Do I need to watch Harry Potter before watching Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

You do not necessarily need to watch the Harry Potter series before watching Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Here are some key points to consider:

Separate Storylines

The Fantastic Beasts series is set in the 1920s through to 1945, which is decades before the events of the Harry Potter series. The stories are distinct, although they share the same Wizarding World universe4.

Connections but Not Dependent

While there are connections and references to the Harry Potter series in Fantastic Beasts, these do not make the Fantastic Beasts movies dependent on prior knowledge of Harry Potter. You can enjoy Fantastic Beasts as a standalone series45.

Watching Order

You can watch the Fantastic Beasts series independently of the Harry Potter series. However, it is recommended to watch the Fantastic Beasts movies in their own order to follow the narrative and character developments properly24.

In summary, while watching Harry Potter can enrich your understanding and appreciation of the Wizarding World, it is not necessary to watch it before starting the Fantastic Beasts series.