By watching the Harry Potter series in chronological order, it can help to make sense of some of the events in the movies that seem confusing when they are watched in release order.
For example, in the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry learns about the existence of Voldemort, but he doesn’t learn about his backstory until the sixth movie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The Fantastic Beasts movies are set about 70 years before the events of the Harry Potter books, so they give us a glimpse into the wizarding world before Harry was born. The movies also help to explain the backstory of some of the characters and events that we see in the Harry Potter books.
The Harry Potter universe is vast and complex, and it can be difficult to keep track of all the different stories and timelines. With the recent release of the Hogwarts Legacy video game, the Fantastic Beasts films, and the ongoing Broadway play, it can be even more confusing to know where everything fits in.
To help you make sense of it all, we’ve created a complete chronological guide to the Harry Potter universe.
All The Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order
The Harry Potter series is a seven-book fantasy series that follows the lives of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The books have been adapted into an eight-film series, and there are also three prequels in the Fantastic Beasts series, a play, and several video games.
| Watch Order | Film (Year) | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) | 133 min |
| 2nd | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) | 134 min |
| 3rd | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) | 142 min |
| 4th | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) | 152 min |
| 5th | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) | 161 min |
| 6th | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) | 142 min |
| 7th | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) | 152 min |
| 8th | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) | 138 min |
| 9th | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) | 153 min |
| 10th | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) | 146 min |
| 11th | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) | 130 min |
| 12th | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Theatre Play (2016) | Part 1: 120 min Part 2: 105 min |
Before beginning your Harry Potter marathon, learn how long each movie is with and without credits.
Where Does the New Hogwarts Legacy Video Game Fit Into the Timeline?
Hogwarts Legacy (2023), a new video game for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, is set in the 1890s, before the events of the Harry Potter films (1990s). This places it in the same time period as the Fantastic Beasts series, but about 70 years earlier.
The game will feature many references to the films and characters of the Harry Potter universe. Players will see familiar family names, and Hogwarts Castle will remain largely unchanged. They may even encounter some familiar faces, such as Rubeus Hagrid and Madam Hooch. However, the game is not a direct adaptation of the films, and it will feature its own original story and characters.
It’s also been hinted that the Hogwarts Legacy franchise could expand further in future, opening up new potential timelines.
Watch 1st: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Set in: 1926
The first film to start Harry Potter chronologically is “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”. This film takes audiences back to a time long before Harry Potter stepped foot in Hogwarts. The story follows Newt Scamander, an eccentric magizoologist who arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase brimming with magical creatures.
While the film primarily introduces us to the wizarding world in America, it subtly threads connections to the Potter series. Newt’s Hogwarts affiliation and an eventual dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald serve as precursors to key aspects in Harry Potter’s timeline.
While the film doesn’t directly introduce Hogwarts or Voldemort, it lays down the historical groundwork that shapes these integral elements in the Harry Potter series.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” has an iMDB rating of 7.2/10. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 2nd: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Set in: 1927
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is the second installment in the Fantastic Beasts series, continuing the adventures of Newt Scamander. As a darker narrative unfolds, the wizarding world becomes increasingly divided.
For those watching in chronological order, this film builds significantly upon the foundation set in the first movie. It deepens the political landscape of the wizarding world, setting the stage for the ideological conflicts we see later in the Harry Potter series. Familiar family names resurface, and new details about Hogwarts and Albus Dumbledore are revealed, offering a richer understanding of the environment in which Harry Potter’s story will eventually play out.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” has an iMDB rating of 6.5/10. It’s available for streaming on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required)
Watch 3rd: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Set in: 1932
The third installment, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” sees the stakes rise even further in the wizarding world. With the dark wizard Grindelwald’s power growing, Albus Dumbledore, the future headmaster of Hogwarts, entrusts Newt Scamander with a crucial mission that will take audiences on another thrilling adventure.
In the chronological viewing order, this film marks a significant point as it begins to further tie the events of the “Fantastic Beasts” series to those of the “Harry Potter” series. This movie shines a light on Albus Dumbledore, one of the most crucial figures in Harry Potter’s life. It uncovers the backstory and the secrets of Dumbledore, enriching the understanding of his character that will become central in the Harry Potter timeline.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” has an iMDB rating of 6.2/10. It’s available for streaming on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (expected after theatrical window), and Now TV (UK) (Subscription Required)
Watch 4th: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Set in: 1991
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” marks the start of Harry’s journey, a young boy who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is the son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. Harry is whisked away to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. He learns about his parents, makes new friends, and begins to uncover the dark mysteries that haunt his new home.
For fans watching in chronological order, this film marks a major shift, jumping from the early 20th-century setting of “Fantastic Beasts” to the late 20th century with the introduction of Harry Potter. The world-building set up in the Fantastic Beasts films enriches Harry’s story. It offers viewers a deeper insight into the wizarding world and its history, helping them better understand the events that have shaped it.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” has an iMDB rating of 7.6/10. You can find it on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 5th: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Set in: 1992
“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” ushers Harry and his friends into their second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This chapter unveils an ancient legend about a hidden part of the school known as the “Chamber of Secrets.” As students encounter a series of unnerving events, Harry, Ron, and Hermione find themselves at the heart of a thrilling mystery that they must solve to protect their school.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” enjoys an iMDB rating of 7.4/10. It is available to stream on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 6th: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Set in: 1993
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” propels Harry into his third year at Hogwarts. This installment introduces a dangerous fugitive from the wizarding prison Azkaban, who is believed to be hunting Harry. As this perilous situation unfolds, Harry, along with his loyal friends, uncover more about his past and the intricacies of the magical world.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” has an iMDB rating of 7.9/10. You can watch this film on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 7th: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Set in: 1994
The fourth film in the series, marks Harry’s challenging fourth year at Hogwarts. It revolves around the gripping Triwizard Tournament, a challenging competition involving three wizarding schools. However, amid this excitement, Harry finds himself in unusual danger, revealing a more sinister plot at play. The dramatic events in this film significantly escalate the threat facing Harry and his friends, broadening the scope of the story.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” holds an iMDB rating of 7.7/10. The film is available to stream on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 8th: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Set in: 1995
Harry is in his fifth year at Hogwarts, battling against increased adversities. The Ministry of Magic, blinded by its denial of a resurgent dark force, enforces oppressive rules at Hogwarts, resulting in an undercurrent of rebellion. In response to these trials, Harry, Hermione, and Ron take a stand, forming an alliance called “Dumbledore’s Army” to train their peers for the upcoming threats they must face.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” holds an iMDB rating of 7.5/10. This film can be streamed on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 9th: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Set in: 1996
As Harry starts his sixth year at Hogwarts, he stumbles upon a mysterious potions book that once belonged to someone known as the “Half-Blood Prince.” This artifact provides him with a unique edge and serves as a catalyst for several key events in the film. The Half-Blood Prince presents an intricate exploration of the growing threat from the dark forces, an unspoken love triangle, and poignant insights into the past of one of the series’ pivotal characters.
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” boasts an iMDB rating of 7.6/10. It can be viewed on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 10th: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
Set in: 1997
As the story arcs towards its climax, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” elevates the stakes and tension. The wizarding world is now fully immersed in a devastating conflict, and our heroes, Harry, Hermione, and Ron, are no longer safe at Hogwarts. They embark on a perilous quest to complete the mission started by Dumbledore. Their journey is fraught with danger, internal strife, and encounters that test their resolve.
Simultaneously, the mythology of the Harry Potter universe expands with the introduction of the fabled ‘Deathly Hallows.’
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” carries an iMDB rating of 7.7/10. You can watch this gripping penultimate film on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 11th: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
Set in: 1998
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” serves as the epic conclusion to the Harry Potter series. The film continues Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s desperate search for the remaining Horcruxes. Their journey culminates in a climactic return to Hogwarts, where they must defend the school against a full-scale assault from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
This film isn’t just about magical duels and the imminent threat of Voldemort, though. It’s a tale of sacrifice, courage, and love, illustrating the full measure of the characters we’ve grown with since “The Sorcerer’s Stone.”
iMDB Rating & Where to Watch: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” enjoys an iMDB rating of 8.1/10. You can watch this cinematic finale on Amazon Prime (rent or buy), HBO Max (subscription required), and Netflix (UK) (subscription required).
Watch 12th: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Theatre Play (2016)
Set in: 2017
In “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”, we venture forth into a future that deals with the legacy of the past. The story unfolds nearly two decades after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry is now an overworked Ministry of Magic employee and a father of three. His youngest son, Albus Severus Potter, is struggling with the heavy weight of a family legacy he never asked for.
The play is available to watch in person at various theatres worldwide, including London’s West End, Broadway in New York, Hamburg and Tokyo. Booking details and availability can be checked on the official “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” website. Please note that due to its unique nature as a theatre performance, the viewing experience will vary depending on the location and production.
All The Harry Potter Movies in Release Order
| Film (Year) | Length |
|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) | 152 min |
| Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) | 161 min |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) | 142 min |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) | 152 min |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) | 138 min |
| Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) | 153 min |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) | 146 min |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011) | 130 min |
| Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) | 133 min |
| Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Theatre Play (2016) | Part 1: 120 min Part 2: 105 min |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) | 134 min |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) | 142 min |
Read more: Real-Life Ages of the Harry Potter Actors and Characters Throughout the Movies