How Many Harry Potter Movies Are There?
There are 8 Harry Potter movies, released from 2001 to 2011 — from Sorcerer’s Stone (called Philosopher’s Stone outside the US) to Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The seven books became eight films because the last book was split in two. Add the 3 Fantastic Beasts prequels and the whole Wizarding World reaches 11 films — with a new HBO series now on the way.
The clean answer is 8 movies. Add the 3 Fantastic Beasts films for the full Wizarding World total of 11 — everything else depends on what you count.
All 8 Harry Potter movies in order
The correct watch order is simply release order — each film covers one school year, so the story runs straight through 1 to 8. Toggle to sort by length if you’re planning a marathon.
“Sorcerer’s Stone” or “Philosopher’s Stone”?
Same movie. The US release was retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; the UK and the rest of the world kept the original Philosopher’s Stone. The studio worried “philosopher” sounded too dull for American kids. Some scenes were even filmed twice to match each title.
How much did the movies make?
The franchise is one of the highest-grossing of all time — and uniquely, it ended on its biggest film, not a fading one.
The 3 Fantastic Beasts movies
Beyond the main eight, the Wizarding World expanded backwards in time with the Fantastic Beasts prequels, set decades before Harry was born and following the magizoologist Newt Scamander. Originally planned as a five-film series, it has paused at three.
Newt Scamander arrives in 1920s New York. The first Wizarding World film not centred on Harry.
The dark wizard Grindelwald rises; a young Dumbledore enters the story.
The third and (so far) final Beasts film. The planned five-film series was paused after this one.
So the full Wizarding World film count is 8 + 3 = 11 movies — though “Harry Potter movies” strictly means the original eight.
Where to watch the Harry Potter movies (2026)
This is one of the most-searched Harry Potter questions — because the streaming home keeps moving. Pick your region below for where the eight films live right now, plus rental options that don’t depend on the rotation.
Last updated mid-2026. Streaming rights change frequently and vary by country — a quick check on JustWatch or the app itself is always worth it before you commit.
The cast: who played who
The trio were cast as children and grew up across a decade of filming — alongside a roll-call of Britain’s finest actors.
Cast at 11; grew up on screen across all eight films.
The brains of the trio; her first-ever professional acting role.
Harry’s loyal best friend and comic heart of the group.
Rowling secretly told him Snape’s ending early, so he could play the long game.
The stern, beloved head of Gryffindor house.
The gentle half-giant gamekeeper who first tells Harry he’s a wizard.
The noseless dark wizard, from Goblet of Fire onward.
Harry’s school rival and Slytherin foil.
Where were the movies filmed?
Hogwarts is a patchwork of real British places, stitched together with sets at Leavesden Studios near London (now the Warner Bros. Studio Tour you can visit). A few of the most recognisable real locations:
Is there a new Harry Potter movie?
Not a new movie — a new TV series. There are no plans for a ninth Harry Potter film; instead, HBO is making a book-accurate series that adapts each of the seven novels as a full season, with the depth two-hour films never had. Season one, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, is expected around Christmas 2026.
It features an all-new young cast — Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron — with established actors as the adults (John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, Nick Frost as Hagrid). The original eight films aren’t going anywhere; the series sits alongside them as a fuller retelling.
Why eight movies felt like growing up
The eight films pulled off something almost no franchise has matched: the cast aged in real time with the audience. The children who watched Sorcerer’s Stone at seven were teenagers by Deathly Hallows — and so were Daniel, Emma and Rupert. The films literally grew darker, longer and more grown-up as everyone in front of and behind the screen did too.
That’s also why the new HBO series is a fascinating gamble. It can be more faithful, more detailed, more complete — but it can’t recreate the one trick the movies got for free: a generation and its heroes growing up together, one film a year, in public.
Eight movies, ten years, one childhood. However many adaptations come next, that’s the number that will always mean “Harry Potter” to the people who lived it.
The Harry Potter movies quiz
Eight questions on the films, the order, the cast and the new series. No cheating with a Time-Turner.
Frequently asked questions
How many Harry Potter movies are there?
Eight in the main series (2001–2011), from Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone to Deathly Hallows Part 2. With the three Fantastic Beasts prequels, the full Wizarding World has 11 films.
What order should I watch the Harry Potter movies in?
Release order, which is also the story order: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, then Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Part 2. For the wider world, the Fantastic Beasts films are set earlier but were made later.
Why are there 8 movies but 7 books?
The final book, Deathly Hallows, was split into two films — there was too much story for one, and splitting finales became a trend afterward.
Where can I watch the Harry Potter movies?
In the US, all eight stream on HBO Max, rotating to Peacock during seasonal windows; you can also rent or buy them on Amazon, Apple TV and Google Play. In some regions (UK, Australia, Japan, Ireland) they’re on Netflix.
What is the first Harry Potter movie called?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the US; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone everywhere else. It’s the same 2001 film.
Is there a new Harry Potter movie coming?
No new film is planned, but HBO is making a book-accurate TV series — one season per book — with a new cast. Season one is expected around Christmas 2026.
How long would it take to watch all 8 movies?
About 19 hours and 39 minutes of film — roughly 20 hours for a full marathon of the main series.
Sources
- Warner Bros. — eight Harry Potter films (2001–2011); Deathly Hallows split into Parts 1 and 2.
- Wizarding World / Wikipedia — three Fantastic Beasts films (2016–2022); UK/US title difference for film one.
- Streaming guides (2026) — HBO Max as the primary US home, rotating to Peacock; Netflix in select regions.
- HBO & press announcements — book-accurate series, one season per book; new cast (McLaughlin, Stanton, Stout); season one ~Christmas 2026.
Related
Eight movies, eleven across the whole Wizarding World, and a new series on the way — but the original eight are the ones a generation grew up with, one school year at a time.