on: Book 3 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: Considered to be one of the absolute best Harry Potter movies is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, in which Harry goes deeper into his parents' past. Also, after learning that presumed Voldemort supporter Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, he fears that the convict is hunting him down with plans to kill him.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire (2005)

Daniel Radcliffe sits uncomfortably between a fighting Emma Watson and Rupert Grint at the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: Mike Newell

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robert Pattinson, Ralph Fiennes

Based on: Book 4 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which marks Ralph Fiennes’ debut as Voldemort, it’s time for the Triwizard Tournament and three magical schools are competing with one 17-year-old representative from each school participating. However, 14-year-old Harry is selected along with Cedric Diggory to represent Hogwarts, which creates a big scandal and, of course, leads to danger.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix (2007)

Sirius Black looking at Harry.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Katie Leung, Imelda Staunton

Based on: Book 5 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: We witness a darker, more cynical Harry in Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix, as our hero forms a secret group known as Dumbledore’s Army to practice defensive spells. The film also sees Harry and his long-time crush Cho Chang explore their feelings for each other and we meet Dolores Umbridge, who is easily one of the worst Harry Potter villains ever, if not the worst.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Bonnie Wright and Daniel Radcliffe kiss in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Bonnie Wright

Based on: Book 6 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters are brewing a wicked plan that will change Harry’s world forever in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which explores the franchise’s coming-of-age themes deeper than the previous films and boasts a few shocking and tragic moments that set the course for the final two movies.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

The gang in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes

Based on: The first half of Book 7 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: The final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was broken down into two films to really flesh out the final story, which revolves around Harry, Ron, and Hermione trying to obtain and destroy the Horcruxes in order to kill Voldemort. Part 1 emphasizes a lot of the emotional turmoil that the trio faces as they are forced to isolate themselves from everyone else and process their losses over the past six movies.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Harry Potter and Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Lewis

Based on: The second half of Book 7 of the Harry Potter series

What it’s about: It’s all coming to an end as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and company face off against Voldemort one last time in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which is fascinating to watch just to see how much the Harry Potter cast had grown. The film reveals all the secrets that have been hidden for seven films, gives fans a big battle between Harry and Voldemort, fulfills all leftover prophecies, and shows the peak of Neville Longbottom’s extreme personality change from a clumsy geek to an honorable hero.

How to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The Fantastic Beasts Movies

Though released years after the final Harry Potter film, the Fantastic Beasts movies are set decades before Harry’s life and time at Hogwarts. If you wanted to watch all of the movies in the Wizarding World chronologically, you’d start with these. However, if you’re completely new to the Wizarding World, it’s advisable to watch by release date and check out the Fantastic Beasts movies after viewing the Harry Potter films.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (2016)

Eddie Redmayne in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller

What it’s about: Set in 1926 and inspired by an in-universe textbook written by J.K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sees Newt Scamander go on an adventure to help an abused and neglected boy named Credence. Newt also has to locate some of his missing creatures and we meet a bunch of other new characters, including an American witch named Tina, her sister, Queenie, muggle/no-maj baker Jacob, and Percival Graves – a wizard detective who is not quite what he seems.

How to watch Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald (2018)

Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Ezra Miller

What it’s about: Following the shocking twist ending of the first Fantastic Beasts, The Crimes Of Grindelwald focuses mainly on Credence, Newt and his family, and scheming by the titular villain. We also meet a younger Albus Dumbledore in a sequel that, despite changes to the established canon, is a magical adventure through and through.

How to watch Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore (2022)

Jude Law in Fantastic Beasts 3

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Director: David Yates

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Jude Law, Mads Mikkelsen

What it’s about: Picking up where the last film left off, the power and influence of Gellert Grindelwald continues to rise after acquiring a devoted following that includes Queenie, much to Jacob’s dismay. Thus, the muggle is recruited to help Albus Dumbledore, Newt Scamander, and others to defeat the evil wizard before it is too late in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which offers new reveals by the ending that would prove to be a shock for longtime fans of the Wizarding World.

How to watch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

If you're looking to check in on what became of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their adult years, check out the stage production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The script for the play is available for purchase, however, since it's a play, it's really meant to be seen on the stage, if you're able to get to one of the cities where it’s showing or catch it on tour.

Jerrica Tisdale
Jerrica Tisdale
Freelance Writer

Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. I have been a life long lover of pop culture, especially television, turned that passion into writing about all things entertainment related. When I'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen.