Published: November 9, 2026 · Last updated: November 9, 2026 · 4 min read

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a 2001 film directed by Chris Columbus. This guide provides information regarding the movie's premise, cast, and basic production details.

Spoiler-free: this page uses only the official synopsis and public data.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Ratings Snapshot

SourceScoreVotes
TMDB (audience votes)7.9/1030585

Different sites measure different things. IMDb and TMDB scores average votes from registered users. The Rotten Tomatoes percentage is the share of critic reviews counted as positive, not an average grade. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average out of 100. A title can score high on one and lower on another, so look at all of them together.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone at a Glance

Poster for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)
Poster: TMDB
Release date2001-11-16
GenresAdventure, Fantasy
Runtime2 h 32 min (152 minutes)
Directed byChris Columbus
Written bySteve Kloves
Top castDaniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris
US ratingPG
ProductionWarner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films, 1492 Pictures
FranchiseHarry Potter Collection
More detailsIMDb page · TMDB page

What Is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone About? (Spoiler-Free)

An 11-year-old boy discovers his magical heritage and enrolls at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While developing his abilities under the guidance of the headmaster, he investigates the circumstances surrounding his parents' deaths. He also works to identify the villain responsible for his family history.

Cast and Characters

  • Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
  • Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
  • Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
  • Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore
  • Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
  • Alan Rickman as Severus Snape
  • Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid
  • Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall

Behind the Camera

Music byJohn Williams
CinematographyJohn Seale
EditingRichard Francis-Bruce
ProducersDavid Heyman, Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Duncan Henderson

Who Should Watch Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

It may suit you if:

  • You are looking for a fantasy adventure film.
  • You enjoy stories featuring wizards and magical schools.
  • You are interested in the start of a series featuring Daniel Radcliffe.

You might skip it if:

  • You do not enjoy fantasy genre films.
  • You prefer movies with a runtime shorter than 152 minutes.

Before You Watch

This 152-minute adventure film holds a PG rating in the United States. It features a large ensemble cast including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.

Movies Like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

These picks come from TMDB’s audience recommendations for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

TitleTMDB scoreAbout
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)7.7/10As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds, Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)8.0/10Year three at Hogwarts means new fun and new challenges as Harry learns the delicate art of approaching a Hippogriff, transforming shape-shifting…
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)7.7/10Harry, Ron and Hermione walk away from their last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for…
The School for Good and Evil (2022)7.0/10Best friends Sophie and Agatha navigate an enchanted school for young heroes and villains — and find themselves on opposing sides of the battle…
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)7.8/10After his name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter becomes a competitor in a grueling battle for glory among three wizarding schools in the…
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)8.1/10Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort once and for all.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) runs 2 h 32 min (152 minutes), according to TMDB.

Who directed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

Chris Columbus.

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

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Harris, Tom Felton.

When was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone released?

The first release date listed on TMDB is 2001-11-16.

What is the US rating of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

TMDB lists a US rating of PG. Check the official rating body for the reasons behind it.

Data checked on November 9, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.

Related: Avengers: Infinity War (2018) ratings.

Related: Modern Times (1936) ratings.

Related: Resident Evil (2026) ratings.


About this guide. Published by Morfeli on November 9, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer) and are summarized with AI assistance. This page is a data summary, not a critic’s review or a personal opinion; nobody here claims to have rated the title. Scores and details change over time. See our Editorial Policy.