Are you ready for a bit of magic in your life? This ultimate list of Harry Potter movies in order has you covered!

Do you remember waiting outside the bookstore for that new Harry Potter book? Admittedly that wasn’t me. I didn’t dive into the world until I was already and adult. And though *whispers: I prefer Percy Jackson* I had a lot of fun reading the stories. But I remember the hype when the movies started coming out, and everyone was so excited to see the world of Harry Potter come to life. My kids are finally at an age where I can introduce them to the Harry Potter Movies, and it’s a great movie choice for a series of Family Movie Nights, because everybody will want to know what happens next! 

Of course, the Harry Potter Movies don’t make much sense unless they’re in the right order. So let’s check out this comprehensive list of the Harry Potter movies in order of the story and make sure you use our free movie checklist to keep track!

1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – 2001

This is where it all begins. Harry Potter finds out he’s a wizard and gets to go to Hogwarts for the first time. He befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, two fellow first-year students. Together, they unravel the mystery surrounding the Philosopher’s Stone and face the dark wizard He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or Lord Voldemort, laying the foundation for the epic adventures that lie ahead.

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – 2002

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry returns to Hogwarts for his second year of school despite warnings from house-elf Dobby. When students and faculty are plagued by mysterious attacks, Harry and his friends unravel the truth around the Chamber of Secrets. 

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – 2004

Yep, you guessed it. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban covers Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, and this one won’t be quiet either. When Harry hears of Sirius Black, an escaped prisoner believed to be a follower of Voldemort with plans to kill Harry, he is worried. But when he finally meets Sirius, things take a very interesting turn. 

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – 2005

During Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts, the school is hosting the Triwizard Tournament, a prestigious and dangerous competition between three magical schools. Harry gets entered into the tournament against his will and has to go through dangerous challenges in the tournament. Meanwhile, news is spreading of Voldemort’s return, and it all comes to a head during the Triwizard Tournament finale. 

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – 2007

Nobody in the wizarding world believes that Voldemort has returned. Harry and his friends form a secret organization at Hogwarts called the Order of the Phoenix to fight against the dark lord. Meanwhile, they also have to deal with a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who has it out for them. 

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – 2009

During his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry dives deeper into the history and secrets surrounding Voldemort and learns of his secret to immortality. At the same time, Harry finds an old potions textbook that used to belong to ‘the Half-Blood Prince’ and investigates further. 

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 – 2010

After Voldemort takes control of the Ministry of Magic, Harry and his friends have no choice but to go into hiding and battle him in secret. They go on a quest to find and destroy all 7 Horcruxes, which hold the key to Voldemort’s immortality. 

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 – 2011

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Harry and his friends continue their mission to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes so they can defeat him once and for all. Hogwarts becomes the battleground for the final battle, and with the fate of the wizarding world hanging in the balance, there is a lot riding on the epic last battle between Harry and Voldemort. 

Harry Potter’s story is a rollercoaster of friendships and enemies, good and evil and so much more. And it’s so worth the ride! 

Luckily, the makers of Harry Potter also missed the epic movie series, so upon the 20th anniversary they created: 

9. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

This special documentary celebrates the 20th anniversary of the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Old cast members return to reminisce about their experiences on set and share behind-the-scenes stories. It’s a nostalgic and heartfelt look back at the beloved movies. 

But luckily the magic doesn’t stop there! Warner Bros. couldn’t get enough of the Wizarding World (and neither could we!), so they dove into the world of Fantastic Beasts

10. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in the 1920s, where we meet Newt Scamandar, a magizoologist, who arrives in New York City with a magical suitcase full of magical creatures. When some of his creatures escape, Newt gathers a group of unlikely friends to help get them back. Until they stumble upon a dark plot that threatens the magical and non-magical world. 

11. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – 2018

After learning about a dark plot by Gellert Grindelwald, Newt Scamandar joins forces with a young Albus Dumbledore to keep the wizards and no-majs (non-magical people) safe. As Grindelwald gains power and followers, Newt and his allies must work together to stop him. 

12. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – 2022

During this final installment in the Fantastic Beasts series, Albus Dumbledore, Newt Scamander and their allies must stop Gellert Grindelwald from eliminating all no-majs (or muggles). They devise a plan to stop him, but how long can Dumbledore stay on the sidelines? And what is he hiding? 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is such a rich world, that families love to revisit time and time again. Many people prefer the Harry Potter movies over the Fantastic Beasts ones, but it can be fun to explore a new part of a magical world! I’d highly recommend a series of Family Movie Nights to take a journey through the world of Harry Potter.

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