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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review (2001) — 75% Celluloid Score

Directed by Chris Columbus · 2001 ·

Short answer

Is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone worth watching?

Yes. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) earns a 75% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

75%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

81% Editorial Rating
82% Audience snapshot · excluded
64 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.8
7.7 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
2h 32m
Age rating
PG (US) · PG (UK) · U (India) · SU (Indonesia) · PG (Australia)
Streaming
HBO Max, Peacock
Language
English

Also known as Harry Potter dan Batu Bertuah हैरी पौटर और पारस पत्थर Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen Harry Potter e a Pedra Filosofal ハリー・ポッターと賢者の石 해리 포터와 마법사의 돌

Where to watch

  • HBO Max
  • Peacock

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by country

Country Streaming on
India Disney+ Hotstar
Indonesia Catchplay, HBO Max
Japan Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT
Malaysia HBO Max
Pakistan HBO Max
Philippines HBO Max
South Korea Wavve
Thailand HBO Max
Turkey TV+, HBO Max
United Arab Emirates Shahid
United Kingdom HBO Max, Sky Cinema, ITVX
United States HBO Max, Peacock

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (81/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (82%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (64/100).
  • Celluloid Score 75% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Viewers who want a well-regarded fantasy, family pick
  • Epic-length viewers who want a big-screen experience

Not ideal for

    Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

    Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

    Is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone worth watching?

    Yes — Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone earns a 75% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits viewers who want a well-regarded fantasy, family pick. Read our full review (4.5/5).

    Celluloid verdict

    The franchise starter that introduced a generation to British fantasy filmmaking on a global scale.

    , Founder & Editor

    Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

    What is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone about?

    An orphaned boy discovers he is a wizard and enters Hogwarts School, where friendship, magic, and a dark destiny await him.

    Watch the Trailer

    Critic Reviews

    Short review 4 min read English Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review: First Magic

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is Chris Columbus's warm, faithful first trip to Hogwarts, a family fantasy whose sense of wonder still casts a spell.

    Yes. It is a charming, beautifully cast family fantasy and the right place to start the series, even if its storybook style and length show their age.

    Guides for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    Browse all guides

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone stills

    Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 1
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 2
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 3
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 4
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 5
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone production still 6

    Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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    No reader takes published yet. Send yours and we may publish it after editing.

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: frequently asked questions

    Is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone worth watching?

    Yes. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) has a Celluloid Score of 75%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

    Where can I watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

    In the United States, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone streams on HBO Max, Peacock with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: Disney+ Hotstar in India; Catchplay, HBO Max in Indonesia; Prime Video, Hulu, U-NEXT in Japan; HBO Max in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

    How long is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone runs 2 hours 32 minutes (152 minutes).

    What is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone rated?

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is rated PG in the United States, PG in the UK, U in India, SU in Indonesia and PG in Australia. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

    Who stars in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is directed by Chris Columbus and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint.

    What is the Metascore for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

    Metacritic's Metascore for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is 64 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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