Harry Potter Movies in Order: Complete Guide (Including Fantastic Beasts)

All Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Movies at a Glance

Harry Potter Movies 1–8: The Main Saga

The eight Harry Potter films follow the journey of the Boy Who Lived from his discovery of the wizarding world at age 11 to the final Battle of Hogwarts at 17. Together, they form one of the most consistent and beloved film series of all time — even the weakest entries have moments of magic that other franchises can only dream of. Sorcerer's Stone (7.6) is a warm, wonder-filled introduction with flawless casting — Robbie Coltrane's Hagrid, Alan Rickman's Snape, and Maggie Smith's McGonagall are perfect from frame one. Chamber of Secrets (7.4) is more of the same but darker, introducing the basilisk and Tom Riddle's diary with a genuinely unsettling mystery at its core. Prisoner of Azkaban (7.9) is where the series grows up — Alfonso Cuarón's direction gives the Wizarding World a lived-in, textured feel, and the time-turner climax is one of the most satisfyingly constructed sequences in any blockbuster. Goblet of Fire (7.7) brings the darkness in earnest with the Triwizard Tournament and Voldemort's resurrection. The film is overstuffed and rushes through the book, but the graveyard scene is pure nightmare fuel.

The Later Years: Order of the Phoenix Through Deathly Hallows

Order of the Phoenix (7.5) is the most politically charged entry — Imelda Staunton's Dolores Umbridge is one of cinema's greatest villains precisely because she's so terrifyingly realistic. No dark magic, no monstrous appearance — just bureaucratic cruelty backed by institutional power. The film introduces Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch, perfectly cast) and delivers the devastating prophecy reveal at the Ministry of Magic. Half-Blood Prince (7.6) is the most atmospheric entry — it's a moody, melancholy film about teenage love, memory, and the weight of destiny. The cave scene with Dumbledore and Harry is some of the best filmmaking in the franchise. Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (7.7) is a road movie that lets the trio's relationship breathe — the camping sequences are slow for some but rewarding for those who love the character dynamics. The Tale of the Three Brothers animation is a gorgeous highlight. Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (8.1) is the highest-rated Harry Potter film on IMDb — the Battle of Hogwarts is everything a finale should be, with Snape's memories, Mrs. Weasley's 'Not my daughter, you bitch!' moment, and Harry's walk into the forest hitting every emotional note perfectly.

Fantastic Beasts 1–3: The Prequel Era

The Fantastic Beasts series takes the Wizarding World back to 1920s New York, Paris, and eventually Bhutan, following magizoologist Newt Scamander and his battle against the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (7.2) is a charming, wonderfully weird introduction — Eddie Redmayne's Newt is an endearingly awkward protagonist, and the creatures themselves (especially Pickett the Bowtruckle and the Niffler) are genuinely delightful. The Crimes of Grindelwald (6.5) suffers from middle-chapter bloat — it introduces too many characters, retcons too much established canon, and wastes Johnny Depp's Grindelwald in a meandering plot. The Secrets of Dumbledore (6.2) rights the ship somewhat with Jude Law's Dumbledore taking center stage and Mads Mikkelsen replacing Depp as a more menacing Grindelwald, but the trilogy never recaptured the magic of the original Potter series. Warner Bros. has confirmed that Fantastic Beasts 4 and 5 are on indefinite hold, making this a truncated prequel arc.

Best Order for a Weekend Marathon

If you're planning a weekend Harry Potter marathon, you have two good options. The first is straight release order: all eight Harry Potter films in sequence, then the three Fantastic Beasts films as a coda. This is the simplest approach and the one most fans are familiar with. The second is a chronological marathon that intercuts the Fantastic Beasts films at the beginning: watch Fantastic Beasts 1–3 first (set in the 1920s–1940s), then all eight Harry Potter films (set 1991–1998). The total runtime for all 11 films is just over 24 hours, which means a full marathon across a weekend is doable but demanding. If you've only got one day (say, a Saturday), pick either the four best films or do the Deathly Hallows two-parter back-to-back for a roughly 4.5-hour finale session. For the best weekend experience, we recommend: Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Deathly Hallows Part 1, Deathly Hallows Part 2. That's 9 hours of peak Potter — no filler, just the best the series has to offer.

Harry Potter Movies Ranked from Worst to Best

Using IMDb ratings as our guide, here's how every Harry Potter film ranks from worst to best. At the bottom: Chamber of Secrets (7.4) — it's a faithful adaptation that improved on the book in some ways, but the Dobby subplot and the sheer amount of exposition weigh it down. Next is Order of the Phoenix (7.5), which cuts too much from the book and rushes through the Department of Mysteries sequence. Fifth place is Half-Blood Prince (7.6) tied with Sorcerer's Stone (7.6) — the former has the best atmosphere in the series, the latter has the most magic. Fourth place: Goblet of Fire (7.7) and Deathly Hallows Part 1 (7.7) are tied — the former for the Triwizard Tournament's spectacle, the latter for its intimate character work. Second place: Prisoner of Azkaban (7.9) — the best-directed film in the series, full stop. First place: Deathly Hallows Part 2 (8.1) — a near-perfect finale that delivers on a decade of promises. If you're including Fantastic Beasts, they slot in at the bottom: Secrets of Dumbledore (6.2) and Crimes of Grindelwald (6.5) are the lowest-rated Wizarding World films overall.

Where to Stream the Wizarding World in 2026

As of June 2026, all 11 Wizarding World films are available to stream on both Max (formerly HBO Max) and Peacock in the US, thanks to a rotating licensing agreement between Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal. The films cycle between the two platforms every few months, so if you don't find them on one, check the other. Max costs $10.99/month with ads or $16.99/month ad-free. Peacock is $7.99/month with ads or $13.99/month without. For the most reliable access, both services carry the full library simultaneously during peak promotional periods, but if you only want one service, Max has the more complete Warner Bros. catalog overall. You can also rent or buy individual films on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and YouTube for $3.99–$14.99 each. The films are not currently available on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. HBO's planned Harry Potter television reboot — which will adapt each book as a full season — is reportedly aiming for a 2026 or 2027 premiere on Max.