The Harry Potter series is one of the most beloved and popular book and film franchises of all time. With 8 films and a spinoff franchise in Fantastic Beasts, deciding the proper viewing order can be a daunting task for new and existing fans alike.
This comprehensive guide will provide the ideal Harry Potter viewing order to fully appreciate the films, their connections, and unfolding storyline. We’ll provide watching options for first-time viewers, Potter purists, and those looking for a fresh perspective.
How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order
For those who want to experience the full saga from the beginning, watching the Harry Potter movies in timeline order is the way to go. Here is the chronological viewing order:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) – Set in 1926
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) – Set in 1927
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’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)
Watching the series in chronological order allows viewers to start at the very beginning of J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world, long before Harry Potter’s story begins. The Fantastic Beasts films provide important historical context about the First Wizarding War and prominent figures like Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald.
Then the story seamlessly transitions to Harry’s arrival at Hogwarts and beyond. This creates a rich, unified viewing experience and lets you appreciate all of the connections between the different characters and eras.
Pros:
- Provides full backstory and world history from the beginning
- Lets you experience Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s full character arcs
- Transitions smoothly into Harry Potter’s timeline
- Creates an immersive, unified viewing experience
Cons:
- Prequel story can feel disconnected from Harry’s journey
- Harry Potter films get postponed 10+ hours into viewing
- Reveals some plot points and surprises early
How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Release Order
For many fans, watching the Harry Potter films in the order they were released is still the preferred viewing order:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’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)
This order allows viewers to start with Harry’s origin story and journey through Hogwarts in real time, just as original fans did. The Fantastic Beasts prequels come at the end as almost spinoff “bonus material” that expands the history after you’ve finished Harry’s core narrative.
Pros:
- Matches original theatrical release for organic viewing
- Allows Harry Potter films to shine as core storyline
- Provides prequels as extra world expansion at the end
- Preserves some plot surprises and reveals
Cons:
- Prequels feel disconnected from main Harry storyline
- Fantastic Beasts assumes viewer knowledge from Harry films
- World history and context come late in viewing
How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies in Ultimate Order
For newcomers looking for the full magical experience, watching in ultimate order interweaves the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter series into one epic saga. Here is the viewing order:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (1926)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (1927)
- 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)
This creates a rich tapestry that weaves back and forth between the two timelines. Viewers get the Fantastic Beasts introduction to the Wizarding World followed by Harry’s origins at Hogwarts. The timelines intertwine at strategic points that maximize dramatic irony and connections.
Pros:
- Provides the full expansive Harry Potter experience
- Seamlessly interweaves Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter storylines
- Maximizes dramatic irony and creates “Aha!” moments
- Lets you appreciate references and parallels across films
Cons:
- Jumping between timelines can be confusing for first-timers
- Possible spoilers and giveaways watching Fantastic Beasts 2 before later Harry Potter movies
How to Watch the Harry Potter Movies By Story Arc
For those less concerned with world timeline, you can also watch the Harry Potter films in segmented story arcs:
Harry’s Origin Arc:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
The Sirius Black Arc:
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
The Triwizard Tournament Arc:
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
The Voldemort Returns Arc:
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
The Deathly Hallows Arc:
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
The Prequel History Arc:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
This structure groups the films into distinct story arcs that center around each main narrative thrust. Viewers get a complete experience focused just on that storyline before continuing to the next phase.
Pros:
- Lets you dive deep into each contained story arc
- Clear divisions between narrative segments
- Provides satisfying resolution before each transition
Cons:
- Disrupts overall chronological timeline
- Fantastic Beasts prequels feel disconnected at the end
Alternative Ways to Experience the Harry Potter Movies
Beyond these core structures, fans have come up with creative ways to re-experience the Harry Potter films:
- The “Voldemort” Order – Structured to follow Voldemort’s gradual return, with some flashbacks via Pensieve
- The “Horcrux” Order – Follows the path to destroying Voldemort’s Horcruxes
- “Hogwarts Mystery” Order – Designed so the mysteries unfold for viewers as Harry investigates each year
- The “Saga” Order – Cuts and combines the films into a trilogy (Origin Saga, Middle Saga, Final Saga)
These alternative options provide unique viewing experiences that highlight different aspects of the overall narrative. They can breathe new life into the series for fans looking to recapture the magic in a fresh way.
Should You Watch the Harry Potter Movies in IMAX?
Many diehard Potter fans will also want to experience the magic of Hogwarts on the giant IMAX screen when possible.
Several of the films were digitally remastered for IMAX release, including:
- 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
Seeing these films in IMAX provides an immersive, visually stunning way to revisit the stories. The level of detail and expanded aspect ratio lets viewers see Hogwarts and the wizarding world like never before.
While not required, watching select Harry Potter films in IMAX can take the experience to the next level for hardcore fans when the opportunity arises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Harry Potter Viewing Order
Still unsure how to approach watching the Harry Potter movies? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Should I watch the Fantastic Beasts movies before or after the Harry Potter movies?
It depends on your preference! Watching Fantastic Beasts first provides full backstory and world history leading up to Harry’s journey. But some may prefer holding off on Fantastic Beasts until completing the main Harry Potter saga first.
Do the Fantastic Beasts movies contain spoilers for Harry Potter?
Fantastic Beasts provides some historical context and character backstories that enrich Harry Potter viewing, but no direct narrative spoilers. However, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald does contain major plot spoilers for later Harry Potter movies.
Do I need to watch all the Harry Potter movies in order?
It’s highly recommended! While each film can stand alone, they build directly upon each other in key ways. Skipping or shuffling films will create narrative gaps, confusion, and loss of emotional impact.
Should I watch the Harry Potter movies before reading the books?
The books provide a richer, more detailed experience, but the films make an excellent introduction to the wizarding world! Just note the movies do diverge from the books in some aspects.
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Is there a way to watch the Harry Potter movies in chronological order with the books?
Here is one possible integrated viewing order that interweaves both the books and movies in chronological story sequence:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Book 1)
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Movie 1)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Movie 2)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Movie 3)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Movie 4)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Movie 5)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Movie 6)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Movie 7)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (Movie 8)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
What’s the total runtime if I watch all Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies?
The total runtime for the core 10 Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films is approximately 1,179 minutes or 19 hours and 39 minutes. Plan your magical movie marathon accordingly!
Experience the Magic of Harry Potter in the Perfect Order for You
Part of the enduring delight of the Harry Potter films is getting to revisit the wizarding world in different ways. While there is no single “right” order, this guide provides multiple viewing options for both new viewers and diehard Potterheads.
Whether you go by chronological timeline, release order, storyline arcs, or an alternative sequence, you’re guaranteed to relive the magic. As Dumbledore says, “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” In the end, the true charm lies in the iconic characters, landscapes, and sheer sense of wonder that no specific viewing order can diminish.
So gather some pumpkin pasties, butterbeer and every flavor beans, then get ready to sit back and enjoy the epic saga of the Boy Who Lived.
