Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Let the magic begin.
Harry Potter has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle's house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he's a powerful wizard—with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he learns to harness his newfound powers with the help of the school's kindly headmaster, Harry uncovers the truth about his parents' deaths—and about the villain who's to blame.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 16 November 2001 |
| Genre | Adventure, Fantasy |
| Director | Chris Columbus |
| Starring | Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson |
| Runtime | 152 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.1/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 80% · Metacritic 65/100 · TMDB users 7.9/10 |
| Budget | $125 million |
| Box office | $978 million worldwide |
Where to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is streaming on Fubo in the US. It is also on Max ($18.49 a month) and Peacock ($16.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Peacock is $16.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Chris Columbus directs this 2001 fantasy adventure, which runs 152 minutes. It is a coming-of-age story for a boy who spends his first 11 years under the stairs before discovering he is a wizard. The film follows Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint as they navigate the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is for anyone who remembers the smell of old books and the specific loneliness of being an outsider. The magic is real, but the house is still cold.
What the critics said
Critics generally warmed to the magic, though the music drew fire. Rotten Tomatoes reports an 80% approval rating based on 202 reviews, with an average score of 7.1 out of 10. Metacritic lands at 65, a weighted average of 36 critics that signals generally favorable reception. Roger Ebert called it a classic, giving it 4 out of 4 stars. He specifically praised the Quidditch visual effects. Not everyone was so charmed. Claudia Puig of USA Today gave it 3 out of 4 stars but found the score lacking in subtlety. She argued it bludgeons us with crescendos, a critique Kirk Honeycutt echoed by describing the music as a clanging box that will not shut up.
How it did with audiences
It cost $125 million and took in $978 million worldwide, a margin that satisfies accountants and wizards alike. In the US, it pulled $318 million, while France contributed $48 million. On TMDB, users rate it 7.9 out of 10.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Sources
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q102438 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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