Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.Production began in the United Kingdom in 2000, with Columbus being chosen to helm the film from a short list of directors that included Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner.Professors Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry deliver the orphan, Harry Potter to his only living relatives, the Dursleys.On the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets Ron Weasley, a pure blood wizard from a poor family and Hermione Granger, a muggle born.Harry becomes seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team; a rare opportunity for first years, after McGonagall notices his flying ability when retrieving a Remembrall belonging to Neville Longbottom, which Malfoy had stolen.When Hermione returns, the trio learn that Nicholas Flammel is the creator of the philosopher’s stone, a powerful object known to cause immortality – they realise that this is what Fluffy is guarding and what Snape is after.Additionally, Zoë Wanamaker appears as Madame Hooch, Hogwarts' flying instructor and Quidditch referee;[27] Tom Felton portrays Draco Malfoy, a student in Slytherin and Harry's rival.[29] Matthew Lewis, Devon Murray and Alfred Enoch portray Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas respectively, three first year students in Gryffindor;[30] James and Oliver Phelps play twins Fred and George Weasley, Ron's brothers,[31] while Chris Rankin appears as his other brother Percy, a Gryffindor prefect,[32] and Bonnie Wright appears as Ron's sister Ginny.[33] Sean Biggerstaff portrays Oliver Wood, the Keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team;[34] Jamie Waylett and Joshua Herdman play Crabbe and Goyle, Malfoy's minions;[35] and Leslie Phillips voices the Sorting Hat.After Spielberg left, talks began with other directors, including Chris Columbus, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, Mike Newell (who would later direct the fourth film), Alan Parker, Wolfgang Petersen, Rob Reiner, Ivan Reitman, Tim Robbins, Brad Silberling, M. Night Shyamalan, David Fincher and Peter Weir.[56] Rowling's first choice director was Terry Gilliam,[57] but Warner Bros. chose Columbus, citing his work on other family films such as Home Alone (1990) and Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) as influences for their decision.[58] Columbus pitched his vision of the film for two hours, stating that he wanted the Muggle scenes "to be bleak and dreary" but those set in the wizarding world "to be steeped in color, mood, and detail."Warner Bros. had initially planned to release the film over 4 July 2001 weekend, making for such a short production window that several proposed directors pulled themselves out of the running.According to Figgis, Robin Williams was interested in participating in the film, but was turned down for the Hagrid role because of the "strictly British and Irish only" rule which Columbus was determined to maintain.[15][70][14] On 21 August 2000, Daniel Radcliffe and newcomers Rupert Grint and Emma Watson were selected to play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.[26][84] Rosie O'Donnell met with Columbus to express her interest in playing the role of Molly, but was, like Williams and Aiken, turned away over the British only rule.To promote the books, the Southern Railway locomotive 34027 Taw Valley was repainted and renamed temporarily, but was rejected by director Chris Columbus as looking 'too modern' for the film."[107] Production designer Stuart Craig built the sets at Leavesden Studios, including Hogwarts Great Hall, basing it on many English cathedrals.Although originally asked to use an existing old street to film the Diagon Alley scenes, Craig decided to build his own set, comprising Tudor, Georgian and Queen Anne architecture.Industrial Light & Magic created Lord Voldemort's face on the back of Quirrell, Rhythm & Hues animated Norbert (Hagrid's baby dragon); and Sony Pictures Imageworks produced the Quidditch scenes.[124] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone had its world premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on 4 November 2001, with the cinema arranged to resemble Hogwarts School.[133] In December 2009, a 4-disc "Ultimate Edition" was released, with seven minutes of deleted scenes added back in, the feature-length special Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 1: The Magic Begins, and a 48-page hardcover booklet.[143] In the United States and Canada, it made $32.3 million on its opening day, breaking the single-day record previously held by Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).[163] In August 2020, The Philosopher's Stone was re-released in several countries, including a 4K 3D restoration in China,[164] where it earned $26.4 million, for a global $1.026 billion, making it the second film in the series to surpass the billion-dollar mark, after Deathly Hallows – Part 2.The site's critical consensus reads, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone adapts its source material faithfully while condensing the novel's overstuffed narrative into an involving – and often downright exciting – big-screen magical caper.[169][170] Brian Linder of IGN also gave the film a positive review, but concluded that it "isn't perfect, but for me it's a nice supplement to a book series that I love"."[171] USA Today reviewer Claudia Puig gave the film three out of four stars, especially praising the set design and Robbie Coltrane's portrayal of Hagrid, but criticised John Williams' music, stating the "overly insistent score lacks subtlety and bludgeons us with crescendos", and concluded that "ultimately many of the book's readers may wish for a more magical incarnation."[172] The sets, design, cinematography, effects and principal cast were all given praise from Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter, although he deemed John Williams' score "a great clanging, banging music box that simply will not shut up."[173] Todd McCarthy of Variety compared the film positively with Gone with the Wind and put "The script is faithful, the actors are just right, the sets, costumes, makeup and effects match and sometimes exceed anything one could imagine.[175] CNN's Paul Tatara found that Columbus and Kloves "are so careful to avoid offending anyone by excising a passage from the book, the so-called narrative is more like a jamboree inside Rowling's head.
Chris ColumbusSteve KlovesHarry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneJ. K. RowlingDavid HeymanDaniel RadcliffeRupert GrintEmma WatsonJohn CleeseRobbie ColtraneWarwick DavisRichard GriffithsRichard HarrisIan HartJohn HurtAlan RickmanFiona ShawMaggie SmithJulie WaltersJohn SealeRichard Francis-BruceJohn WilliamsWarner Bros. PicturesHeyday Films1492 PicturesOdeon Leicester Squarefantasy filmHarry Potter film seriesHarry PotterRon WeasleyHermione GrangerHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardrywizardfilm rightsSteven SpielbergRob ReinerLeavesden Film Studiossecond-highest-grossing filmAcademy AwardsBest Original ScoreBest Art DirectionBest Costume DesignHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2List of Harry Potter cast membersDavid CopperfieldStones in His PocketsNewsroundOxfordNearly Headless NickRubeus HagridgamekeeperFilius FlitwickGoblinGringottsGriphookVerne TroyerVernon DursleyMuggleAlbus DumbledoreQuirinus QuirrellLord VoldemortRichard BremmerMr. OllivanderOllivandersSeverus SnapePetunia DursleyMinerva McGonagallMolly WeasleyZoë WanamakerMadame HoochTom FeltonDraco MalfoyHarry MellingDudley DursleyDavid BradleyArgus FilchMatthew LewisDevon MurrayAlfred EnochNeville LongbottomSeamus FinniganDean ThomasJames and Oliver PhelpsFred and George WeasleyChris RankinBonnie WrightSean BiggerstaffOliver WoodJamie WaylettJoshua HerdmanCrabbe and GoyleLeslie PhillipsSorting HatDerek DeadmanThe Leaky CauldronElizabeth Spriggsthe Fat LadyDiana Wynne JonesThe Ogre DownstairsWarner Bros.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireanimated filmHaley Joel Osmentslam dunkQuick-Quotes QuillA.I. Artificial IntelligenceLorenzo di BonaventuraJonathan DemmeMike NewellAlan ParkerWolfgang PetersenIvan ReitmanTim RobbinsBrad SilberlingM. Night ShyamalanDavid FincherPeter WeirHome AloneMrs. DoubtfireAlan F. HornDavid LeanGreat ExpectationsOliver TwistOliver!The Godfather