Where To Watch The Harry Potter Movies For Free In 2024

11 Apr 2024, by Danielle Slauter, min. read

Find out where to watch the Harry Potter movies for free.

With regards to discussions on the best film franchises of all time, Harry Potter is going to be a part of the conversation. The books-turned-movies opened up an entirely new world to a generation. But you might be wondering where to watch the Harry Potter movies for free.

And with talks of even more Harry Potter content coming in the near future, many fans are revisiting the series for a nice dose of nostalgia. If you’re wondering where to watch all 8 movies of Harry Potter, where to stream Harry Potter, what’s going on with the new series that’s been announced, and everything in between, you’re in the right place!

Get ready to hop back to Hogwarts, grab your wands and robes…

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Where to stream Harry Potter
Where to watch the Harry Potter movies for free
Streaming FAQs
Harry Potter FAQs
Harry Potter movies in order
The Harry Potter movies running times

Where to Stream Harry Potter

With the streaming wars running at full power, it can be hard to keep straight who has the rights to what. If you’re wondering where to stream the Harry Potter movies, we’ve got the answer for you.

There are plenty of platforms where you can stream the Harry Potter franchise, including Amazon Prime, Hulu, and HBO Max.

Where to watch the Harry Potter movies for free

Unfortunately, there isn’t currently anywhere that you can legally stream the films for free. So if you’re asking, “Where can I watch the Harry Potter movies for free?” you’re out of luck.

See below for how you can access the movies.

Streaming FAQS

Is Harry Potter on Amazon Prime?

Yes, Harry Potter is available to stream on Amazon Prime. However, it’s not available for free. If you want to watch the Harry Potter movies on Amazon Prime, you’ll need to pay for them. You’ll have access to all 8 movies for just $8. Not a bad deal—that’s only $1 per movie!

Is Harry Potter on Netflix?

Harry Potter movies are not currently available to stream on Netflix, but there is a workaround to this, luckily.

If you use a VPN on your laptop, you simply need to change the region in order to watch Harry Potter via Netflix. You’ll simply need to change your VPN to either Australia, Italy, or Japan to access all 8 movies.

Is Harry Potter on Disney+?

Unfortunately, Harry Potter is not available for streaming on Disney+. While Disney might have the rights to a large chunk of your favorite childhood films, the Harry Potter franchise is not one of them.

Is Harry Potter on Hulu?

Yes, the Harry Potter movies are available to stream for Hulu members. If you’re not a member, simply sign up for the 7-day free trial. You’ll have to do some binge-watching if you want to get through all 8 movies before your trial ends, though! After that, a monthly subscription to Hulu will cost $14.99 per month.

Is Harry Potter on HBO Max?

Yes, Harry Potter is available to stream on HBO Max, and arguably the most popular and well-known platform to find them on. HBO Max also produced and is home to the Return to Hogwarts special that came out in 2022.

HBO Max also recently announced that it officially got the green light to start working on a new Harry Potter TV series, with JK Rowling as an executive producer. Rumors have been circulating that show runners want the series to last 10 years!

Is Harry Potter on Peacock?

Yes, Peacock also has rights to the Harry Potter films, allowing you to stream them. All 8 films are available for viewing on the NBC-dominant platform.

While Peacock doesn’t have any kind of free trial period like Hulu, it is cheaper. The most basic Peacock plans only start at $4.99 per month.

Harry Potter FAQs

How many Harry Potter movies are there?

In the original films based on the books by JK Rowling, there are 8 total Harry Potter movies, which are:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Since the original movies, however, there have been some other additions to the Harry Potter franchise, known as the Fantastic Beasts series:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore (2022)

What is the first Harry Potter movie?

The first Harry Potter movie in the franchise is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It may also be titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It was released in 2001.

We’re introduced to the wizarding world, Harry Potter, and the magic of Hogwarts. At the time, it broke the record for the highest opening weekend ever, and was listed as the number 1 film in the UK for five weeks.

As far as reviews go, it currently holds an 81% on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10. Most critical reviews were favorable, with many praising how well details in the movie were brought to life (especially the Quidditch match).

How long is the first Harry Potter movie?

The running time for the first Harry Potter movie is 152 minutes long, which is around a little over 2 and a half hours. The extended edition’s run time is 159 minutes long.

It’s the fourth-longest movie of the 8 original films in the franchise. Considering so much of the world had to be established in the first movie, it’s not surprising it’s on the longer side compared to the others.

What year is Harry Potter set in?

The entire Harry Potter series takes places between the years 1991 to 1998. There is some debate if the timeline is the same in both the books and the movies.

Since the books were written in the 90s and 2000s, that’s right around where they take place. But since the movies were made in the 2000 and 2010s, many think the timelines for the movies is slightly ahead of the books. Minor semantics, but still an interesting theory nonetheless.

However, there are a few exceptions to this timeline. The opening chapter of The Sorcerer’s Stone takes place in November of 1981. The epilogue of The Deathly Hallows takes place in September of 2017.

Where is Harry Potter filmed?

Below are some of the places the Harry Potter movies were filmed in the UK.

1. Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral, in Durham, UK has doubled up as Hogwarts twice over the years — once in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and the other in the Chamber of Secrets

2. Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, UK was the back-drop of Harry’s first broomstick training lesson.

3. The Warner Bros. Studio

The Warner Bros. Studio in Watford, UK was the location for many of the films scenes.

4. Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, UK was the scenery behind a lot of the movie series. You’ll recognise some of Hogwarts’ interiors like Professor Snape’s classroom.

5. Leadenhall Market

In the City of London, Leadenhall Market was used as Diagon Alley in the Philosopher’s Stone.

6. Gloucester Cathedral

The Cathedral in Gloucester, UK, is one of the oldest locations featured in the Harry Potter films.

7. Goathland Station

Nestled in North Yorkshire, UK, Goathland Station doubled as Hogsmeade Station in the Philosopher’s Stone.

8. King’s Cross Station

King’s Cross Station in London features Platform 9 ¾ between platforms 4 and 5.

What is the second Harry Potter movie?

The second Harry Potter movie is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which was released in 2002. The run time for the film is 161 minutes, with the extended edition coming in at 171 minutes. That equates to about 2 hours and 40 minutes and 2 hours and 50 minutes, respectively. The Chamber of Secrets is the longest Harry Potter film in the series.

As far as plot goes, we return to Hogwarts for year 2. The heir of the Salazar Slytherin opens the titular Chamber of Secrets, which releases a monster, terrifying the students of Hogwarts.

Again, the film broke multiple records across the world upon release. For ratings, the film currently has an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score being 7.2 out of 10. CinemaScore audiences even gave it the very rare “A+” rating.

Harry Potter movies in order

There are multiple ways to watch the Harry Potter movies “in order.” As far as watching them by release date, this is way to watch:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore (2022)

But if you’re wanting to watch the movies in chronological order, then you’ll need to watch them in this order:

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Fantastic Beasts: The Secret of Dumbledore (2022)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Which Harry Potter movie is the best?

Asking which Harry Potter movie is the best of the franchise is asking for a massive debate to ensue! Everyone is going to have their personal favorite, right? (It’s Prisoner of Azkaban, don’t @ me.)

In order to side step an enormous argument, we’re going to list out the critical consensus on the movies. From there, you’ll have to make your own judgement!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (96% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (90% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (88% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (84% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (82% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (81% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (78% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (77% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (74% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (46% on Rotten Tomatoes)
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (36% on Rotten Tomatoes)

As far as the original 8 Harry Potter films go, you really can’t go wrong. The average score across all 8 movies is 84.5%.

The Fantastic Beasts films, however, are a bit more scattershot. The average score across all 3 films is only 52%.

What genre is Harry Potter?

The Harry Potter films and books can fall under a few different genres. The most common and agreed upon are:

Children’s
Fantasy
Adventure
Drama
Coming-of-age
Narrative

There are also elements of mystery, thriller, horror, and romance sprinkled throughout the series. Honestly, it’s mix of quite a few different genres.

Most people also agree that the books’ and movies’ content seemed to age with their audience, with the later in the series being darker and more serious. But if you had to classify the entire franchise under one title, most would agree on “fantasy.”

Is there going to be a new Harry Potter movie 2024?

Rumors are currently circulating that there is going to be a new Harry Potter movie, which would center around the events that take place in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Nothing has been confirmed yet, and both JK Rowling and Warner Bros. have stated that it will never be turned into a movie.

There is, however, going to be a new television series! Max (formerly known as HBO Max) recently announced they’re officially beginning production on a yet-unnamed Harry Potter series.

Based on what we know so far, the series is going to entirely reboot the Harry Potter franchise. The series plans to take a deep dive into all 7 books, promising a faithful adaptation. This also means an entirely new cast is going to be starring in the series.

While the show is still in the very early stages of development, the current timeline is to release the series in either 2025 or 2026.

What is Harry Potter And The Cursed Child about?

The events of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child take place 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It is unofficially known as the 8th Harry Potter story.

Harry is now Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic, and his son, Albus Severus Potter, is about to go off to Hogwarts for his first year of school.

The book, which is actually a play, was written by Jack Thorne. He adopted it from a story by JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Thorne himself. It eventually was turned into a live stage play, receiving near universal critical acclaim.

Which character does Robert Pattinson play in Harry Potter?

Robert Pattinson played the character Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter series. Cedric appears in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, representing Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament along with Harry.

Cedric is a member of Hufflepuff, and a very popular student at Hogwarts. He is the Seeker for the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, along with being the team captain and prefect.

Unfortunately, Cedric dies at the hands of Peter Pettigrew when he uses the Killing Curse on him. Due to the somber circumstances, the Leaving Feast on the last day of school at Hogwarts was turned into a memorial for him.

Who directed the Harry Potter movies?

Strangely, one director did not stay with the franchise throughout all 8 films. These are all the directors of the Harry Potter films:

Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
Mike Newell (Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire)
David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2).

Why did Chris Columbus leave Harry Potter?

During the buildup to the 20th reunion special that aired on HBO Max, Chris Columbus gave his reasons for leaving the franchise. Columbus said he was physically and emotionally exhausted after filming the first two movies.

“I wasn’t seeing my kids, who were young at the time, growing up. I was missing dinners with them,” Columbus said “I thought, ‘I can’t do another six, seven, eight years of this. My kids will grow up and I’ll never get to know them.'”

Columbus originally planned on working on all 98 movies, but he couldn’t do it in the end. He did, however, help on the third movie, but as a producer instead of director.

In an interesting turn, however, Columbus said he would be up to directing another Harry Potter movie, should the opportunity present itself.

Now that you know where to watch Harry Potter in 2024, you’re all set! Just remember, you unfortunately can’t watch any of the Harry Potter movies for free. See if one of your friends has a streaming account you can latch on to to get your Harry Potter binge on!

How old was Harry Potter in the first movie?

The first Harry Potter film is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in which Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe) is portrayed as an eleven-year-old orphan.

How long is each Harry Potter movie?

Here’s a handy table displaying each Harry Potter movie in order and the run-time of each movie.

Movie	Run-time
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or the Sorcerer’s Stone) [2001]	152 minutes (2 hours 32 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [2002]	161 minutes (2 hours 41 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [2004]	144 minutes (2 hours 22 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [2005]	157 minutes (2 hours 37 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [2007]	138 minutes (2 hours 18 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [2009]	153 minutes (2 hours 33 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 [2010]	146 minutes (2 hours 26 minutes)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 [2011]	130 minutes (2 hours 10 minutes)