The Harry Potter films are one of the most successful franchises in cinema history, with eight films released between 2001 and 2011. The same core cast grew up on screen alongside their characters, giving the series a continuity that few franchises achieve. An HBO series reboot was announced in 2023, planned to adapt each book as a full season.
| Book | Pub. | Adaptation | Released | Type | Score | Watch on | Get the book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 1997 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone | 2001 | Film | 81% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 1998 | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 2002 | Film | 82% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 1999 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | 2004 | Film | 90% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2000 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2005 | Film | 88% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | 2003 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | 2007 | Film | 77% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2005 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince | 2009 | Film | 84% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2007 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 | 2010 | Film | 77% | Peacock | |
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2007 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 | 2011 | Film | 96% | Peacock |
Watch in release order, which matches the book order. The series tells one continuous story and each film assumes you have seen the previous ones. Prisoner of Azkaban (directed by Alfonso Cuaron) is widely considered the best film. Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the highest rated.
Streaming availability changes monthly. We re-check this table regularly.
Read the books first. The films are good adaptations but compress heavily, especially from Goblet of Fire onward. Readers who start with the books get more from both.
The first two films (directed by Chris Columbus) follow the books most closely. Starting with Prisoner of Azkaban, the films become more cinematic and take greater liberties with the source material.
HBO announced a series reboot in 2023, planning to adapt each book as a full season. This will allow much more detail than the films. Casting and production details are being released gradually.
The films are available on Peacock in the U.S. Availability changes by region and over time. They are also available for digital purchase on most major platforms.
More to read and watch.
The other defining kids' fantasy series. A boy discovers he has special powers and enters a hidden magical world. Same energy, Greek mythology instead of wizards.
Children step through into a magical world. More allegorical and older, but the sense of wonder is the same.
A young mage attends a wizard school and must confront a darkness he unleashed. The literary ancestor of Harry Potter.
Set in the same Wizarding World, decades earlier. The first film is a fun adventure. The sequels are more divisive.
The gold standard for fantasy film adaptations. If the Potter films showed that book-to-screen fantasy works, Tolkien proved it at epic scale.
A faithful adaptation with the author directly involved. If you liked Harry Potter's blend of adventure and mythology, this delivers.