12 Movies Like Harry Potter to Watch After the Series
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12 Movies Like Harry Potter to Watch After the Series

12 Movies Like Harry Potter to Watch Next

Key takeaways

  • For the closest connection to the Wizarding World, start with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
  • For a magical-school setting, try The School for Good and Evil or Upside-Down Magic.
  • For young heroes exploring fantasy worlds, choose The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or a Percy Jackson film.
  • For animated magic and wonder, consider Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, or Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Table of contents

If you’re looking for movies like Harry Potter, start with Fantastic Beasts for more of the Wizarding World, The School for Good and Evil for a magical-school setting, or The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for a young-heroes-on-a-quest adventure. Each offers a different piece of the Potter appeal: spells and strange creatures, close friendships, hidden worlds, or the feeling that an ordinary life is about to become extraordinary.

These picks aren’t all alike in tone or story. Some are direct fantasy adventures; others share just one ingredient, such as a school for unusual children or a gifted young protagonist. Choose according to what you miss most about Hogwarts.

The closest match: more of the Wizarding World

1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

For the most direct connection to Harry Potter, try Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It’s set in the same Wizarding World, but follows magizoologist Newt Scamander rather than Harry and his friends. Newt’s work with magical creatures gives the film a different focus from the Hogwarts stories, while familiar wizarding ideas and institutions make it a natural next step.

The film launched a series that also includes Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Think of these as a separate branch of the franchise, not a continuation of Harry’s eight-film story. The Wizarding World connection is the main reason to choose them; if you’re looking for the same school setting and trio of friends, these films offer something different. Fantastic Beasts is commonly recommended as a follow-up for Harry Potter fans.

For the magic-school experience

2. The School for Good and Evil (2022)

If Hogwarts is what you want more of, The School for Good and Evil brings young characters into a school built around fantasy. Two friends find themselves at an institution that trains students for fairy-tale roles as heroes or villains. That setup makes it a good choice if you enjoy school rivalries, friendships under pressure, and a world with its own rules.

It isn’t a close copy of Harry Potter: its fairy-tale premise gives it a different identity and tone. But among these picks, it’s one of the clearest options for viewers who want a magical academy at the center of the story. Entertainment recommendation lists have also pointed to the film for viewers seeking magical-school stories.

3. Upside-Down Magic (2020)

Upside-Down Magic follows young students with unusual abilities at a magic school. Its appeal is less about a grand battle between good and evil and more about kids trying to understand what makes them different while finding their place among their peers.

Pick this one if you want a lighter, school-focused fantasy. The premise shares the broad ingredients of young students and magic, but the film has its own world and isn’t a substitute for the scale or story of the Potter series. It’s one of the magical-academy titles suggested in recommendations for Harry Potter fans.

4. Matilda (1996)

For a gifted child dealing with school and adults who underestimate her, Matilda is a witty, more grounded alternative. Its young heroine discovers she has extraordinary abilities while facing cruel authority figures and an oppressive school environment.

There’s magic here, but not the sprawling fantasy world of Hogwarts. The stronger connection is the story of a clever child finding courage and allies when the grown-ups around her fail to help. It works especially well if you’re after a funny, character-led film rather than a quest. Matilda is another title frequently suggested for viewers who like Harry Potter.

For young heroes and fantasy quests

5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

A wardrobe leads four siblings into Narnia, a magical land under threat. The film pairs young protagonists with fantastical creatures and a struggle against a powerful enemy, making it a strong match if your favorite Potter moments involve discovering a hidden world and taking part in a larger fight.

Narnia is a portal fantasy rather than a school story: the characters don’t spend their adventure learning magic in a place like Hogwarts. Choose it for the ensemble, the creatures, and the journey into a world with its own history and danger. The film appears in recommendations for viewers seeking fantasy adventures after Harry Potter.

6. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

For a teenage hero discovering that the world is much stranger than it seems, try Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Its adventures draw on Greek mythology, with Percy and his friends facing supernatural challenges rather than learning wizardry at a boarding school.

The similarity is in the coming-of-age quest: a young protagonist learns about unusual abilities, makes allies, and confronts dangers beyond everyday life. It’s a different mythology and setting, so go in expecting a myth-inspired adventure, not a Hogwarts story. The film is the first of two Percy Jackson feature-film adaptations; the character is often recommended for the young-hero appeal.

7. Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013)

The second Percy Jackson film continues the character’s mythological adventures. It makes the most sense after The Lightning Thief, so watch the first film before this one if you’re new to the series.

Together, the two movies suit viewers who want friendship and a young hero navigating a dangerous fantasy world. They don’t offer the same long school-year structure as Harry Potter, but they share the appeal of a teenager being drawn into a life-changing adventure.

For stranger, darker fantasy

8. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

A young protagonist, children with unusual abilities, and a mystery involving different times and worlds make Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children a fit for viewers who enjoy the more unsettling edges of fantasy. It’s a more atmospheric choice than a straightforward magical-school story.

The title’s unusual children may recall the appeal of a hidden community with extraordinary members, but the film’s mood is darker and stranger than the lighter early Harry Potter adventures. Try it if you prefer eerie mysteries to cozy school life. It has been included in recommendation lists for Potter fans.

For animated magic and wonder

These films share magic, spirits, or a sense of entering an unfamiliar world—but their animation and storytelling traditions are quite different from the live-action Harry Potter films. They’re better viewed as fresh fantasy experiences than close copies.

9. Spirited Away (2001)

In Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy, a young girl enters a world of spirits and must find her way through its strange customs and dangers. The film is a good choice if you want a young protagonist facing a world that feels mysterious, vivid, and governed by rules she has to learn.

Its resemblance to Harry Potter lies in the discovery of an extraordinary world, not in wizards, school friendships, or a familiar fantasy-quest structure. The New York Times’ guide to Studio Ghibli films offers more context on the studio’s distinctive animated worlds.

10. Howl’s Moving Castle (2004)

For a story shaped by witches, spells, and a roaming magical home, Howl’s Moving Castle offers a richly imagined fantasy setting. It follows Sophie, whose life changes after a curse, and brings her into the orbit of the wizard Howl.

The focus is more fairy-tale-like and romantic than Potter’s school-centered adventures. Choose it for spellcasting and an imaginative setting rather than a group of students growing up together.

11. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Kiki’s Delivery Service offers a gentler kind of witch story. Kiki is a young witch who sets out to live independently, using her flying ability as she adjusts to a new community.

It’s a quieter, more everyday fantasy than Harry Potter. If you like stories about young characters gaining confidence and making a place for themselves, Kiki’s journey may be a better fit than a battle-focused adventure.

Which movie should you choose after Harry Potter?

  • Want more Wizarding World lore? Start with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
  • Want magic-school friendships? Try The School for Good and Evil or Upside-Down Magic.
  • Want a young hero’s adventure? Choose The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
  • Want something eerie and unusual? Pick Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
  • Want animated magic? Start with Spirited Away for a stranger world, or Kiki’s Delivery Service for a gentler coming-of-age story.

“Like Harry Potter” can mean magic, friendship, school, adventure, or a hidden world—and no single film matches all of them. If you want the closest connection, go with Fantastic Beasts. For a new story with young characters discovering a larger fantasy world, Narnia or Percy Jackson is a better place to start.

The suggestions here span different tones and ages. Before choosing a film for younger viewers, check the rating and a parent guide for your country; fantasy can range from gentle to frightening, and ratings vary by region. Streaming availability also changes by country, so check your local services or rental stores rather than assuming a title is included in a particular subscription.