This Is The Correct Order In Which To Watch The Harry Potter Movies

Chronologically, the first entry in the entire "Harry Potter" franchise is "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." This movie follows Newton "Newt" Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he arrives in New York City in 1926. Audiences are swiftly introduced to the majority of the "Fantastic Beasts" series' characters, including sisters Tina and Queenie Goldstein (Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol), conflicted Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), and no-maj (aka non magical) baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler). 

We learn a few important things about these characters in the first "Fantastic Beasts" movie, and see them embark on various journeys. Tina and Newt begin a budding relationship, though they're reluctant to pursue it. Newt has a lot going on, as a collector of mysterious and sometimes highly dangerous magical animals that he keeps in his briefcase. He deeply cares about these complex creatures, and also has clear problems with authority. Tina, for her part, is busy working for the Magical Congress of the United States.

Another important thing we learn in this movie is that Newt has a close relationship with powerful wizard Albus Dumbledore, who partially orchestrates Newt's trip to New York. We are also briefly introduced to sinister wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who is trying to manipulate Credence into becoming a practitioner of the dark arts. As Credence is a young wizard who struggles to control his powers, he's easy prey for the ambitious villain.

The final movie in the "Fantastic Beasts" series is "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore." It kicks off in an intense way, by revealing Gellert Grindelwald (now played by Mads Mikkelsen) and Albus Dumbledore's previous romance. Their relationship has since gone astray, which ends up having major consequences for the magical world.

Interestingly, this movie does not close out either Grindelwald's storyline or that of Credence Barebone, now revealed to be Credence Dumbledore. This leaves room for more sequels in the future. However, the film does contain many stand-alone arcs and story moments. One of the most important things it does is clearly establish the prominence and prestige of Albus Dumbledore, whose legendary reputation is seen from an entirely new angle. Here, he's just as brilliant and skilled, but mired in entirely different conflicts from the ones he faces in the "Harry Potter" movies.

For the most part, the "Fantastic Beasts" series stands on its own. There are obviously many carry-over elements between it and the "Harry Potter" movies, but the actual storyline isn't all that closely connected. However, it still makes the most sense to watch the "Fantastic Beasts" series first. Not only is it a canonically earlier storyline, it offers vivid backstories for many characters who later figure in the "Harry Potter" series.

The next film to watch is the direct sequel to "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." This movie furthers the storyline by shedding light on Voldemort's school days. We learn that Voldemort was once Tom Marvolo Riddle (Christian Coulson), a brilliant Hogwarts student with immense promise. He attended school alongside a young Rubeus Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane), and was responsible for the latter boy's incomplete education: Riddle framed Hagrid for opening the Chamber of Secrets, which led to Hagrid's expulsion.

In the modern day, the Chamber of Secrets is opened once more, and most people think Harry's behind it. But in fact, Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) is responsible for setting these events in motion. This makes the cruelty of Voldemort's followers all the more clear: While the Malfoys are shown to be duplicitous in the first "Harry Potter" movie, here, they manipulate young Ginny Weasley into doing their dirty work. 

Most of the main cast appears in this film, minus a few professors and students. There are also some new additions to the character list, including Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), who briefly serves as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Moaning Myrtle (Shirley Henderson), a ghost who haunts the girls' bathroom, Aragog (Julian Glover), a giant spider, and Dobby (Toby Jones) the House-elf.

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is the fourth movie in the "Harry Potter" series. After the previous film's brief respite, the battle between Harry and Lord Voldemort reaches epic new proportions. Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has been slowly regaining his powers, and in this film, he and Harry finally meet face-to-face. This conflict culminates in the death of Harry's schoolmate, Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson), and a brutal battle in a graveyard.

There are many new characters introduced in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," as the main plot involves an international wizarding tournament held at Hogwarts. The most important are Bulgarian Quidditch player Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski), French witch Fleur Delacour (Clémence Poésy), the mysterious Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant), and Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody (Brendan Gleeson).

In addition to furthering the conflict between Harry and Voldemort, this movie also sheds light on the era preceding Voldemort's first downfall. The Dark Lord regains his body in the movie's climax, and summons his fiendish Death Eaters to his side. For the first time, viewers get a full glimpse of the evil that menaced the Wizarding World, before an infant Harry brought it to a temporary end.

Next on our list is "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." This explosive movie explores Voldemort's past and present like never before. Following his actions in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the Dark Lord is completely free and actively building up his legion of Death Eaters.  Back at Hogwarts, Harry and Dumbledore plumb the depths of Voldemort's past through the headmaster's magical Pensieve.

Crucially, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" establishes the existence of Horcruxes. These are objects in which a wizard has concealed part of his soul. Harry and Dumbledore conclude that Voldemort has multiple Horcruxes, which effectively make him immortal. Tragically, their deductions lead them into a climactic battle with the Death Eaters, who are being lead by Professor Snape. With one simple curse, Snape kills Dumbledore.

While this movie does introduce a few new characters like Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) and various Death Eaters, by this point, the majority of main characters have been thoroughly established. Major shake-ups do occur, however, including the beginning of Harry's relationship with Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright). This bond becomes very important in the following two movies.

The final movie in the Wizarding World canon is "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." This film brings closure to most of the series' outstanding questions, and sees Harry and Voldemort's long battle finally come to an end. Harry is able to defeat his enemy by successfully destroying his Horcruxes and mastering the Elder Wand, freeing the Wizarding World from the Dark Lord's tyranny at long last. This requires Harry to embrace his own (temporary) death, as he himself turns out to be one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

This final film also wraps up many of the series' different relationships. Hermione and Ron finally embark on a romantic relationship, while Harry and Ginny resume their own. Additionally, Severus Snape is revealed to have been working on the side of the angels the entire time. An undercover double agent, he reveals his love for Harry's mother with his dying breath. Harry pays tribute to him (and Dumbledore) by naming his son Albus Severus.

Notably, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" features a stirring epilogue. The final scene takes place years in the future, where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny are married adults. They are shown seeing their kids off to Hogwarts, within a world that is safe and at peace.