Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, 2001
In this film, Alan Rickman played the role of Professor Severus Snape.
- Original title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- Year: 2001
- Genre: fantasy, adventure, family
- Director: Chris Columbus
- Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Meggi Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Richard Harris, Fiona Shaw, Richard Griffits, Julie Walters
- Plot: It is the story of Harry Potter, an ordinary eleven-year-old boy who lives with his aunt and uncle and discovers that he is actually a wizard and is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Rubeus Hagrid, the caretaker of Hogwarts, snatches Harry from his everyday existence and quickly throws him into a world completely foreign to both him and the viewer. Known for an incident that occurred at the time of his birth, Harry easily makes friends at his new school. However, he soon discovers that the wizarding world is much more dangerous for him than he could have imagined, and he quickly learns that not all wizards can be trusted.
Interesting Facts About Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone:
Casting Harry: Over 300 young actors auditioned for the role of Harry Potter before Daniel Radcliffe was chosen. J.K. Rowling herself approved Radcliffe for the role.
Faithful Set Design: The Great Hall at Hogwarts was built with such authenticity that it featured real stone floors and solid wooden tables. It set the standard for magical world-building in cinema.
Quidditch Inspiration: The concept of Quidditch was inspired by several sports, but its on-screen depiction required groundbreaking visual effects to make broomsticks believable.
Hermione’s Real Hair: Emma Watson’s bushy hair in the film was designed to match the book’s description but was toned down in later movies for practical reasons.
Hidden Easter Eggs: Throughout the movie, there are many nods to wizarding history, such as Dumbledore’s Chocolate Frog card referencing his defeat of Grindelwald and work with Nicolas Flamel.
Fluffy’s Origin: The design of Fluffy, the three-headed dog, was inspired by Greek mythology and particularly Cerberus, the guardian of the Underworld.
Hedwig’s Role: The snowy owl that played Hedwig was actually several trained owls, each used for specific types of scenes.
Firsts and Milestones: This film was the first major movie for many cast members, including Radcliffe, Watson, and Rupert Grint. It also marked the beginning of a blockbuster franchise.
Philosopher vs. Sorcerer: The title was changed to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States, requiring some scenes to be reshot with the alternate term.
Box Office Triumph: The film grossed over $974 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2001 and cementing Harry Potter’s global impact.
