Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Stream
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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.
What critics thought
Columbus's adaptation earns broad but not universal credit for its fidelity to Rowling's novel — the sets, effects, and supporting cast drew consistent admiration, while the Quidditch sequences stood out as a particular highlight. The sharpest fault line ran between critics who found that faithfulness charming and those who felt it produced an overlong, imagination-free slog, with the lead actors and John Williams' score drawing specific fire from both camps.
“The script is faithful, the actors are just right, the sets, costumes, makeup and effects match and sometimes exceed anything one could imagine.”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
“overly insistent score lacks subtlety and bludgeons us with crescendos”
Claudia Puig·USA Today
“a theme park that's a few years past its prime; the rides clatter and groan with metal fatigue every time they take a curve.”
Elvis Mitchell·The New York Times
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- mild
- Sex
- none
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- none
- Intensity
- mild
Genres
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Chris ColumbusDirector
Daniel RadcliffeHarry Potter
Rupert GrintRon Weasley
Emma WatsonHermione Granger
Richard HarrisAlbus Dumbledore
Tom FeltonDraco Malfoy
Alan RickmanSeverus Snape
Robbie ColtraneHagrid
Maggie SmithProfessor McGonagall
Richard GriffithsUncle Vernon Dursley
Ian HartProfessor Quirrell / Voldemort (voice)
Fiona ShawAunt Petunia Dursley
John HurtMr Ollivander
John WilliamsComposer
J.K. RowlingWriter
Steve KlovesWriter
John SealeCinematographyHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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.
What critics thought
Columbus's adaptation earns broad but not universal credit for its fidelity to Rowling's novel — the sets, effects, and supporting cast drew consistent admiration, while the Quidditch sequences stood out as a particular highlight. The sharpest fault line ran between critics who found that faithfulness charming and those who felt it produced an overlong, imagination-free slog, with the lead actors and John Williams' score drawing specific fire from both camps.
“The script is faithful, the actors are just right, the sets, costumes, makeup and effects match and sometimes exceed anything one could imagine.”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
“overly insistent score lacks subtlety and bludgeons us with crescendos”
Claudia Puig·USA Today
“a theme park that's a few years past its prime; the rides clatter and groan with metal fatigue every time they take a curve.”
Elvis Mitchell·The New York Times
Accolades
Parents guide
- Violence
- mild
- Sex
- none
- Profanity
- mild
- Substances
- none
- Intensity
- mild
Genres
Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Cast & Crew
Chris ColumbusDirectorDaniel RadcliffeHarry PotterRupert GrintRon WeasleyEmma WatsonHermione GrangerRichard HarrisAlbus DumbledoreTom FeltonDraco MalfoyAlan RickmanSeverus SnapeRobbie ColtraneHagridMaggie SmithProfessor McGonagallRichard GriffithsUncle Vernon DursleyIan HartProfessor Quirrell / Voldemort (voice)Fiona ShawAunt Petunia DursleyJohn HurtMr OllivanderJohn WilliamsComposerJ.K. RowlingWriterSteve KlovesWriterJohn SealeCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy