Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Today is a very special day for wizards and muggles alike: It’s the birthday of both author J.K. Rowling and her greatest creation, Harry Potter. Funny how that worked out. Rowling turns 54 today, while Harry, who was canonically born in 1980, is turning 39.
I’d like to imagine that Harry is spending his day with his family, Ron, Hermione, and the many Weasleys, all of whom are officially his in-laws now, thanks to his marriage to Ginny. Maybe Mrs. Weasley knit him yet another sweater. Maybe Hagrid’s there too, with another squashed cake. Ugh, remember how Hagrid was the first-ever person to wish Harry a happy birthday? And remember how Hagrid was the first-ever person to show Harry basically any amount of kindness? Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked.
However he’s celebrating, I hope my 39-year-old son’s day is filled with joy and peace. I hope it’s the kind of day he never got to have at Hogwarts when he was bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders. Meanwhile, I’ll be celebrating the best way I know how with my limited Muggle technology: a Harry Potter movie marathon.
No matter your feelings on the Potter films, it’s always fun to see baby Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint running around the Hogwarts grounds, which vary drastically depending on who’s directing the film. You could just turn on cable, because statistically speaking, there probably is a Harry Potter marathon on SYFY right now. But it’s more fun to stream the films, because that way, when you drunkenly shout at the screen that Hermione calls Ron “Ron,” not “Ronald,” your friends can roll back the tape to catch what they missed. (I may or may not be speaking from personal experience.) But where can one watch the Harry Potter movies online? I’ve laid it out for you below.
'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' (2001)
I won’t say it’s the movie that started it all—that honor belongs to J.K. Rowling’s original novel, first published in 1997—but it is the movie where stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint are at their most tiny and adorable. True Harry Potter fans have seen Sorcerer’s Stone enough time to quote the entire film verbatim, but if you want to go back to the beginning one more time, you can rent or buy a digital copy of the film on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002)
Of all the sad moments in the Harry Potter franchise, the one that consistently makes me cry every time is the ending of Chamber of Secrets. As far as I can remember, it’s the only time students besides Harry, Ron, and Hermione ever show Hagrid any appreciation, and we all know how much their approval means to him. I’m tearing up just thinking about it. You too can cry if you rent or buy a copy of the film to stream it on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' (2004)
Oh man, Prisoner of Azkaban. Where to begin? On the one hand, it’s the film where everyone’s hair looks amazing and it’s the film where we’re first introduced to the Marauders. On the other hand, it’s the first film without our beloved Richard Harris, it’s the film where the kids stop inexplicably wearing their school robes, and it’s the film that Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuarón decided to end on a freeze-frame. You win some and you lose some, but you’ll still have a great time if you rent or buy the film on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' (2005)
Everyone’s hair is terrible in Goblet of Fire, but at least we got a few exciting British actor additions to the cast, including Robert Pattinson and David Tennant. (“Barty Crouch… JUNIOR!”) And justice for Ludo Bagman, who was cut from the film, but in my mind was played by Chiwetel Ejiofor. You can check out those terrible ‘dos by renting or purchasing the film on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' (2007)
Order of the Phoenix was the first film directed by David Yates, and Yates has helmed every Potter film (including the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs) since. So we assume this film must have mightily impressed J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. It is a good one—I’m particularly partial to the scene where Fred and George interrupt the big exam with a fireworks display and escape the school forever. Watch it yourself by renting it or purchasing it on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' (2009)
Half-Blood Prince is by and large the horniest book of the Harry Potter series, and Yates absolutely honored that in his film adaptation. This movie also contains my favorite Daniel-Radcliffe-as-Harry-Potter scene of the entire franchise, which is, of course, the scene where he’s “drunk” on Felix Felicis. “Not to mention the pincers!” You can catch it in all of its rom-com glory on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1' (2010)
Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is a beautiful film that I’m willing to defend to the end of my days. No, that Harry and Hermione dance scene wasn’t in the book, and yes, it is a lovely addition that illustrates the depth of their friendship, and nothing more. If you want to rewatch the film and fight me on this, I invite you to buy or rent the film on—you guessed it— Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
Where to stream Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2' (2011)
As disappointed as I was when I saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in theaters, at this point I’m too filled with fond memories of all the films to harbor any resentment toward any of them. So what if Voldemort hugged Draco? Draco looked like he could use one, to be honest. And no Harry Potter marathon is complete without this final chapter, so go ahead and rent or buy the film on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
Where to stream Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
'Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them' (2016)
Look, did Potter fans ask for this spin-off starring Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, the eccentric author of a Hogwarts textbook titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? No, we did not. But it exists anyway, and I have to admit, I find this first film to be pretty adorable. I’m not immune to the charms of that niffler, after all. Enjoy those charms yourself by buying or renting the film on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' (2018)
It figures that the worst Harry Potter film would be the only one available to stream for free! The Crimes of Grindelwald is currently available to stream for HBO subscribers on HBO Go or HBO Now. But be warned: This sequel starring Johnny Depp was more or less universally hated by Potter fans. But you can go ahead and judge it for yourself by streaming it on HBO, or by renting or buying it on Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, or Fandango.
