Looking for the correct Fantastic Beasts movies in order? Good news — this is one of the few franchises where you don’t need to juggle two different sequences. Release order and chronological order are the same here, since the entire trilogy is a straight-line prequel story that never jumps around in time. Created by J.K. Rowling as an extension of her billion-dollar Wizarding World, the series expanded the Harry Potter universe into new decades and countries, pulling in Oscar winners like Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law along the way. Below, you’ll find the quick-answer table, a full breakdown of every film, and everything currently known about the franchise’s uncertain future.
Also Read: Harry Potter Books in Order
Quick Answer: Fantastic Beasts Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them | 2016 | David Yates |
| 2 | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | 2018 | David Yates |
| 3 | Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore | 2022 | David Yates |
Because release order is chronological order for this franchise, you can just watch them in the order they came out — no extra column needed, and no risk of spoiling yourself by watching “out of sequence.”
Fantastic Beasts Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures — and, predictably, some of them get loose. The film kicks off a mystery involving a mysterious dark force terrorizing the city, while introducing the No-Maj (American term for Muggle) baker Jacob Kowalski. Behind the scenes, this marked Rowling’s screenwriting debut, since she wrote the script herself rather than adapting an existing book. It closes with hints of a much larger threat, setting up the espionage-tinged sequel that follows.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
The story jumps to Paris as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald escapes custody and begins rallying followers with a chilling vision for wizardkind. Newt gets pulled back in, and the film digs deeper into young Albus Dumbledore’s complicated history with Grindelwald. Notably, this installment recast the villain, with Johnny Depp taking over the role before later being replaced himself. The cliffhanger ending directly sets the stage for the confrontation promised in the next chapter.
3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Dumbledore finally commits to stopping his former friend Grindelwald, assembling a team that includes Newt to counter his rise to power ahead of a pivotal magical election. This film brought in Mads Mikkelsen as Grindelwald, replacing Depp after his departure from the franchise. It’s the most recent entry and, so far, the trilogy’s conclusion — leaving several plot threads dangling as the series’ future stalled afterward.
Do You Need to Watch Harry Potter Before Fantastic Beasts?
No — you don’t strictly need to. Fantastic Beasts is designed as a prequel that stands on its own, and you can follow its plot without having seen a single Harry Potter film. That said, several references and payoffs (Dumbledore, Hogwarts lore, the wizarding world’s rules) land much better if you already know the Harry Potter story.
Minimum viable watch order:
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
- (Optional but recommended) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone through Deathly Hallows – Part 2, for full universe context
Also Read: Harry Potter films
How Many Fantastic Beasts Movies Are There?
There are currently three Fantastic Beasts movies, released between 2016 and 2022. There are no official shorts or spinoff films in this specific sub-series, though it exists within the wider Wizarding World franchise alongside the eight Harry Potter films.
All Fantastic Beasts Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — November 18, 2016
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald — November 16, 2018
3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore — April 15, 2022
What’s Next for the Franchise?
As of now, there’s no confirmed Fantastic Beasts 4. Director David Yates has described the series as “parked,” and lead actor Eddie Redmayne has said publicly that another installment isn’t currently on the cards, following softer box office returns and script development that reportedly never got off the ground. Warner Bros.’ attention has largely shifted toward the separate live-action Harry Potter TV series, so any future Fantastic Beasts project would likely need fresh momentum — and possibly a new creative direction — before a release date becomes realistic. Treat any “Fantastic Beasts 4” rumors you see online with caution until there’s an official studio announcement.
FAQ
Is Fantastic Beasts connected to Harry Potter?
Yes — it’s a prequel set decades before Harry Potter, sharing the same wizarding world, magic system, and eventually overlapping characters like Dumbledore and Hogwarts.
What order should I watch Fantastic Beasts in?
Watch them by release date — 2016, 2018, then 2022 — since release order and story order are identical for this trilogy.
Will there be a Fantastic Beasts 4?
Nothing is confirmed; the franchise is currently on hold, with cast and crew saying there’s no active script or greenlight.
Do you need to watch Fantastic Beasts before Harry Potter?
No, either order works, but watching Harry Potter first (or alongside) gives extra context for the callbacks Fantastic Beasts makes to the wider wizarding world.
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