Every Harry Potter movie in order and where to watch them
Harry Potter movies are the best, aren't they? Over twenty years after the first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the magical world of witchcraft and wizardly is still our favourite way to escape from the real-life horrors of the world.
We can't get enough of the tremendous trio that is Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron) as they navigated the trials and tribulations of student life at the unconventional boarding school Hogwarts. And of course, what better way to pay tribute to the wonderful Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall) than a movie night spent watching some of her most beloved work?
Honestly, each time we watch the movies, we feel enamoured by the spell-binding storylines, which also include other popular HP characters such as Draco Lucius Malfoy, Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore and Hagrid. So, if you too are looking for an all-night session of all the Harry Potter movies, here are all the details of the movies, including their order, what they're about, their critics' ratings and where you can watch them now.
In which order were the Harry Potter movies released?
If you're looking to watch by release date, you want to cover the Harry Potter titles and then Fantastic Beasts:
- 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)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
What's happening with the upcoming Harry Potter TV show?
Warner Bros are planning to air a Harry Potter TV series, with a season dedicated to each novel. Filming is very much underway, with a 2027 release for the first season confirmed.
Castings so far include John Lithgow as Album Dumbledore, I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall and comedian Nick Frost as Hagrid. JK Rowling is attached as an executive producer, as is David Heyman who produced all of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.
Seeing as there will be a TV season for each novel, there is hope that the story will be delved into even deeper than in the movies – perhaps even the most minute of details from the books will make it onto screen. Big news for super fans.
“This new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years,” Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content said about the project.
September 2024 saw a casting call go out for young actors to play Harry, Ron and Hermione. According to the casting call, the team behind the series are "committed to inclusive, diverse casting," and applicants had to "submit qualified performers, without regard to ethnicity, sex, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated."
Will any of the old faves be making a return? The OG Harry Daniel Radcliffe has said he won't be. “My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere," he told ComicBook.com. “So I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”
How do you watch Harry Potter movies in chronological order?
If you're a die-hard fan, this is definitely one to try. Although the Fantastic Beasts series was released after the Harry Potter one, it is set before Harry starts at Hogwarts.
All titles are currently available to watch on Sky Cinema, Now TV and Netflix.
We've listed the order to watch the films below, for all you true Potterheads:
Jaap BuitendijkFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
For this light-hearted romp, we are taken back to the 1920s, where Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander accidentally releases magical beasts into the world – wreaking magical havoc, of course. He quickly enlists the help of Jacob (Dan Fogler) to help him on his mission. Also stars Katherine Waterston. The film was inspired by a textbook from Harry's very first year at Hogwarts.
Released in: 2016
Movie run time: 2 hours 13 minutes
Netflix synopsis: While visiting New York in 1926, the courageous and eccentric wizard Newt Scamander uncovers a sinister plot that threatens the wizarding community.
Warner BrosFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Gellert Grindelwald (played in this instalment by Johnny Depp) is on a Voldemort-style mission to build an army of wizards to rule over non-magic folk. Newt (Eddie Redmayne) and a young Dumbledore (Jude Law) set out to stop him.
Released in: 2018
Movie run time: 2 hours 14 minutes
Netflix synopsis: As the dark wizard Grindelwald gains ground, Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to locate a teenager whose mysterious affliction might turn the tide.
Warner BrosFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Mads Mikkelsen plays a war-hungry Grindelwald in this next chapter. Dumbledore and Newt are executing their plan to stop him from attaining political power, using their own army of wizards and creatures to put up a fight.
Warning: This one isn't well reviewed at all – so maybe skip it if you're keen to get to the nostalgic Harry Potter classics.
Released in: 2022
Movie run time: 2 hours 23 minutes
Netflix synopsis: When Grindelwald threatens to destroy all Muggles, Professor Dumbledore enlists Newt Scamander to lead a squad of wizards and witches to take him down.
© Warner Brothers International TelevisionHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Where it all began. The first movie in the series sees an orphaned boy named Harry Potter enrol in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself and his family while coming into contact with the terrible evil that haunts the magical world.
Released in: 2001
Movie run time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Netflix synopsis: 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.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
There quickly becomes more drama in store for Harry, who returns to Hogwarts despite the advice of a house elf. He's joined by his newfound friends Hermione and Ron as they attempt to get to the bottom of a mystery that has left students and creatures terrified.
Released in: 2002
Movie run time: 2 hours 41 minutes
Netflix synopsis: Harry ignores Dobby's warnings not to return to Hogwarts and teams up with Ron and Hermione to investigate a mysterious series of attacks.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
It's never-ending for Harry as he learns of Sirius Black's plans to kill him. However, when he runs into him, he realises that not all is what it seems, and he and his pals set out to explore the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a massive threat to his existence.
This one is arguably one of the best Harry Potter movies, if not the best ever, for a few reasons. First of all, Gary Oldman stars as Sirius Black, we have a slightly kookier directing style from Alfonso Cuarón and the introduction of some of the most key areas of Harry Potter lore that will go on to inform the rest of the movies/books.
Released in: 2004
Movie run time: 2 hours 22 minutes
Netflix synopsis: In his third year at Hogwarts, Harry faces extreme danger yet again when Voldemort sympathiser Sirius Black escapes from prison to hunt down Harry.
Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock PhotoHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry is unwittingly put into a dark and dangerous conspiracy when he gets chosen as a fourth participant in the inter-school Triwizard Tournament. Can he come out on top and reign triumphant again?
This is the movie when sh*t gets super real – no spoilers, of course.
Released in: 2005
Movie run time: 2 hours 37 minutes
Netflix synopsis: In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter competes alongside young wizards from faraway schools in the treacherous Tri-Wizard Tournament.
© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and Dumbledore's warnings about the return of Lord Voldemort fall on deaf ears by wizard authorities who attempt to undermine the pair as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.
We see Imelda Staunton become instantly hateable as Ministry official and Hogwarts teacher Professor Umbridge, and the stakes get higher and higher for Harry and his friends.
Released in: 2007
Movie run time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Netflix synopsis: 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.
TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy Stock PhotoHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
There is further mystery as Harry comes across an old potion textbook belonging to someone named the Half-Blood prince while also simultaneously learning more about evil Voldemort's haunting past and rise to power.
Released in: 2009
Movie run time: 2 hours 33 minutes
Netflix synopsis: 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.
©Warner Brothers Intl TelevisionHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Harry, Ron and Hermoine are forced into hiding while cracking the clues left behind by Dumbledore to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes as he takes over the Ministry of Magic.
Released in: 2010
Movie run time: 2 hours 26 minutes
Netflix synopsis: The first installment of the two-part conclusion to the Harry Potter series finds Harry leaving Hogwarts to destroy the remaining Horcruxes.
wbitv.comHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
In the final showdown, the squad, Harry, Ron and Hermoine, race against time to destroy the remaining Horcruxes amid the final battle at Hogwarts.
Released in: 2011
Movie run time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Netflix synopsis: 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.
