GEEKWizarding World
Eight Harry Potter films tell one continuous story with no branching timelines. Fantastic Beasts is a prequel series set 60+ years earlier, following Newt Scamander, a young Albus Dumbledore, and the rise of Gellert Grindelwald — but it was written assuming you already know Harry Potter, so release order is the better first watch even though the timelines don't overlap.
1Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Movie·2001·2h 32mIntroduces Harry, Hogwarts, and the Wizarding World. Set 1991–1992. Released outside the US as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
2Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Movie·2002·2h 41mSet 1992–1993.
3Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Movie·2004·2h 22mWidely considered one of the franchise's best entries. Set 1993–1994.
4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Movie·2005·2h 37mMarks Voldemort's return. Set 1994–1995.
5Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Movie·2007·2h 18mThe Wizarding War begins. Set 1995–1996.
6Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Movie·2009·2h 33mReveals Voldemort's past and sets up the finale. Set 1996–1997.
7Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
Movie·2010·2h 26mThe hunt for Horcruxes begins. Set 1997–1998.
8Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Movie·2011·2h 10mThe epic conclusion to Harry's journey. Set in 1998, with an epilogue set in 2017.