Watch the Wizarding World movies in release order by starting with the eight Harry Potter films, then the three Fantastic Beasts films. Watch in chronological story order by starting with the three Fantastic Beasts films, then the eight Harry Potter films. The Wizarding World is the shared film series based on the Harry Potter books, following Harry Potter at Hogwarts and, in the prequels, magizoologist Newt Scamander decades earlier. Release order preserves reveals as audiences first saw them, while chronological order follows the in-story timeline from earliest to latest.
Table of Contents
- Which films are included?
- What is the release order?
- What is the chronological story order?
- Which order should you pick?
- Streaming and disc checklist
Which films are included?
The core set is eleven films: eight Harry Potter films and three Fantastic Beasts films. The Harry Potter films follow one continuous school-years story ending in two parts for the final book. The Fantastic Beasts films follow Newt Scamander and the rise of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Stage plays, theme-park shows, and companion books expand the setting but are not part of the film viewing orders. For a complete film marathon, use only the eleven theatrical features. That keeps the plot lines clear and avoids side stories.
What is the release order?
Release order follows the sequence in which the films reached theaters. It begins with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, also released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, then continues through: This order introduces characters, creatures, and terms before later films reuse them.
Effects, casting changes, and tone shifts also make more sense this way. Choose it for a first viewing.
- 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
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
What is the chronological story order?
Chronological order starts with the earlier in-story period, then moves to Harry's school years. It begins with the three Fantastic Beasts films, followed by the eight Harry Potter films in the same internal sequence listed above. The Fantastic Beasts story concerns Newt, Tina Goldstein, Jacob Kowalski, Albus Dumbledore, and Grindelwald. The Harry Potter story then begins with Harry learning he is a wizard and entering Hogwarts.
Watching this way groups the older wizarding politics first and the Hogwarts years second. Expect some callbacks to land differently in this order. Fantastic Beasts contains references that assume familiarity with Hogwarts, Dumbledore, and Voldemort's later rise. The main plot still plays clearly, but mystery and foreshadowing work best in release order.
Which order should you pick?
Pick release order for a first watch, a family marathon, or a rewatch after a long gap. It protects major reveals about Sirius Black, Snape, Horcruxes, and Dumbledore's past. It also lets younger viewers grow with the Harry Potter films before tackling the more political Fantastic Beasts plots.
Pick chronological order mainly for a second viewing or timeline study. It highlights how Grindelwald's movement precedes Voldemort's war, how Hogwarts staff change across generations, and how attitudes toward Muggles and magical creatures shift. Viewers new to the series may find the opening trilogy slower without established attachment to Hogwarts.
Streaming and disc checklist
Availability rotates by country and month, so confirm each title where you watch rather than assuming one service carries all eleven. Use this quick checklist before starting: If titles are split across services, watch in your chosen sequence regardless of app. Keep the same list order from start to finish and note where you stopped after each film.
- List all eleven titles and tick each off as you locate a playable copy
- Check whether Deathly Hallows is listed as one entry or two parts
- Confirm subtitle, dub, and accessibility options for everyone watching
- Check bonus-feature access if you want deleted scenes or filmmaker commentary
- For discs or downloads, confirm regional playback and storage space first