Watch Order Generator
Harry Potter Watch Order
Watch Wizarding World in release order, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and finishing with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). In story order you would start with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) instead. All 11 films run about 26 hours in total.
Release order keeps every twist and reveal intact. Best for a first watch.
1.Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2001 · 2h 32m
The beginning of the main story, introducing Harry, Hogwarts and the friends who stay throughout.
2.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002 · 2h 41m
Second year at Hogwarts, and it plants an object that matters a great deal much later.
3.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
2004 · 2h 21m
Third year, where the tone darkens and key figures from Harry's parents' era arrive.
4.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
2005 · 2h 37m
The turning point of the series, shifting it from school adventure toward open conflict.
5.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2007 · 2h 18m
Fifth year, with the Ministry interfering at Hogwarts and a resistance group forming.
6.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2009 · 2h 33m
Sixth year, largely devoted to setting up the quest that fills the final two films.
7.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
2010 · 2h 26m
The first half of the finale, leaving Hogwarts behind for the search that Part 2 completes.
8.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
2011 · 2h 10m
The conclusion of the eight-film story, continuing straight on from Part 1.
9.Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2016 · 2h 13m
OptionalAn optional prequel arc with a separate cast, skippable if you only want Harry's story.
10.Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
2018 · 2h 14m
OptionalThe middle prequel, optional overall but worth watching in order if you start the arc.
11.Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
2022 · 2h 22m
OptionalThe latest prequel entry, still optional and not required for anything in the Potter films.
Which order is right for you
Release order vs story order
The eight Harry Potter films tell one continuous story and are best watched in release order, which matches their in-universe timeline exactly. The three Fantastic Beasts prequels are set decades earlier in the 1920s and 30s, so chronological order moves them to the front. We recommend release order and treating Fantastic Beasts as an optional prequel arc.
Release order follows the real-world dates the films came out. It is usually the safest choice for a first watch, because every reveal, cameo, and callback lands the way audiences experienced it at the time.
Story order follows the in-universe timeline instead, so prequels and period-set entries jump forward in the list. For Wizarding World that means starting with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) rather than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001). Switching orders moves 11 of the 11 titles. It is a good second pass once you already know the saga.
Planning a marathon? Work out the schedule with the Binge Watch Calculator, or browse every franchise watch order.
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This tool uses data from The Movie Database (TMDB). This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.