All 8 Harry Potter movies in order (and where to watch)

The Harry Potter movies remain one of the most popular movie franchises of all time, even more than two decades after the movies premiered in theaters.

The Harry Potter movies are based on J.K. Rowling's book series of the same name. The first book, Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone, was published in the United Kingdom in 1997. Less than four years later, the first film, known in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, hit theaters.

The series tells the story of Harry Potter, played by Daniel Radcliffe, who is raised by his aunt and uncle after his parents were killed in a car crash when he was a baby. Well, that's what he's been told anyway. Everything changes on his 11th birthday when Harry learns that he is, in fact, a wizard, that his parents were wizards, and he will be starting his training at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He also learns that his parents didn't die in a car crash; they were killed by Lord Voldemort. Harry survived the attack, vanquished the Dark Lord, and is very famous in the Wizarding World because of it.

That's where the story begins! We shared all eight Harry Potter movies in order, along with information about the cast and creative team, trailers for each movie, and where you can stream them right now.

As of Sept. 1, 2024, you can watch all eight of the Harry Potter movies on MAX right now. In August, the movies were available to stream on Peacock, but they left the streamer service for MAX. If you have a cable or satellite subscription, you can watch the Harry Potter movies on USA, SYFY, and E! when the Harry Potter marathons are happening. Check your local listings for more information.

The movies are also available to rent or buy on SVOD on Amazon, YouTube, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

• Release Date: Nov. 10, 2001
• Director: Chris Columbus
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffiths, Tom Felton, Julie Walters, Harry Melling, John Cleese, Matthew Lewis, Zoë Wanamaker, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, David Bradley, Alfred Enoch, Ian Hart, Bonnie Wright, Devon Murray, Warwick Davis, David Bradley, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first movie of the Harry Potter franchise. The story begins on Privet Drive in Little Whinging where Harry Potter, a baby, is dropped off at the home of his aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, by Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid.

A decade later on his 11th birthday, Harry Potter receives his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and discovers his life up to this point has been a lie. He is a wizard, but not just a wizard, he is the wizard who defeated the Dark Lord, also known as Lord Voldemort, as a baby.

When Harry arrives at Hogwarts, he is sorted into the Gryffindor House where he befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry begins his lessons in wizardry. Throughout the year, Harry learns that someone or something is trying to steal something very important from Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione spend the year studying, playing Quidditch, getting into trouble, and trying to solve a very important mystery.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is easily one of the best of the series. It's such an incredible introduction to this world. While the creative team took some creative liberties, it's a good adaptation that hits all of the main points without losing any of the magic.

Currently, the film holds an 81% critical approval rating and an 82% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

• Release Date: Nov.15, 2002
• Director: Chris Columbus
• Writer: Steves Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Fiona Shaw, Bonnie Wright, Julie Walters, Harry Melling, John Cleese, Matthew Lewis, Zoë Wanamaker, Alfred Enoch, Devon Murray, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Warwick Davis, Gemma Jones, Toby Jones, Jamie Waylett, Joshua Herdman, Mark Williams, Luke Youngblood, Robert Hardy, Christian Coulson, David Bradley, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second movie of the film franchise. Although he is very nearly expelled for crashing Arthur Weasley's flying car into the Whomping Willow, Harry returns to Hogwarts for his second year of lessons. Think things would be easy after halting the Dark Lord's return in his first year? Well, think again!

In the film, Hogwarts is under attack of a mysterious monster after one of the students, the alleged heir of Slytherin, re-opnes the Chamber of Secrets and lets the monster loose. Dumbledore is under pressure to stop the attacks and find out who is responsible by Cornelius Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, and the Ministry of Magic. Meanwhile, Harry find a mysterious diary that promises the answers to his questions.

Luckily, Gilderoy Lockhart, the famous author and new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, knows exactly what to do!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in my opinion, is one of the weakest of the Harry Potter movies. I know there many fans who enjoy this film, but in terms of what happens and how it all plays out, it's just not one of my favorites.

The film still has a high score on Rotten Tomatoes with an 82% critical approval rating and an 80% audience rating.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

• Release Date: May 31, 2004
• Director: Alfonso Cuarón
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Michael Gambon, Bonnie Wright, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Griffiths, Alan Rickman, Julie Walters, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Emma Thompson, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Chris Rankin, Mark Williams, Matthew Lewis, Devon Murray, David Bradley, Robert Hardy, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the best of the Harry Potter movies, to me. The film is the third movie of the series. After besting Lord Voldemort for a second time in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is at risk after a dark wizard, Sirius Black, has escaped Azkaban, the Wizarding World's prison. Harry learns that Sirius had ties to his parents and was arrested in connection with their deaths. In his third year at Hogwarts, Harry also has a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin, who was a friend of Harry's parents.

Throughout the film, Harry tries to stay one step ahead of Sirius Black, fending off Dementors, which some say are the worst part about prison, and saving the life of a magical creature.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban changes everything about the trajectory of this franchise. Everything you thought you knew about the story of Lord Voldemort, Harry's parents, and the night they died gets flipped on its head in this movie.

Overall, the entire cast reached a new level in this movie, compared to the first two movies of the franchise. The performances from Gary Oldman and David Thewlis elevated Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Richard Harris, who starred as Albus Dumbledore in the first two movies, passed away between the second and third movies. Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in the final six movies, replaced Harris as the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban has a 90% critical approval rating and 88% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

• Release Date: Nov. 18, 2005
• Director: Mike Newell
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, Robert Pattinson, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, David Tennant, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Mark Williams, Julie Walters, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Chris Rankin, Katie Leung, Miranda Richardson, Stanislav Ianevski, Clémence Poésy, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth movie of the Harry Potter series. It definitely marks the shift to a much darker future for the Harry Potter movies.

In the movie, Harry accompanies the Weasleys to the Quidditch World Cup before heading to Hogwarts where Hogwarts is competing against two other magic schools, Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institue, in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. When someone enters Harry into the Goblet of Fire, which chooses the Hogwarts champion for the tournament, even though he's too young, Harry is forced to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament against wizards who are older and more talented.

For the fourth year in a row, Hogwarts has a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. This year, Mad-Eye Moody, an auror, takes the job at Hogwarts. He forms a close bond with Harry, despite his unconventional methods. Throughout the film, Harry tries to hold his own in the Tri-Wizard Tournament while also trying to figure out who entered him into the competition and why.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is one of the longest books in the series. Unfortunately, from this point on, the writers and directors have to make some big choices to work around some of the improtant

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is another one of the best Harry Potter movies. It holds an 88% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

• Release Date: July 11, 2007
• Director: David Yates
• Writer: Michael Goldenberg
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Felton, Imelda Staunton, Ralph Fiennes, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, David Bradley, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Katie Leung, George Harris, Natalia Tena, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth movie of the Harry Potter franchise. Following the death of Cedric Diggory in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, the Ministry of Magic refuses to believe Harry's story and continues to tell the public that Lord Voldemort has not returned, which plays right into Voldemort's hand.

Dumbledore, Sirius Black, the Weasleys, and the others who fought against Lord Voldemort the first time re-form the Order of the Phoenix, a special organization to fight the war that the Ministry of Magic refuses to accept is at its doorstep.

Without the support of the public and others at school, Harry feels alone and isolated. The Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge to the new Defense Against the Dark Arts position and changes the curriculum at Hogwarts.

With a little push from his friends, Harry, Ron, and Hermione start Dumbledore's Army. It's a school club where Harry teaches them actual defensive spells and how to duel should they be accosted by Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

Meanwhile, Harry is suffering from terrible visions and dreams because of his connection to Lord Voldemort. When he learns that Voldemort is trying to steal an important weapon from the Ministry of Magic, Harry and his friends take action.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has a 78% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

• Release Date: July 15, 2009
• Director: David Yates
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, David Bradley, Emma Thompson, Helen McRory, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Katie Leung, George Harris, Natalia Tena, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth movie of the series. It picks up shortly after the events of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

In the Battle at the Ministry of Magic, Sirius Black is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. The Ministry of Magic finally has proof that Voldemort has returned and the Death Eaters are gathering others to their ranks, but there's little they can do to stop the rise of the Dark Lord.

Harry feels a tremendous amount of guilt for Sirius's death, and he struggles to move on. At Hogwarts, Harry accompanies Dumbledore in courting a new Potions instructor, Professor Horace Slughorn. Severus Snape becomes Harry's sixth and final Defense Against the Dark Arts profession. After adding Potions right before term, Harry picks up an old Potions book on the first day of class that belongs to the "Half-Blood Prince." The book contains all sorts of great information about potions and spells.

Harry also begins taking classes, you could say, with Dumbledore. They begin to look back at memories of those closest to Lord Voldemort before he "broke bad."

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is one of the darkest yet best movies in the franchise. It holds an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

• Release Date: Nov. 19, 2010
• Director: David Yates
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, John Hurt, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Katie Leung, George Harris, Natalia Tena, Emma Thompson, Helen McRory, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Domhnall Gleeson, Peter Mullan, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book of the series, was split into two parts. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 follows Harry's journey to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes following the death of Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Voldemort and his Death Eaters take control of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts, and other magical institutions. During Bill and Fleur's wedding at the Burrow, Death Eaters in the name of the Ministry of Magic descend on the wedding. Harry, Ron, and Hermione barely escape and make it to the Black family's home on Grimald Place. From there, they try to find out more information about the Horcruxes and how to defeat Voldemort.

Albus Dumbledore also leaves Harry, Ron, and Hermione several interesting items in his will, which lead the trio to seek out the Deathly Hallows, as well. The Deathly Hallows consist of the Elder Wand, the Cloak of Invisibility, and the Resurrection Stone. Together, the holder becomes the Master of Death.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is one of the worst movies in the series. There's a lot going on, but it's not a natural story. That happens sometimes when the studios split books into two movies.

The film holds a 77% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

• Release Date: July 15, 2011
• Director: David Yates
• Writer: Steve Kloves
• Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Ralph Fiennes, Jim Broadbent, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Ciaran Hinds, John Hurt, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Evanna Lynch, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Katie Leung, George Harris, Natalia Tena, Emma Thompson, Helen McRory, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Julie Walters, Mark Williams, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Domhnall Gleeson, Peter Mullan, Gemma Jones, and more
• Where to watch: MAX

In the eighth and final movie of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are reeling from the death of Dobby, but they know they must finish the task Dumbledore assigned them. There are only a few horcruxes left to destroy, and they know where at least one is located. Harry, Ron, and Hermione enlist the help of Griphook, the Goblin, to help them break into Bellatrix Lestrange's vault.

From there, their search for Horcruxes leads them back to where it all began: Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Lord Voldemort knows Harry is heading for Hogwarts, too. When Harry arrives they only have a short time to prepare and search for the Horcrux before Voldemort and the Death Eaters lay siege to the castle.

Harry meets Voldemort face-to-face to try to destroy the final Horcrux and end the Second Wizarding Wart once and for all.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is one of the highest-rated movies in the franchise. The film boasts a 96% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.