The Harry Potter series is the third highest-grossing film franchise of all time. The eight films in the main series, along with the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs, have grossed a truly spellbinding $9.5 billion (£7.4bn) overall.
But have you ever wondered which Wizarding World film performed best at the box office? Read on as we reveal the highest-grossing Harry Potter films, ranked.
All dollar amounts in US dollars, and all currency conversions are historic.
The lowest-grossing film in the Wizarding World franchise is Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third entry in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series. Released in April 2022, it marked the franchise’s first box-office flop, grossing just $407.1 million globally, equivalent to around $438.6 million (£341m) in 2024 dollars.
With a production budget of $200 million (£148m), industry experts estimated that the film would need to gross around $800 million (£594m) to break even when accounting for additional costs such as distribution and marketing. However, it fell significantly short of expectations, with everything from the film's execution to controversies surrounding Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling cited as possible reasons for the failure.
The second entry of the Fantastic Beasts series, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, premiered in theatres in November 2018. With a hefty $200 million (£148m) production budget and a star-studded cast that included Jude Law and Johnny Depp, expectations were high. However, the film received a mixed critical reception upon release.
Though the movie wasn’t a complete flop and reportedly turned a modest profit, it set a record as the lowest-grossing film in the Wizarding World franchise until the release of The Secrets of Dumbledore. It earned $655.7 million globally, or about $823.3 million (£640m) when adjusted for inflation.
The first Fantastic Beasts film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was released in November 2016. Starring Eddie Redmayne as the eccentric magical creature expert Newt Scamander, the film is based on a fictional Hogwarts textbook of the same name, which appears in the original Harry Potter series.
Although the subsequent Fantastic Beasts films struggled at the box office, the franchise got off to a promising start with its first entry. It grossed an impressive $816 million globally against a $200 million (£135m) production budget, or a magical $1 billion (£780m) today. Additionally, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ranked as the eighth highest-grossing film of 2016 at the worldwide box office.
The fifth movie in the main series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, premiered in July 2007. With an estimated budget of $150 million (£76m), the film went on to gross over $941.9 million, equivalent to $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) in 2024 money.
With its impressive gross, it became the second highest-grossing film of 2007 at the global box office. Another blockbuster franchise entry, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, claimed the top spot that year.
The penultimate chapter of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, was released in November 2010. Although fans were divided over the decision to split the final book into two films, the movie was still a box office success, grossing $960.2 million against a $125 million (£77m) production budget. When adjusted for inflation, the film earned a magical $1.4 billion (£1.1bn).
The blockbuster ranked as the third-highest-grossing film of 2010, with Toy Story 3 taking the top spot and Disney's live-action Alice in Wonderland in second place.
The sixth entry, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, hit the silver screen in July 2009. The film boasted a $250 million (£171m) production budget, making it the most expensive in the franchise. The investment paid off, as the movie earned over $933.9 million globally, or around $1.4 billion (£1.1bn) today.
Unsurprisingly, it was the second-highest grossing film of 2009, surpassed only by James Cameron's juggernaut Avatar.
Released in November 2002, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film in the series. With a $100 million (£69m) production budget, it was the least expensive film in the franchise, but that did not stop it from becoming a major success.
Chamber of Secrets grossed over $878.9 million globally, which amounts to an impressive $1.5 billion (£1.2bn) today. It was also the second-highest grossing film of 2002, trailing another fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, also known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, ranks as the second-highest-grossing film in the series. Released in 2001, it was the very first entry in the franchise.
Fans of the books flocked to theatres to see the wizarding world come to life on the silver screen. The movie grossed $974.7 million against its $125 million (£83m) budget, which is an incredible $1.7 billion (£1.3bn) today. It became the highest-grossing film of the year at the global box office.
Taking the top spot is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. Released in July 2011, the film concluded the main Harry Potter series.
Potterheads flocked to cinemas to see the final chapter, with the movie grossing a remarkable $1.3 billion against its $125 million budget. That's an incredible $1.8 billion (£1.4bn) in 2024 money. The film also claimed the top spot at the 2011 global box office, surpassing other blockbuster franchises such as Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Twilight.
Now discover Harry Potter stars, then and now, who's richest today?