The Harry Potter series is one of the most successful film franchises of all time, but with numerous releases, viewers may wonder what order they should watch them in. This raises some interesting questions, as the existence of the Fantastic Beasts trilogy means audiences must weigh the benefits of watching in either chronological or release order.

There are benefits to both routes, as the sprawling World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, first envisioned by J.K. Rowling in her best-selling fantasy book series, can be experienced in many different ways. With 11 films released between 2001 and 2022, the franchise offers fans endless ways to experience its magic.

The Harry Potter Movies In Chronological Order

When looking at the cinematic depictions of the World of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it’s actually the Fantastic Beasts series that comes first, as the story of Newt Scamander pre-dates Harry Potter’s time at Hogwarts. Set in 1920s New York, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first film chronologically and tracks Newt’s adventures researching and rescuing magical creatures.

The next two films continue Newt’s story while also expanding upon the complex relationship between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, which had merely been alluded to in the mainline Harry Potter series. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore take viewers through the 1920s and 1930s and address the battle against Grindelwald’s dark army.

Fast forward several decades until we finally get to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which introduces audiences to Harry’s discovery of his wizard heritage and first year at Hogwarts. From here begins an eight-film saga in which Harry, Ron, and Hermione must work together to battle the threat of the malevolent dark wizard Lord Voldemort.

The Harry Potter Movies In Release Order

When watching the Harry Potter movies in release order, viewers must first begin with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone from 2001 and watch the entire eight-film series one after another until they reach Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 from 2010. This tells the complete saga of Harry’s time at Hogwarts and his fight against Voldemort.

However, with so much rich lore and unanswered questions, the mainline Harry Potter series had plenty of room for expansion, and the original book writer, J.K. Rowling, opted to make the prequel franchise Fantastic Beasts. These tell the story of the author, magizoologist Newt Scamander, while also further outlining the backstory of Dumbledore and his conflict with Grindelwald.

The prequel series comprises three films: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from 2016, The Crimes of Grindelwald from 2018, and The Secrets of Dumbledore from 2022. While Rowling had envisioned the Fantastic Beasts series as a five-part franchise, mixed reviews and underwhelming box office returns meant that this was the last film in the series.

Which Is The Best Order To Watch The Harry Potter Movies?

For viewers coming to the Harry Potter series for the very first time, watching in release order would make the most sense. Although the Fantastic Beasts series is the first to occur within the chronology of the franchise’s universe, this is not the most effective way to be introduced to the World of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Fantastic Beasts wasn’t meant as an introduction to the Harry Potter series, and those prequel films are made with the ᴀssumption that viewers know Dumbledore’s later story. Watching them in chronological order diminishes the sense of wonder, removing the joy of discovering so many magical moments for the first time.

From seeing Platform 9¾ for the very first time to watching Harry slowly appreciate the wonders of magic on Diagon Alley, it’s important to discover the Harry Potter universe gradually, and starting with Fantastic Beasts would immediately throw a viewer into the deep end. Chronological order can be enjoyable for a rewatch, but first-time viewers should stick to release order.

Which Part Of Harry Potter’s Timeline The TV Show Will Cover

Image via HBO

The upcoming Harry Potter TV series on HBO will cover the same ground as the film series and will start by retelling the story of Harry’s first year at Hogwarts as seen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. As a planned faithful adaptation of the books, each season is expected to cover one book in its entirety.

This means the Harry Potter show should be at least seven seasons long, though it could follow Deathly Hallows’ approach and split some of the larger books in half. Since Newt Scamander’s story wasn’t part of the original series, the Fantastic Beasts timeline will likely be absent from the show.

Where Other Harry Potter Releases Fit Into The Timeline

There’s more to the Harry Potter universe than just feature films, as J.K. Rowling has released several companion books, short stories, and extra information. Notable releases include Quidditch Through the Ages, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, an unтιтled prequel short story, and the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

The chronology of these extra releases spans centuries, with the in-universe storybook The Tales of Beedle the Bard predating much of the main series and offering timeless fairy tales without a fixed setting. Quidditch Through the Ages also outlined the entire history of the sport, from the evolution of the flying broomstick right through to contemporary times.

Rowling’s unтιтled prequel was written in 2008 but was set around 1977, as a young Sirius Black and James Potter find themselves embroiled in a conflict with Muggle police. This was an exciting addition to the series lore, as it’s one of just a few releases that explores the time period between the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter movies.

The only release to go beyond the main timeline is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a stage play written by Jack Thorne and co-devised by Rowling. Taking place 19 years after the events of Deathly Hallows, Cursed Child saw Harry’s son Albus arrive at Hogwarts and, after being sorted into Slytherin, struggle to live up to his father’s legacy.

Harry Potter

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

First TV Show

Harry Potter

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen

TV Show(s)

Harry Potter

Movie(s)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

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