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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Adventure · Fantasy · 2001

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.

Movie details

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

“Let the magic begin.”

2001 Adventure · Fantasy 2h 32m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.9 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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Adventure · 2005

When his name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools. Signs of Voldemort's return emerge as Harry's friends help him prepare for the Triwizard Tournament.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Adventure · 2004

Harry Potter's life is in danger once more as dangerous wizard Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban Prison and is heading to Hogwarts.

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Adventure · 2010

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

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Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Adventure · 2002

Cars fly, trees fight back, and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of his second year at Hogwarts. Adventure and danger await when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. To save Hogwarts will require all of Harry, Ron and Hermione's magical abilities and courage.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Adventure · 2009

Dumbledore tries to prepare Harry for the final battle with Voldemort while Death Eaters wreak havoc in both Muggle and Wizard worlds.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Adventure · 2007

When a new professor's methods leave Hogwarts unprepared to fight the rising tide of evil, Harry teaches students how to defend against the dark arts.

The School for Good and Evil

The School for Good and Evil

Fantasy · 2022

Best friends Sophie and Agatha navigate an enchanted school for young heroes and villains — and find themselves on opposing sides of the battle between good and evil.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

Adventure · 1939

Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantasy · 2018

Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore. However, Dumbledore will need to seek help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Chris Columbus

Written by

Steve Kloves

Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter

Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint

Ron Weasley

Emma Watson

Emma Watson

Hermione Granger

Richard Harris

Richard Harris

Albus Dumbledore

Tom Felton

Tom Felton

Draco Malfoy

Alan Rickman

Alan Rickman

Severus Snape

Robbie Coltrane

Robbie Coltrane

Rubeus Hagrid

Court is in session

Put Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.