For those of us who are already very familiar with ‘Harry Potter’, we have more than known this, but it can be a bit confusing if you approach it for the first time. Between the titles not being numbered and the existence of prequels, it’s understandable not knowing where to start if this is your first time in the ‘Wizard World’.
For those uninitiated in the universe created by JK Rowling, it is best to watch movies in chronological order of release (that is, in the order in which the films have been released in theaters). In addition, the movie octology covers the original story, which initially was not going to have any type of continuation and raises from scratch the rules of the magical universe of the characters.
Can you see ‘Fantastic Beasts’ before the original? Yes, but you will miss all the references that are made to the other saga, in addition to the fact that the prequels use a mythology and a jargon that is already taken for granted, so it is advisable to see the original saga before entering that new episode.
This is the correct order to dive into this magical franchise:
1. ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (2001)
Synopsis: Harry Potter is an orphan boy who lives in his uncle’s cupboard when, one day, his world turns upside down: he discovers that his parents were wizards and that he is too, so he must attend the College of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hogwarts. There he will befriend Ron and Hermione but he will also discover enemies, including Voldemort, the dark wizard who killed his parents.
Magic Checklist: This movie is the ABC of the ‘Wizard World’. Here we are presented with almost all the basic concepts of the saga: the world of muggles and wizards, magic wands, Quidditch, Gringotts bank, Diagon Alley, spells (‘Alohomora’, ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ or ‘Petrificus Totalus’), the sorting hat, the invisibility cloak, magic chess, candies of all flavors, the Erised mirror, the forbidden forest and creatures such as trolls, Fluffy (the three-headed dog) or the centaurs.
2. ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
Synopsis: Harry’s second year of school begins with a visit from the elf Dobby, who warns him that grave danger awaits him at school. He’s not wrong, as petrified students begin to appear around the same time Harry hears a strange voice in his head.
Magic Checklist: The figure of Tom Riddle and his diary appear for the first time (whose true nature will be revealed later), the mandrakes, the Parseltongue, delves into the ghosts of the castle, the spiders (“Why couldn’t we follow butterflies?”)memory spells, Polyjuice Potion, house elves, phoenixes, the flying car, Whomping Willow, the term “mudblood” and how petrifaction works.
3. ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Synopsis: After an “unfortunate magical accident” that ends up blowing up his aunt like a balloon, Harry learns that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban prison, a known inmate who seems to be related to his family and Voldemort.
Magic Checklist: It delves into the circle of wizards related to the death of the Potters, the marauders map, the Azkaban prison, the dementors, the Patronus spell, the werewolves, the animagi, the hippogriffs, the village of Hogsmeade, the House of the Screamers, the boggart, the Knight Bus and the Time Turner.
4. ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Synopsis: The celebration of the Quidditch World Cup is interrupted by some death eaters (followers of Voldemort). Just before this year’s special event begins at Hogwarts: the Triwizard Tournament, in which three students representing each school of magic will participate. Despite not meeting the age requirement, Harry’s name is chosen as the fourth candidate and he will have to face difficult tests.
Magic Checklist: Death Eaters and the Dark Mark are more relevant, the Pensieve appears, the Triwizard Tournament, two new schools of magic: Beauxbatons (France) and Durmstrang (Bulgaria), dragons, sirens, gillweeds, portkeys, the three Curses Unforgivable (Avada Kedavra, Cruciatus and Imperius) and the Veritaserum.
5. ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
Synopsis: The wizarding community greets Voldemort’s return in disbelief, and Dumbledore is replaced by Dolores Umbridge as head of Hogwarts. The multiple restrictions imposed by the new headmistress and the need to protect themselves against new dangers make Harry and several students form a secret group with which to practice spells.
Magic Checklist: The Ministry of Magic and what is its function in society, the members of the Order of the Phoenix, Grimmauld Place, the Room of Requirement, the thestrals, oclumency and prophecies have a greater role.
6. ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
Synopsis: Harry begins his sixth year carrying a great loss and with the danger of Voldemort drawing ever closer. As Dumbledore tries to prepare him for his fate, he finds a strange book of spells and potions that belonged to a certain “half-blood prince”.
Magic Checklist: Horcruxes are mentioned for the first time and some hints are given about Voldemort’s past (although to delve into it, you can take a look at the fan-made movie). The Inferi also appear.
7. ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ (2010)
Synopsis: Harry, Ron and Hermione go on a hunt for the Horcruxes while trying to escape from Voldemort and his minions, discovering the existence of legendary objects that may be key in the coming war: the Deathly Hallows.
Magic Checklist: Obviously, the Deathly Hallows (representative symbol of the franchise) and the fable of the three brothers, the deluminator, ‘The tales of Beedle, the bard’, the Obliviate spell and the golden snitch have a fundamental role in this installment. Grindelwald is also mentioned (which will be important in ‘Fantastic Beasts’).
8. ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (2011)
Synopsis: The final battle between Voldemort and Harry Potter arrives. The two sides will face each other and only one will be left standing. Will they manage to get all the Horcruxes in time?
Magic Checklist: Again, the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility will be essential, as well as the sword of Gryffindor and the rest of the Horcruxes. The past of Snape and the Potters is another of the revelations of the tremendous outcome.
9. ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ (2016)
Synopsis: We start the sequels that happen about 70 years before the events of ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’. The action places us in New York (the original saga is located in the United Kingdom), where the magizoologist Newt Scamander travels accompanied by his creatures and will inevitably be involved in strange events that are shaking the magical world.
Magic Checklist: The saga of the quintessential magical creatures, in which we will see a multitude of them: Nifflers, Bowtruckles, Demiguises, Billywigs, Diricawls, Nundus, Obscurus… We are also introduced to MACUSA, the US Ministry of Magic, and the Squibs (in the original saga of movies it is not explained that this is how the descendants of magicians who do not have powers, like Filch, are called).
10. ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ (2018)
Synopsis: Grindelwald (who was mentioned in passing in ‘The Deathly Hallows: Part 1’) reappears, who wants wizards to rule over Muggles. Newt will ally himself with Dumbledore and other characters in the face of the incipient danger posed by the dark wizard.
Magic Checklist: Hogwarts returns and references are made to characters from the original saga, such as Nagini or Nicholas Flamel (apart from Dumbledore, Grindelwald and McGonagall). The Unbreakable Oath is relevant and other creatures such as chupacabras, kelpies, zouwus, mooncalfs, matagots and augureys are added.
11. ‘Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets’
Synopsis: Last adventure of this saga to date, in which the conflict between the team of Newt and Grindelwald is red hot. After stealing from one of his allies, Grindelwald tries to gain a position of power in wizarding politics, while Newt, Dumbledore and the others try to stop him.
Magic Checklist: We see the magical landscape in Bhutan and Germany and creatures like the qilin, manticores and skrewts. It also delves into Dumbledore’s past and his relationship with Grindelwald.