Here's the Correct Order of Watching Harry Potter Movies
Do you want to do a Potter marathon today? If you're not familiar with the Harry Potter movies, you might be confused about the correct order to watch them. Don't worry, even die-hard Potterheads sometimes forget the sequence. After all, there are eight movies, as the last book was split into two films.
The Harry Potter movie series is distributed by Warner Bros Pictures. All eight movies are based on J.K. Rowling's novels of the same name. The main characters are played by Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.
Showpoiler is here to help you sort the Harry Potter movies in the correct order so you can enjoy your marathon without any confusion. Here's the correct order of the Harry Potter movies, along with brief summaries for anyone who might be new to the story.
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
The first movie in the series is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, released in 2001. In the UK, it's known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which is the original title of the novel.
The movie follows Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On his 11th birthday, Harry is picked up by Hagrid, the school's groundskeeper, and discovers that he is a famous wizard.
This is a surprise to Harry, who has spent his life being mistreated by his aunt and uncle and bullied by his cousin. In the wizarding world, Harry is known as "The Boy Who Lived," the only person to survive an attack by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents.
On the train to Hogwarts, Harry meets two other students: Ron Weasley, who becomes his best friend, and Hermione Granger, a bright girl born to non-magical parents.
The main conflict in each movie revolves around Voldemort. In this first film, the focus is on the Sorcerer's Stone, an object that can grant immortality, which Voldemort seeks to restore his physical form after losing his body in the attempt to kill Harry as a baby.
The first Harry Potter movie was a huge success, as were the following seven films, completed over the next decade. After "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," be sure to watch the next movie in the series, which we will discuss below.
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
A year after the first movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released. This sequel follows Harry Potter's second year at Hogwarts.
During this time, the Heir of Salazar Slytherin (one of the founders of Hogwarts) opens the Chamber of Secrets, releasing a monster that petrifies the students and staff.
First, it's important to understand that Hogwarts is divided into four Houses, each named after one of its founders: Godric Gryffindor (with a lion mascot), Salazar Slytherin (with a serpent mascot), Rowena Ravenclaw (with an eagle mascot), and Helga Hufflepuff (with a badger mascot).
While buying school supplies with the Weasleys, Harry meets Rubeus Hagrid and Hermione Granger. They also encounter Draco Malfoy (Harry's rival) and his father, Lucius Malfoy. Lucius secretly slips something into Ginny Weasley's (Ron's sister) belongings, but what could it be?
One day, Harry gets detention. On his way back to his dormitory, he hears a strange sound and follows it. He discovers Argus Filch's (the castle caretaker) petrified cat and a message written in blood that reads, "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, enemies of the Heir...beware."
The Chamber of Secrets is a hidden room built by Salazar Slytherin. It contains a monster that can only be controlled by his descendant, the Heir. The monster's purpose is to "cleanse" Hogwarts of muggle-born students, whom Slytherin believed tarnished the purity of wizards.
During a dueling lesson, Draco conjures a snake. Instead of using a spell, Harry talks to the snake, revealing his ability to speak Parseltongue. This rare skill, associated with Slytherin's lineage, leads many at Hogwarts to suspect that Harry is the Heir. But is he really?
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
In 2004, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was released. This movie introduces us to Sirius Black, a convict and supporter of Voldemort who has escaped from Azkaban prison and is believed to be after Harry.
As time passes, it's discovered that Sirius has entered Hogwarts. This development threatens the safety of the students, especially Harry. This film is particularly intriguing because it involves time travel and features numerous plot twists that will leave you astonished.
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
This is the most extravagant-looking Harry Potter movie with the largest new cast, due to the Triwizard Tournament between the three biggest wizarding schools.
However, these new characters are not permanent, so you don’t have to memorize them. On the fun side, you get to see this grand event, but on the darker side, the movie introduces Voldemort's followers, known as Death Eaters.
The Goblet of Fire is where the names of those participating in the Triwizard Tournament are drawn. This time, the tournament is restricted to wizards over the age of 17 due to the threat of Voldemort’s return, and Harry has not yet reached that age.
Each school is supposed to have only one participant, but this time Hogwarts has two: Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff and Harry Potter. Everyone accuses Harry of cheating, even though he is just as confused because he did not put his name in the Goblet of Fire. It turns out this tournament is linked to the Death Eaters. Curious to know more? Watch the movie to find out!
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts is depicted in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." The movie begins with Harry almost getting expelled from Hogwarts for using magic in the human world to save his cousin from a Dementor.
This is strange because Dementors are not supposed to be in the human world. Moreover, Harry used magic in the third movie to inflate his uncle's sister, but he wasn’t expelled then.
This unfair treatment is because the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned, despite Harry and Dumbledore's warnings. This movie is chaotic.
Dumbledore ignores Harry, Bellatrix Lestrange escapes from Azkaban, and Dumbledore is replaced as headmaster by the evil Dolores Umbridge from the Ministry of Magic.
As Umbridge's control over the school grows, Harry, Hermione, and Ron form a secret group to train students in defense spells, as Umbridge refuses to teach them.
This group is called "Dumbledore's Army," which leads to Dumbledore's dismissal, as the Ministry fears this "Army" might be used against the government.
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
At school, Harry and Ron have to borrow textbooks for Potions class, as they don’t have their own. Harry’s borrowed book is worn and filled with handwritten notes. It belongs to the "Half-Blood Prince," who added instructions, spells, and tips that help Harry excel in class.
Once, Harry fights Draco and uses the sectumsempra spell from the book, which turns out to be a curse. Worried about the book's other dark secrets, Harry hides it in the Room of Requirement with Ginny's help.
The main conflict in this movie revolves around Horcruxes, dark magic objects that make wizards immortal by hiding parts of their souls in them. Harry and Dumbledore believe Voldemort used this magic and set out to destroy all the Horcruxes.
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I (2010)
Hell begins. Harry's life is not safe, and neither is the wizarding or muggle world. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" marks the beginning of the end for Harry's story.
Amidst chaos, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to separate from everyone else and search for the Horcruxes on their own. Many unpleasant things occur. Ron and Harry have a major fight, and they are later captured by a Death Eater.
Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the wizarding and muggle worlds. He assigns Draco Malfoy a secret mission to kill Albus Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Severus Snape makes an "Unbreakable Vow" with Draco's mother to protect Draco and complete the task if Draco fails.
8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 (2011)
This movie is still part of the same final story, just split into two because of its length. In this finale, Harry finally faces Voldemort in a one-on-one battle. Many sacrifices are made in the fight to eliminate Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
Does Harry win, or does Voldemort defeat him? Watch to find out and settle this burning question.
To watch the Harry Potter movies in order, follow this sequence: "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), and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" (2010/2011).