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The Harry Potter movies in chronological order from Philosopher's Stone to the Fantastic Beasts trilogy
Plus, how to watch all the films online
The Harry Potter films will forever be iconic - it’s been over 20 years since the first movie hit cinemas (yes, really), and we’re still just as obsessed. If you’re planning a rewatch, a proper movie marathon is the way to go - and let’s be honest, watching them in order is a must. Whether it’s raining outside or you’re just in full cosy mode, there’s no better way to spend a Sunday. So, if you’re ready to dive back into the magic, here’s how to watch all the Harry Potter films in release order:
The Harry Potter movies in chronological order
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
And if you were to include the Fantastic Beasts movies:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
And then based on popular opinion, in the order of how well regarded they are:
The Harry Potter movies ranked by IMDb rating
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 - 8.1 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 7.9 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 7.7 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 - 7.7 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 7.6 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone / Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 7.6 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 7.5 / 10
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 7.4 / 10
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - 7.2 / 10
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - 6.5 / 10
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - 6.2 / 10
Is Fantastic Beasts before or after Harry Potter?
While the movies came out after the original films, Fantastic Beasts actually takes place before the events of Harry Potter. Released between 2016 and 2022, Fantastic Beasts serves as a prequel, diving into the wizarding world of the 1920s and 1930s - decades before Harry's time at Hogwarts. While Harry Potter follows the boy wizard discovering magic, Fantastic Beasts follows a younger Dumbledore, a rising dark wizard (Grindelwald), and plenty of magical creatures. It's a deeper dive into how the world we know from Harry Potter was shaped.
No matter how much the cast grow up and change, rewatching our old Hogwarts faves in action still feels like a big warm hug. From Harry, Ron and Hermione to Draco, Dumbledore and Snape, returning to Hogwarts in screen form always feels like coming home. And spending an hour (or 20!) in the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry is still the ultimate form of escapism. Also, now we've got the Harry Potter TV show to look forward to, which is expected to be released next year.
So, if you're planning a big night in, here's your guide to watching all of the Harry Potter films in order online. And the best part is? The Harry Potter movies are now available on Netflix, which is perfect for any evenings in (or whole weekends at home, no judgement!) you've got lined up.
Time to grab the popcorn and enjoy!
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone - 2001
Film length: 2 hours 12 minutes
IMDb says: An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world.
Netflix says: On his 11th birthday, Harry Potter learns that he's a powerful wizard with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rating: 7.6/10
We say: The original and first Harry Potter film, perfect for a kick of nostalgia. See a very young (were they even teenagers?!) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint take on the roles of Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley for the first time.In the movie, Harry enrols at Hogwarts after Hagrid reveals he's a wizard, and there he meets his best friends, Hermione and Ron. The trio must hunt down the philosopher's stone, to keep it from strengthening Voldemort.
Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets - 2002
Film length: 2 hours 41 minutes
IMDb says: An ancient prophecy seems to be coming true when a mysterious presence begins stalking the corridors of a school of magic and leaving its victims paralysed.
Netflix says: Harry ignores Dobby's warnings not to return to Hogwarts and teams up with Ron and Hermione to investigate a mysterious series of attacks.
Rating: 7.4/10.
We say: The giant chessboard scene is iconic, but this was probably one of the first times we felt genuinely scared of Voldemort. Anyone else? No?In the second movie, we meet Dobby for the first time, who warns Harry he is in danger during his second year at Hogwarts. He then must figure out what's going on, when a message in blood explains "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the heir... beware."
Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire - 2005
Film length: 2 hours 37 minutes
IMDb says: Harry Potter finds himself competing in a hazardous tournament between rival schools of magic, but he is distracted by recurring nightmares.
Netflix says: In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter competes alongside young wizards from faraway schools in the treacherous Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Rating: 7.7 / 10.
We say: Arguably the best of all the films, and not just because it features Cedric Diggory (but mainly because it features Cedric Diggory) aka Robert Pattinson. Also thanks to the line, "The Chinese fireball, oOoOoh."In this film, Harry enters the Triwizard Tournament, but quickly discovers he's up against more than just other students.
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - 2004
Film length: 2 hours 22 minutes
IMDb says: Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.
Netflix says: In his third year at Hogwarts, Harry faces extreme danger yet again when Voldemort sympathiser Sirius Black escapes from prison to hunt down Harry.
Rating 7.9 / 10.
We say: Say hello to Sirius Black! Harry learns more about himself and his family roots than ever before. In his quest to find out about his past. Professor Lupin, a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, plays a big part in the film - as does the Marauder's Map.
Harry Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix - 2007
Film length: 2 hours 18 minutes
IMDb says: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.
Netflix says: Learning that his warning about the return of Voldemort has been ignored, Harry trains a group of students to defend themselves against the dark arts.
Rating: 7.5 / 10.
We say: Ugh. Dolores Umbridge. Harry and a group of fellow students attempt to defend Hogwarts against the rising tide of evil she introduces. The death eaters are prominent, and Harry and Dumbledore must work together for the greater good.
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - 2009
Film length: 2 hours 33 minutes
IMDb says: As Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts, he discovers an old book marked as "the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort's dark past.
Netflix says: When Harry finds a book owned by the mysterious Half-Blood Prince, he uses it to get close to the one person who may hold the key to defeating Voldemort.
Rating: 7.6/10.
We say: An old potions book leads Harry to more clues about Tom Riddle's life, while Severus Snape also takes centre stage. Malfoy's fascination with the vanishing cupboard also comes to light, while the lead trio's love lives are explored more than ever before. No spoilers!
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 - 2010
Film length: 2 hours 26 minutes
IMDb says: As Harry, Ron, and Hermione race against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of the three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.
Netflix says: The first installment of the two-part conclusion to the Harry Potter series finds Harry leaving Hogwarts to destroy the remaining Horcruxes.
Rating: 7.7 /10.
We say: Harry, Ron and Hermione spend most of this film in a tent hunting horcruxes. It also features the saddest of all HP scenes (you know the one) and is based on the final Harry Potter book (although it's split into two films.)
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 - 2011
Film length: 2 hours 10 minutes
IMDb says: Harry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.
Netflix says: Just as things begin to look hopeless, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills.
Rating: 8.1 / 10.
We say: The highest rated of the Harry Potter films also happens to be the last, as the ongoing battle between good and evil concludes. The highest rated Harry Potter film, which must be saying something.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - 2016
Film length: 2 hours 13 minutes
IMDb says: In 1926, magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York during his worldwide tour to research and rescue magical creatures as something mysterious leaves trails of destruction in the city, threatening to expose the wizarding world.
Netflix says: While visiting New York in 1926, the courageous and eccentric wizard Newt Scamander uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the wizarding community.
Rating: 7.2 / 10
We say: The first prequel in the Fantastic Beasts story about the author of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, which was used as a textbook in the 'Care of Magical Creatures' class during The Philosopher's Stone.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - 2018
Film length: 2 hours 14 minutes
IMDb says: Gellert Grindelwald plans to raise an army of wizards to rule over non-magical beings. In response, Newt Scamander's former professor, Albus Dumbledore, seeks his help to stop him.
Netflix says: As the dark wizard Grindelwald gains ground, Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to locate a teenager whose mysterious affliction might turn the tide.
Rating: 6.5/10
We say: A young Albus Dumbledore played by Jude Law? How could we say no?
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - 2022
Film length: 2 hours 23 minutes
IMDb says: Albus Dumbledore knows that Gellert Grindelwald is moving to take control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he asks Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team on a dangerous mission.
Netflix says: When Grindelwald threatens to destroy all Muggles, professor Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to lead a squad of wizards and witches to take him down.
Rating: 6.2 / 10
We say: The lowest rated movie in the whole Harry Potter / Fantastic Beasts franchise. The less said about this, the better.
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