By Marquee Editorial8 entries
The Harry Potter franchise follows the journey of a young wizard named Harry Potter from his discovery of the magical world on his eleventh birthday through his formative years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and his ultimate conflict with the dark wizard Voldemort. The entries connect as a continuous serialized narrative, tracking Harry alongside his friends Ron and Hermione as they face escalating dangers, uncover magical mysteries, and prepare for a final war. Because the overarching plot develops sequentially across the years and builds directly upon previous character arcs and revelations, watch order matters significantly for first-time viewers.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Movie, 2001
Serves as the foundational starting point, introducing Harry Potter on his 11th birthday as he discovers he is a wizard and begins his education at Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Movie, 2002
Continues the narrative into Harry's second year at Hogwarts, where he faces new dangers as the Chamber of Secrets is opened.

Read what its ending meant, or search for another franchise.
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Movie, 2004
Presents a new threat to Harry's life as the dangerous wizard Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban Prison and heads toward Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Movie, 2005
Places Harry into the Triwizard Tournament as signs of Voldemort's return begin to emerge during a grueling battle for glory.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Movie, 2007
Shows Harry teaching fellow students how to defend against the dark arts when a new professor leaves Hogwarts unprepared to fight evil.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Movie, 2009
Features Dumbledore preparing Harry for the final battle against Voldemort while Death Eaters wreak havoc across the Muggle and Wizard worlds.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Movie, 2010
Follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they leave Hogwarts behind to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes and stop Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Movie, 2011
Concludes the epic quest as Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that grant him the power to vanquish Voldemort once and for all.
| # | Title | Type | Year | Rating | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | Movie | 2001 | ★ 7.9 | Not yet |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Movie | 2002 | ★ 7.7 | Not yet |
| 3 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Movie | 2004 | ★ 8.0 | Not yet |
| 4 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Movie | 2005 | ★ 7.8 | Not yet |
| 5 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Movie | 2007 | ★ 7.7 | Not yet |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | Movie | 2009 | ★ 7.7 | Not yet |
| 7 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 | Movie | 2010 | ★ 7.7 | Not yet |
| 8 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 | Movie | 2011 | ★ 8.1 | Not yet |
Average audience ratings, in watch order.
You should start with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which introduces Harry on his eleventh birthday and establishes his entry into the magical world.
Yes, release order is strictly required because the films form a continuous, serialized narrative that follows Harry's aging, education, and escalating conflict with Voldemort.
None of the entries can be skipped, as every movie contributes vital plot progression, character development, and key pieces toward defeating Voldemort.
Watch in this order: 1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, 8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
This guide lists 8 entries, released between 2001 and 2011.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 has the highest average rating in this guide, at 8.1 out of 10.