Chris Columbus directed two Harry Potter films.
His films were Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, released in 2001, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, released in 2002. Together, they introduced the main cast and established the visual and narrative foundations of the series.
Columbus chose not to direct the third film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Alfonso Cuarón succeeded him, bringing a darker and more visually stylized approach. Columbus remained involved as a producer on that film.
The total is easy to confuse with the number of films directed by David Yates, who directed the final four main entries. Mike Newell directed one film, and Cuarón directed one. The complete main series contains eight films, but Columbus directed only the first two.