Harry Potter Movie Marathon: In the Original Release Sequence

Lumos! Author J.K. Rowling opens the doors to a magical world unknown to many through her Harry Potter books. If you’re a muggle (non-magic person) who has no idea about the magical world that awaits you, this is your opportunity. Here are the Harry Potter movies in their original sequence you can binge-watch.

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

Wax Figure of Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise starts with “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” The movie introduces Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), an orphan who lives under the cupboard of his relatives’ home. Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), a high-giant wizard, visits Harry and tells him his true identity and about the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry enrolls in the school and meets new friends Ronald Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) on the train. The fateful encounter starts the adventure of the Golden Trio.

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” is the second franchise installment. The movie continues the adventure of Harry and his friends in his second year at Hogwarts. It introduces the mysterious Chamber of Secrets, a secret room at Hogwarts housing Salazar Slytherin’s dangerous pet. 

Slytherin is known for his strong dislike for muggles and “muggle-borns,” wizards with non-magical parents. His pet is infamous for targeting these people. With this animal on the loose, “muggle-borns” at Hogwarts, including Hermione, are in danger. 

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” sees Harry and his friends returning to Hogwarts, where they face danger from an escaped prisoner named Sirius Black. The movie slowly unravels the truth behind Black’s imprisonment and his connection to Harry’s parents.

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” introduces the Triwizard Tournament, an inter-school magical contest between three reputable wizarding schools. Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic join Hogwarts in this traditional competition, which only happens every five years.

Despite not being qualified, Harry’s name came out of the Goblet of Fire, the magical item that decides the champions who will represent the schools. He faces more danger than just the challenges in the competition. 

5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

In the fifth installment, “Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix,” Harry and his friends meet a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). Umbridge represents the Ministry of Magic, the government that rules the Wizarding World and wants to rule over the school, too. Harry experiences discrimination from the new professor through suppression of his movements, specifically in self-defense training.

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

The growing threat from Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and his death eaters looms greatly in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” The movie opens a new outlook to headmaster Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and Professor Severus Snape (Alan Rickman), the villainous Potions teacher. Dumbledore has sessions with Harry to tell him everything about Voldermort and prepare him for the fight he can’t escape. 

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Actor Rupert Grint at premiere of Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 1

Director David Yates and J.K. Rowling divided the seventh book into two movies. The first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” narrates the start of the darkest time since Voldemort’s first rise. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to fulfill the secret mission given by Dumbledore instead of going to a death eater-run Hogwarts. They continue to hunt and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes, the key to ending his fake immortality.

8. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” marks the end of an era. In the final installment, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort finally face each other in a standoff. In what is now known as the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort leads his death eaters to Hogwarts, along with snatchers, dementors, werewolves, and a few giants. 

The Order of the Phoenix, professors, and adult students fortify Hogwarts and fight back. The battle ends when Harry defeats Voldemort with a stupefy (disarming spell).

9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is the first installment in the Fantastic Beasts trilogy and the ninth movie in the Harry Potter franchise. Set in 1926, the movie follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a wizard who studies magical creatures. He arrives in New York with his magic briefcase.

Chaos ensues when all the creatures escape. He has to collect them all with the help of muggle Jacob Kowalski (Dan Folger) and sister witches Porpentina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol).

10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” shows Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), the Voldermort of his time. Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) asks Newt Scamander for help to stop Grindelwald as he forms an army to eliminate all non-magical people.

The movie also focuses on Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), who is mistaken for Leta Lestrange’s (Zoe Kravitz) long-lost brother. It ends with a cliffhanger.

11. Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore (2022)

The next installment in the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore,” dives deeper into Albus’ past and his relationship with Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen). With a blood pact to never fight each other, Albus can’t go against Grindelwald despite wanting to stop his evil plans.

10 Movies Fans Have Seen Once and Absolutely Don’t Want to Watch Again

Confused woman watching a movie in the theatre.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos/Deklofenak.

Are you ready to dive into a collection of films that left audiences uneasy, stressed, or scarred? Users shared their experiences with these intense and unforgettable cinematic journeys in a thread discussing the most impactful movies.

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