The Wizarding World has captured the imagination of fans around the world, but unlike some movie series, there is no numbering to keep up, just titles.
And then there’s the question of the Wizarding World films as well as the Harry Potter story: how exactly do they fit into the big picture?
Unlike some epic movie franchises, the Harry Potter story is sequential, so you have to watch the movies in order. This at least makes things coherent and there are important plot threads running from the first to the last, so any deviation will either ruin the story or leave you confused.
However, we present two orders: the release order, i.e. the release date of the films, and the chronological order in which the films took place in the timeline of the Wizarding World. One of the two versions contains spoilers, so to avoid them if you haven’t seen the movies, click on the links to jump directly to the order you are looking for.
Release order of the Harry Potter films
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
It is the beginning of the Harry Potter story, where Harry is first met on his way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, set in 1991 – but the film was released in 2001. Many of the main characters meet at Hogwarts , including the introduction of Lord Voldemort, Harry’s bitter nemesis, as the action revolves around the Philosopher’s Stone. This stone belonged to Nicholas Flamel, who is only encountered in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Second book in the series and second film, the adventures at Hogwarts continue for Harry Potter and his friends. Lord Voldemort gets stronger and things get a little darker as the kids get older. The film was released in 2002, but is set in 1992.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In the third film there is a change of pace: Sirius Black (the prisoner) is introduced, which has a huge impact on Harry’s story. But it is with the introduction of the dementors that things get darker, with a growing sense of danger. At the same time, the story of the Muggle family becomes less important as Harry embraces his fate. The film is set in 1993, but was released in 2004.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Goblet of Fire is a pivotal moment in the story, which takes the characters into adolescence (Harry is around 14 in this film), introduces teenage themes like relationships, gives us the Quidditch World Cup and Triwizard Tournament. The film begins in 1994 and was released in 2005.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
With Voldemort now a very real threat, the action sees the upheaval of Hogwarts and the rise of resistance against the dark lord – the Order of the Phoenix – and the general denial of a problem by the Ministry of Magic. The film was released in 2007 and is set around 1995.
Harry Potter and the halfblood Prince
The 2009 film is set in 1996 and in many ways is the story of Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore, adding complexity to the Harry Potter story and following the heroes into even more dangerous engagements with the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
The last book of the Harry Potter story becomes two films. The two films are closely related and the first was released in 2010. Harry Potter and his friends decide to skip the final year of Hogwarts to chase after Voldemort and cause his destruction. Much of the film revolves around hunting and destroying Horcruxes, as Voldemort himself seeks the Deathly Hallows, wanting to become a master of death.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The second chapter of the Deathly Hallows came out in 2011 and continues the missions of the first chapter, with much more Hogwarts-focused action, including the great Battle of Hogwarts. The film picks up various threads from previous films, such as the Chamber of Secrets and more Potterlore, and brings the story to an action-packed conclusion.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes its name from the Hogwarts textbook of the same name, written by Newt Scamander, star of the Fantastic Beasts movies. The films are a prequel to the Harry Potter series, as they take up many of the themes of the wizarding world but with a different story arc. In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander arrives in New York in 1926 to work as a magizoologist, but becomes involved in a magical plot.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Fantastic beasts fade into the background as the plot shifts to the pursuit of Grindelwald, who wants to establish a higher order of wizards than Muggles. We meet a young Dumbledore, who links back to the Harry Potter films, but many of the characters from the first Fantastic Beasts also return, in addition to those mentioned in other films, such as Nicholas Flamel. The film is set in 1927 but was released in 2018.
Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets
The third installment of Fantastic Beasts’ tales picks up where The Crimes of Grindelwald left off, seeing a team of familiar heroes come together to stop Grindelwald’s plans. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald, replacing Johnny Depp, and sees the return of Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law. It was released in theaters on April 8, 2022 in the UK and Ireland, on April 15 in the United States. The events of the film take place in 1932.
Harry Potter movie release order (spoiler-free)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or Harry Potter and the Haunted 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 halfblood 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: Dumbledore’s Secrets
Chronological order of the Harry Potter films (no spoilers)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (1926)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (1927)
- Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets (1932)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or Harry Potter and the Haunted Stone (1991)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1992)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1993)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (1994)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (1995)
- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (1996)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (1997)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (1998)
