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All The Harry Potter Movies In Order And Where To Stream Them

By Phil Owen on August 23, 2024 at 1:09PM PDT

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Even without much movement from the franchise lately, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a juggernaut of a thing--we know all about the boy wizard either from reading the books or from watching all the Harry Potter movies in order when they were released, or both. And at this point, it's just too massive of a piece of our recent pop culture to go away any time soon, and even if we tried to forget about it, author JK Rowling's incendiary and problematic commentaries would constantly bring it back up anyway. But it's a moot point--like DC, Marvel , and Star Wars , the Harry Potter franchise is probably going to be a part of our lives for the duration.

The Wizarding World imagines an alternate version of our own world that's full of magical folks hiding in plain sight. As a generational saga, it explores a fascinating story primarily from the perspective of a child who's having to process, while he comes of age, that he's the beginning of the end of a very long drama that had been going for decades before he was born. Harry and his pals, Ron and Hermione, have to deal with some extraordinary situations all while the adults in their lives repeatedly use them as pawns in that greater wizard conflict--something the kids become increasingly aware of as they grow up. Each of the seven books tells the story of one school year at the magical academy of Hogwarts, from when Harry is 11 until he's 18.

The screen version of the Harry Potter franchise is in the midst of a lull at the moment as the planned five-film Fantastic Beasts spin-off series is in limbo after three movies--the only further plans for any on-screen Wizarding World fun right now is the upcoming HBO series that will re-adapt the main book series. But that series is still in the early stages of development and could be several years away.

For now, then, we're left with the mainline Harry Potter flicks and the Fantastic Beasts series as our only screen adaptations of this beloved franchise. So let's take a look at each of these films, in the order in which they were released, and with all the info you need on where to find and stream each of them.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Where to watch: Peacock

The very first Harry Potter movie, from Home Alone director Chris Columbus, is also the one that's most faithful to its source material--though that's largely because the Wizarding World hadn't been fleshed out very much yet, and thus this first book is much shorter than later ones. This film introduces us both to this whole weird world and to an 11-year-old Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). Harry is a child of destiny because when he was a baby he absorbed some of the power of the evil wizard Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), who had murdered his parents, leaving him with a lightning bolt scar on his forehead and a crappy life with his abusive aunt and uncle. That is, until he's spirited away to the magical school of Hogwarts.

These days, this first Harry Potter film is a bit frustrating--it's a kids movie through and through, without much appeal for adult viewers, and its main cast members were actual children without much acting experience. Though little Rupert Grint, as Ron Weasley, is the big exception--he really carries this one. Luckily, Radcliffe and Emma Watson (Hermione) don't take very long to improve their craft.

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The Harry Potter movie franchise is pretty expansive--here's where you can stream all 11 of the films.

Harry returns to Hogwarts for a second year, and things quickly get weird after some unknown person opens the mysterious Chamber of Secrets beneath the school and frees something terrible. This sequel, released almost exactly one year after the first and once again directed by Columbus, is more confident and comfortable with itself than Sorcerer's Stone was, and it's got a more serious tone rather than simply carrying on with the first film's incessant whimsy.

And, perhaps most importantly, Radcliffe and Watson find their footing as Harry and Hermione. Chamber of Secrets is akin to a TV show finding its rhythm in Season 2.

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

This third film sees a new threat emerge when Harry returns to school--a purported old Voldemort supporter named Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban Prison and may well have plans to murder Harry. Black was said to have been close friends with Harry's parents before betraying them--Sirius is even Harry's godfather.

Prisoner of Azkaban may be the most divisive in the series. The split on this one tends to lie between people who read the books, who are understandably frustrated by certain key changes, and people who didn't. But director Alfonso Cuaron delivered what still stands as the best Harry Potter film in terms of raw filmmaking craft, and it's also got the most distinctive look of them all thanks to Cuaron's docudrama aesthetic.

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

We got a much-needed expansion of the Wizarding World in this fourth film, which is all about the Triwizard Tournament, a competition between Hogwarts and two other European wizard schools that brings a massive influx of new and interesting folks to our favorite old castle. Each of the three schools is supposed to be represented by a single student chosen by the Goblet of Fire, but the Goblet seemingly goes rogue and selects Harry as a fourth contestant, even though he isn't even old enough. The lone Harry Potter flick from director Mike Newell is more slick and glossy than Azkaban was--but the Goblet of Fire book was nearly the same length as the previous three books combined, which led to some major omissions that fans are still annoyed by to this day.

Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Director David Yates took over on this fifth film, and he's been at the reins ever since--he directed the last four mainline Harry Potter movies and all three Fantastic Beasts flicks. And it was just in time, too, because the Triwizard Tournament was where the overall franchise plot started ramping up. This time out, an obnoxious new teacher named Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) is undermining all of the kids' attempts to prepare for Voldemort's inevitable offensive, leading them to form Dumbledore's Army, which meets in secret to practice defensive spells that Umbridge refuses to teach them. This was the first Harry Potter to leave out the quidditch sequences from the books, which was a great choice because those parts rarely add much substance--with the World Cup scene from Goblet of Fire being one of the few actually essential ones.

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Things are getting serious now. Voldemort's evil Death Eaters are making moves across the Wizarding World, and the always-irritating Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) has been tasked with doing something terrible. Meanwhile, Hogwarts is feeling less and less like a refuge from the madness of the rest of the world. Half-Blood Prince is essentially the beginning of the third act of this series, because this is the point where Harry's enemies have finished planning their moves and are now executing all of them--and it's a thrilling shift for this film.

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 (2010 and 2011)

We could treat these as separate movies, but they really function as one long film that's been cut in half since Part 1 is all setup. But what a film it is--at over 4.5 hours, the combined Deathly Hallows movie is an exhaustive adaptation of the climactic book that doesn't have to cut the usual corners. And with Yates' practiced hand on the wheel once again, Harry's final quest to destroy Lord Voldemort's soul is a thrilling adventure that concludes with a one-of-a-kind battle scene that nearly levels Hogwarts--it's a rare piece of CGI spectacle that's so singular that there really hasn't been anything else like it outside of this series.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Where to watch: Max

After the main series wrapped up, the next step for the Wizarding World on the big screen was Fantastic Beasts, a new series of prequels that would chart the rise of Voldemort's master, Grindelwald (Colin Farrell), through the eyes of zoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who studies and cares for all sort of magical creatures. When a bunch of said creatures escape Newt's briefcase while he's in New York, it leads him into the middle of a tense political situation with the local American wizards and some extremists who want to dominate all the non-magic folks. This first film is pretty likable, though some of Newt's hijinks are a little bit silly as part of this otherwise intense story. But what's particularly nice about this film is the worldbuilding--the mainline Harry Potter movies are completely Euro-centric and barely even reference any other parts of the world, and so getting a glimpse of how different the American wizard establishment is, and how they fit alongside the European wizards we know very well, is a very welcome thing.

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• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

The shapeshifting Grindelwald, having swapped Colin Farrell's face for Johnny Depp's, escapes from prison and begins his revolution--convincing huge swatches of wizards to stop hiding and demonstrate their clear superiority over regular folks. After everything that went down in the last movie, a young-ish Dumbledore (Jude Law) decides to get involved--he and Grindelwald have a long history together, dating back to a schoolboy romance when they were at Hogwarts as kids. While David Yates is doing great work visually on this one, the plot is just silly--Rowling wrote the screenplays for these movies herself, something she never did with the Harry Potter films, and that probably wasn't the right choice.

• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Grindelwald, who looks like Mads Mikkelson this time, responds to his defeat in the last film by attempting to get himself chosen as the new Supreme Leader of the International Confederation of Wizards--through trickery, of course, rather than legitimate means. Dumbledore, meanwhile, is stuck in an awkward spot, because he and Grindelwald cannot harm one another as a result of a romantic blood pact from when they were in school at Hogwarts as teens. But this plot is hard to track and harder to care about. For example, a large part of these movies has focused on a character who turned out to be Dumbledore's secret nephew--this person is original to these movies, and had never been referenced or hinted at in any books. Through three movies, it still isn't clear at all what purpose this character might serve or why Dumbledore would have secret relatives. With no more Fantastic Beasts movies planned for now, stuff like that becomes extra frustrating.

How to watch the Harry Potter Wizarding World movies in timeline order

Fortunately, the Harry Potter franchise timeline order isn't an overly complicated one. While flashbacks occur pretty often--to be expected, given the nature of the story--the movies pretty much take place one after the other. Each Harry Potter film takes place in the order in which it was released, and the same goes for the three Fantastic Beasts movies. Though, of course, the Fantastic Beasts series is a prequel to the Harry Potter series, taking place about 70 years prior to the original 2001 movie. So the chronological order of films is like so:

• Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them (2016)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)
• Leave Blank

Screen Rant

Every harry potter book, ranked worst to best.

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10 Things That Happen In Every Harry Potter Book

Harry potter: 13 differences between the sorcerer’s stone & the philosopher’s stone, the harry potter tv show needs to fix 1 prisoner of azkaban change that hurt the movies.

• Chamber of Secrets lacks the wonder and plot twists of other books, but sets up crucial elements for the series.
• Goblet of Fire is tonally uneven but marks a significant turning point in the series with entertaining storylines.
• Sorcerer's Stone is a magical introduction with hints of darker storylines, capturing readers with classic storytelling tropes.

Every reader of the Harry Potter books will have their favorite, but a few are generally considered the best and others the worst. Chronicling young Harry’s coming-of-age and his conflict with Lord Voldemort to determine the fate of the Wizarding World, Harry Potter is one of the most popular fantasy book series of all time. It is often credited with reviving reading culture and has spawned two connected movie franchises, an upcoming TV show, and several theme parks and other destination experiences.

Certain books in the Harry Potter series bear the burden of world-building and therefore come across as interim novels before the series gets to its biggest events. However, other installments demonstrate that it is possible to set up vital plot elements while still constituting compelling prose. Its overall biggest strength is in the characters, where even the supporting arcs merit audience investment, elevating even the de facto worst book of the series.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series includes ten events or tropes that occur in one way or another in each of the seven iconic books.

7 Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Chamber of secrets is slow in comparison to the other books.

In retrospect, an entire book dedicated to the threat of an evil serpent living in Hogwarts castle and the blame somehow being cast upon Harry and Hagrid seems strange. Landing in the middle of the pre-Voldemort trilogy, Chamber of Secrets doesn’t have the wonder of its predecessor or the amazing plot twists of its sequel. It does have some good plot twists, such as Ginny’s role in the attacks on students and the “I am Lord Voldemort” reveal, while the overall story twists the childlike magic of the first novel, dipping into darker aesthetics.

Chamber of Secrets’ biggest contribution to the series’ overall plot is setting up the politics of blood purism in the Wizarding World, the crux of the conflict with Voldemort and his followers. The introduction of characters like Dobby and the dynamics between Harry and the Weasley family are also highlights. However, people who are re-reading Harry Potter are likely just waiting to get to better things during Chamber of Secrets , one of the books where the ways the world revolves around Harry are the most contrived.

6 Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

Goblet of fire is slightly confusing, with a shocking change in tone.

The other time that the Wizarding World bends out of shape to place Harry at the center of things in an awkward way is when he is selected as a Triwizard champion in Goblet of Fire . Granted, Harry is the protagonist of the series and the target of Lord Voldemort’s constant assassination attempts, and there is a story-relevant reason for him being forced into the Triwizard Tournament . Yet, fans love to criticize how the Ministry of Magic representatives decide to make Harry a champion rather than just calling it a mistake and excusing him from it.

On other fronts, Goblet of Fire can come across as meandering. Part of this is due to J. K. Rowling realizing a plot hole midway through writing it and having to go back and undo it. It is also tonally strange when most of the book is dominated by the festivities of the Quidditch World Cup and the Triwizard Tournament until the final dark chapters depicting Voldemort’s return. Cedric Diggory’s death is a tragic, effective moment that illustrates Voldemort’s cruelty and indicates what is to come.

Goblet of Fire also represents a vital crossroads for the Harry Potter series, even if not everyone loves reading it. It is a strange mix of entertaining and seemingly pointless storylines: The beginnings of teen romantic drama are amusing, while Rita Skeeter blasting that romantic drama in the newspapers is cringe-worthy. There are reasons to love Goblet of Fire and reasons to hate it, but other books in the series are decidedly better.

5 Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone

Sorcerer's stone is the magical introduction to the world of harry potter.

Some people will dismiss Sorcerer’s Stone as the serviceable opener of the series that does what it needs to do, so bigger and better things can happen later. However, the way it does this merits reevaluation. The first few chapters leading up to Hagrid’s arrival are a strange but spectacular mystery of what is causing the bizarre events in Harry and the Dursleys’ lives, while Harry receiving an explanation in the form of a Hogwarts acceptance letter is incredibly satisfying while promising years of magic to come.

Harry is dazzled by his introduction to the Wizarding World, while hints of darker things lying in wait there set up a bigger story.

The rest of the book demonstrates a kind of magical wonder that only appears in brief flashes throughout the rest of the series. Harry is dazzled by his introduction to the Wizarding World, while hints of darker things lying in wait there set up a bigger story. Sorcerer’s Stone utilizes a classic children’s literature trope in the protagonist’s transition from the mundane world to the magical one, which captured the minds of readers from the beginning.

In the UK, Harry Potter’s first story is called The Philosopher’s Stone but stateside it’s Sorcerer’s Stone. What are the differences between the two?

4 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Order of the phoenix is the darkest harry potter book and has many amazing characters.

Order of the Phoenix was the darkest, most mature Harry Potter book yet — at the time. There is a feeling of a promise being honored now that the overall plot of the war with Voldemort is finally taking shape. This brings with it the introduction of many new fan-favorite characters who are members of the Order of the Phoenix , while others’ return gives the series a sense of continuity. The scope of the action is bigger, while readers are provided with a love-to-hate villain in Dolores Umbridge who both compliments and contrasts the threat of Voldemort.

Order of the Phoenix is one of the points in the series that is poignantly written, even if it is emotionally strenuous to read. The Wizarding World turns against Harry; Voldemort’s return and the Ministry’s campaign force Harry and his friends to grow up sooner rather than later, even though the reality that they are nearing adulthood becomes clear. However, they rise to this responsibility by forming Dumbledore’s Army.

Dumbledore’s Army fulfills a beloved trope of a young rebellion taking shape in the face of corrupt authority figures. However, it avoids the feeling of being too trope-y characterizing every rebellion-based series that came after The Hunger Games . Order of the Phoenix pushes the story and the characters further than ever before, illustrating their strengths and flaws while stressing their need for each other.

3 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

Deathly hallows is the satisfying conclusion to harry potter.

Deathly Hallows is the conclusion that ties the entire series together, with beats that nod to Sorcerer’s Stone and subtle symbolisms that readers are still dissecting. The story demands that Harry, Ron, and Hermione be away from Hogwarts, but their return to the series’ primary setting for the final battle creates the perfect “it all ends here” feeling. As the characters reunite for their final stand, the narrative gives the Hogwarts teachers some amazing moments to truly showcase their knowledge of magic, and in McGonagall’s case, to have the epic face-off with Snape that she deserves.

The biggest caveat of Deathly Hallows is that it is too miserable to read, but every death has an individual narrative purpose — such as Remus and Tonks’ deaths drawing a parallel between Harry and Teddy — as well as generally illustrating the cost of war. There are happy moments mixed in: Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Teddy’s birth, and Percy reuniting with his family. Deathly Hallows is a heartbreaking but satisfying whirlwind of epic final battles where everything is wrapped up, before giving the characters a happy ending of peaceful family life (not considering The Cursed Child’s plot).

2 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Prisoner of azkaban features beloved characters and wild plot twists.

Prisoner of Azkaban is a fan-favorite primarily due to the introduction of Sirius and Remus , who bring with them more information about Harry’s past and his parents. The book gives a fuller picture of the Potter family, where Lily and James’ lives have a bearing on the story rather than just their deaths. The story is built around a wild plot twist and a theme of time ticking away, something director Alfonso Cuarón illustrated beautifully in the movie adaptation.

Prisoner of Azkaban is possibly the best book to re-read because once readers know the plot twist, they realize all the tiny hints throughout. Remus’ odd reaction to Harry mentioning Sirius, the description of Scabbers missing a toe, and other moments all contribute to a classic mystery where all the seemingly unrelated elements fit together in the end. However, Prisoner of Azkaban also showcases that the Wizarding World is fallible — the government consistently arrests the wrong people — demonstrating that Voldemort is not the only evil out there and contributing to a more complex story.

HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV remake has the chance to right the wrongs of the movies, including a frustrating Prisoner of Azkaban change.

1 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Half-blood prince's slower plot allows for more elegant writing.

Half-Blood Prince had its work cut out, needing to set up all the plot points necessary to make the last book happen. However, the exploration of Voldemort’s origins is one of the novel's greatest strengths. It also introduces even more nuances to the story and themes with Draco’s hesitance to murder for Voldemort and the continued politics with the Ministry and teachers. Amid all this, Harry has become a young man who verbalizes his opinions about the government and the school in a way even more mature than leading secret rebellions.

However, Half-Blood Prince stands out as the best-written Harry Potter book because it is also deeply romantic.

However, Half-Blood Prince stands out as the best-written Harry Potter book because it is also deeply romantic. Major storylines are about finding happiness while the world is burning down; everything comes full circle with Harry and Ginny’s relationship , as well as Ron and Hermione’s . There is some drama in the Weasley family with Molly not approving of Fleur — they reconcile after Bill is attacked, only for Tonks to drop the bombshell of her relationship with Remus seconds later. This novel of gradual plot progression in both the major conflicts and relationships is a strong contender for the best in the series.

Do The Movies Have The Same Rankings As The Books?

With several different directors working on the movie franchise, it's understandable that the Harry Potter movies vary in quality. What's more, the best and worst Harry Potter books aren't the same as the best and worst movies, though there are a few parallels between the two. For many readers, the Prisoner of Azkaban is considered to be the second-best Harry Potter book, and most viewers consider it to be the strongest movie. This speaks for the quality of the story, which translated incredibly well to the big screen.

There are so many book moments, such as Harry riding Buckbeak or the big reveal that Ron's rat, Scabbers, was Peter Petigrew, that worked beautifully in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie. While it may not have the best quality of prose of all of J.K. Rowling's novels, it's arguably the peak of her storytelling ability, and the quality of the narrative wasn't lost when director Alfonso Cuarón brought the story to theaters in 2004.

Where there's the biggest deviation between the quality of the Harry Potter books and movies is with Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. While this made for the best of all the Harry Potter novels, it's definitely not one of the strongest films. That's not to say that it's bad, but it's ranked by many viewers as being weaker than the likes of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (which itself worked notably better as a film) and Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Notably too, Chamber of Secrets is also considered by many to be the worst Harry Potter movie, just like it's also seen as the weakest book.

Which Harry Potter Book Is Closest To The Movie?

Book accuracy has always been a bone of contention for many Harry Potter readers when it comes to the movies. Every film makes significant alterations to the source material, and there's no Harry Potter movie which can be said to be 100% book-accurate. These changes aren't minor in some cases either, as there are even instances of entire characters, such as Peeves the Poltergeist, being missing.

However, t he most book-accurate Harry Potter movie is the first , Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . Aside from the distinct lack of Peeves and a few moments of Harry and Malfoy's rivalry, almost every moment in the book is brought to the screen. It's worth noting that it's also the shortest of all the Harry Potter books though, which may account for why there are so few changes, as there was less material that needed to be cut to meet a suitable runtime.

The least book-accurate Harry Potter movie is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This may account for why it's considered the best book but not the best movie, as director David Yates had to remove a considerable amount of content in order to make his 2009 adaptation work as a film. While many of these omissions make sense, it is notable that the lack of (for example) a deep exploration into Voldemort's past, also removed what made the book so great. Plus, this movie also irked Harry Potter book fans considerably since it heavily reduced Ginny's role, and she's nowhere near the same endearing fleshed-out character as her on-page counterpart.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

A Harry Potter Deleted Scene Proved Slytherin's Greatest Enemy Was Mr. Filch

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It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR's continuing coverage on Rowling here .

Key Takeaways

• Mr. Filch has always been considered a villainous character in the Harry Potter series, as he's often delighted to catch Harry and his friends breaking the rules.
• However, in a deleted scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 , Filch is seen taking pleasure in keeping the Slytherins away from the Battle of Hogwarts, which shows that the character isn't interested in Voldemort's reign.
• Filch always had a feud with Slytherin students because of their rule-breaking. Even though Filch is a bitter and unkind character, he's ultimately not as evil as people usually think.

The Harry Potter universe has shown that even characters that weren't considered villains could still have a mean streak tied to them. The best example of this was Argus Filch, who was Hogwarts' caretaker for decades. In that time, Filch was present for many important events, such as the reawakening of the Basilisk and the Battle of Hogwarts. But no matter the conflict, Filch always carried a surly attitude that made him infamous among the students of the school. And while he wasn't a villain, he was probably the closest thing most young students experienced during their time at the school.

Filch was a child born of magical parents that had no magic of his own. Known as a Squib , it was something that deeply bothered Filch. But even without magic, he was shown equal respect and given the chance to be Hogwarts' caretaker. While there, he quickly made it evident that he had no care or interest in the happiness of Hogwarts' students, and no House felt this more than Slytherin. Though not all evil, they were a focus of Filch's anger, and a deleted scene of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II proved that he was easily the House's greatest enemy.

Slytherins Always Had a Bad Rap at Hogwarts

Harry Potter: 6 Characters That Prove Slytherin Is Not the 'Bad' House

Slytherin House may have had a reputation for churning out Harry Potter's darkest wizards but not every member is evil.

Over the centuries, the Slytherin House has always held a less-than-kind reputation when it came to popularity among the other houses. This idea came about as early as the House's beginnings with the four founders of Hogwarts. It was no secret that Salazar Slytherin was adamant that magic should be performed by pure-blood wizards, and he was often very vocal about his beliefs. He was also the one that placed the Basilisk in the lower levels of the school. Since then, pure-blood wizards have been sorted into Slytherin, with many sharing similar beliefs in their superiority over other types of wizards.

Though not all Slytherins were bad , like Horace Slughorn or Severus Snape, many carried a belief that they had to be the superior wizards over all others. This sense of pride permeated Slytherin House and even corrupted the mind of Draco Malfoy, who eventually found this way of thinking unfitting for him. Even still, before Malfoy came to his senses, he and his friends were one of many Slytherins that perpetrated Slytherin's less than stellar reputation and became a thorn in the side of Filch.

Filch and Slytherins Had a Legendary Feud

10 Most Controversial Harry Potter Characters

Controversial Harry Potter characters range widely from outright villains to characters with more ambiguous morals.

Malfoy was the primary Slytherin that seemed to always find himself crossing paths with Mr. Filch. This was first evident when he often tried to get Harry Potter in trouble during the early years of their schooling. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the earliest example, as Malfoy tried to outsmart Filch to get Harry and his friends detention. However, the two had a more personal meeting in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when he caught Malfoy trying to sneak into Slughorn's party. What made this particular meeting even worse was that it came a year after the two worked together to catch Dumbledore's Army in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . It showed that Filch could work with Slytherins, but the Slytherins would still just as quickly turn on him as there was no love between Filch and Hogwarts' students.

One of the scariest instances between Slytherin and Filch came in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when his cat, Ms. Norris, was found petrified by the Basilisk. Though Filch swore to get revenge on whoever was responsible, his true enemy was Tom Riddle and the Basilisk, both tied to Slytherin. It showed that while he wasn't specifically targeting the House at the time, they were still responsible for his most emotionally traumatic experience. Eventually, Filch managed to get brief revenge on Slytherin's House for years of headaches thanks to a brief moment before the Battle of Hogwarts.

In a deleted scene from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II , Filch was ordered to lock the remaining Slytherin students in the dungeon, which he did with pleasure. It's likely his happiness at the order would've come no matter the House, but even Filch knew that Slytherin was no good, and with so many of them siding with Voldemort, locking them up was for the best. Sadly, the victory was short-lived as a blast set the students free and nearly trampled by Filch in a comedic moment at his expense. Ultimately, the scene would've been entertaining to see in the movie, even if it might've slowed its momentum because it showed Filch finally getting a win, albeit a brief one.

Filch Could Outsmart Any Slytherin, Even Without Magic

Harry Potter: 10 Wizards Who Should Have Been Muggles

There are a lot of great and wonderful wizards in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and then there are those with questionable powers and morals.

Though Filch failed in his attempt to detain the Slytherins in the Battle of Hogwarts , there's much to be said about his ability to detain an entire House of wizards and witches without magic. Realistically, if there was any time for these students to get revenge on the wizard, it was during the battle. Their numbers alone could've offered spells that would've incapacitated Filch before he could try to defend himself. Yet, for some reason, he kept all the students in line with nothing more than a grimace and devotion to his duty. As a result, it served as a small reminder of why he had been the caretaker for so many decades.

Argus Filch knew every nook and cranny of Hogwarts and used that to his advantage whenever he could. He could get the drop on students before they realized and relished in the look of terror students had when he managed to find them. Filch could also evoke enough fear that young students were often powerless against him, even if they knew a debilitating spell. In the end, Filch may not have had the powers to combat the likes of Slytherin House, but with his cleverness and ingenuity, he proved he could outsmart almost anyone with enough time.

Is Mr. Filch an Evil Character in Harry Potter?

Little Known Facts About Argus Filch

• Began working as Hogwarts's Caretaker in 1968
• Has (had) a romantic relationship with Madame Pince
• Peeves the Poltergeist and Filch had an ongoing feud that lasted more than 25 years

Harry Potter's Most Bitter Character Was Always a Stick in the Mud

The Harry Potter franchise has been home to many surly characters. But where some became angrier over time, one in particular, was always unhappy.

Mr. Filch is a morally ambiguous figure in the Harry Potter series. While he's often considered villainous for the way he treats most of the students at Hogwarts, his moral alignment isn't as easy to identify. Unlike most characters in the series, Mr. Filch doesn't seem to have a preference between pure-blood wizards or muggles, Slytherins and Gryffindors, heroes or villains. The only thing that Mr. Filch seems to passionately despise is rule-breaking in the school that he's supposed to keep under control. Mr. Filch's feud with the Slytherins probably stems from Slytherin's constant transgressions. Bigger than Filch's feud with the Slytherins is the one he sustained for almost seven years with Fred and George Weasley, the most mischievous students to ever set foot at Hogwarts .

While most people believe that Mr. Filch is evil, others could argue that the school's caretaker was only doing his job. Slytherins are especially troublesome, which would explain why Mr. Filch hated them in particular. Mr. Filch is committed to making the students obey Hogwarts rules, even if maybe he enjoys punishing the students a bit too much. However, this may come from decades of dealing with misbehaving teenagers who are able, unlike him, to perform magic. Years of resentment might have turned Mr. Filch into a bitter man. Even though it would be a lie to say that Mr. Filch is a good person, as he shows way too much hatred for children, it would hardly be true that he's evil. Mr. Filch is just trying to do his job and people breaking the rules at Hogwarts -- even if they have good intentions, like Harry -- make his job extremely difficult.

Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise follows the adventure of a young boy introduced a whole new world of magic, mayhem and darkness. Traversing the obstacles in his path, young Harry's rise to heroics pits him against Lord Voldemort, one of the most dangerous wizards in the world and all his minions.

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40 Harry Potter Spells Every Fan Should Know

Last Updated on September 2, 2024

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Since its debut in 1997, the Harry Potter Series, both novel and film, has garnered immense recognition , positive reviews, and commercial success worldwide. In 2008, the novel was the best-selling children’s book in history, and as of 2018, the series had sold over 500 million copies.

Potterheads have an eight-movie film franchise that never gets old, inspiring quotes from the novels, an actual Universal Theme Park , and a unique vocabulary created by Rowling, which comprises spells, charms, curses, and jinxes. While Rowling has asserted that these strange words are by-products of the Latin and French classes she took in the University, it goes without saying that Harry Porter wouldn’t be what it is without these enchantments.

In this article, you’ll find 40 curated Harry Porter spells alongside their respective meanings. Whether it’s the terrifying ones or others that are barely useful, these spells will take any true Potterhead aback. Without further ado, let’s get into them!

Colovaria is a charm that enables a wizard to change the color of an animal or object to any color they wish. Its use is seen at the end of Sorcerer’s Stone when Dumbledore revealed that Gryffindor had won a House Cup, an award given out at the year’s end, and changed the Slytherin banners Gryffindor.

This is one of the most famous spells from the wizarding world. The Unlocking Charm (Alohomora), also known as The Thief’s friend, was a charm that unlocked objects such as doors or windows. It also opened doors locked by the locking spell (Colloportus) and acted as its counter-charm. The Anti-Alohomora charm can be used to prevent this charm from working on a locked target.

Confudo was a charm that confused and misdirected the object. It worked on living and inanimate things so long as the target had a mind to be confused. There were varying degrees of confusion caused by the spell, ranging from becoming unaware of the situation, forgetting important information, or becoming particularly impressionable.

The Cruciatus Curse (Crucio), the Torture Curse, was a tool of the Dark Arts and one of the three unforgivable. It was one of the most impactful and sinister spells known in wizardkind. The curse inflicted intense, excruciating pain on the victim when cast successfully.

The Shield Charm (Protego) was a charm that protected the caster with an invisible shield that reflected spells and blocked physical entities. There were multiple variations of the Shield Charm.

The Summoning Charm (Accio) was a charm that summoned an object towards the caster. This spell needed thinking behind it, and the thing must be clear in the caster’s mind before trying to invoke it. The opposite of this spell is the Banishing Charm.

Expelliarmus

This spell is regarded as Harry Potter’s signature charm. A Disarming Charm forced whatever an opponent was holding to fly out of their hand.

This is a counter charm to the spell Accio which summons objects. Witches and wizards used it to banish persons or entities. Fourth-year students learned the spell at Hogwarts during their charms class.

This spell is handy for parents hoping to discuss sensitive subjects around their kids. The Muffliato spell fills targets’ ears with a buzzing noise, making them unable to hear anything around them.

The Shrinking Charm was a charm that caused an object to shrink. It is the opposite of the Engorgement Charm. The spell could also be used as the potion-making spell for the Shrinking Solution.

Petrificus Tolatus

This body-binding curse causes a person to experience temporary full-body paralysis. It is also known as the body-freezing spell.

This charm allowed witches and wizards to shatter glasses, almost silently, allowing discreet entry through a window.

The Expluso Curse was used to produce immense explosions, blasting the target aside with a burst of blue light. It had enough force to throw people into walls.

The wand-extinguishing charm was used to take out the light from the caster’s wand. It is the counter charm of Lumos, the wand-lightening charm.

Fiendfyre Curse

The Fiendfyre was a compelling fire that couldn’t be extinguished by normal or enchanted water. If the caster flicked their wand when a stream of flame was still running from it, a jet of fire would shoot off and become a flaming animal. This spell was started by Malfoy’s crony Vincent Crabbe.

Wingardium Leviosa

This was one of the first spells to be taught to underclassmen at Hogwarts. It is a levitation charm that can make objects such as feathers fly or levitate.

This spell turns your wand into a compass and automatically points you north. Sounds easy? Well, that’s because it is.

The Legilimens was a spell that allowed the caster to perform legilimency, that is, to delve into the victim’s mind, permitting the caster to see thoughts, memories, and emotions. Expert legilimens were able to control their victims and create realistic visions.

This incarnation can erase memories from your subject’s mind. You may accidentally cast this spell on yourself if you’re Gilderoy Lockhart.

This charm emitted a magnified roar from the tip of the wand. This noise disrupted all in its paths and could even be used to harm opponents.

This incarnation turns its target into stone. The spell is usually utilized by students looking to prank their friends by turning something like a pumpkin pasty into stone right before they take a bite out of it.

Sectumsempra

Harry found this spell in his copy of Advanced Potion Making in “the Half-blood Prince.” It is an enchantment that cuts or slashes the target a witch or wizard chooses.

Expecto Patronum

This is undoubtedly one of the most popular spells in the Harry Potter film series. The incantation uses a powerful memory to conjure something positive, like a silvery-white animal that can chase off Dementors . It is complicated to cast as it requires intense concentration and a happy memory from the spell caster.

Specialis Revelio

Specialis Revelio was the incantation of a charm that revealed any spells performed on objects or potions.

The Gouging Spell was used to gouge specific material areas such as earth or stone.

Bombarda Maxima

This spell is a more powerful version of a spell called Bombarda, which causes a small explosion. When Bombarda Maxima’s spell is targeted at an object, it creates an enormous blast.

Avada Kedavra

This spell is regarded as the killing curse and is one of the three unforgivable curses. It is the most sinister spell known to wizardkind.

This is another one of the unforgivable curses that would bring dire consequences upon the witch or wizard when used. When successfully cast, the spell caster gains control over their victim.

Furnuculus Curse

This is a jinx that causes a breakout of boils and pimples. It was a favorite of Harry Potter, who used it twice in his fourth year. The Boil-cure potion could cure the effects of this spell.

The Lumos spell is a wand-lighting charm that characters use in various parts of the series. In the summer of 1993, Harry practiced this charm while reading the instructions from Extreme Incantations under his bed covers at 4 Privet Drive.

This transfiguration spell was used to vanish both animate and inanimate objects into non-being. Harry used the spell to clean Hedwig’s cage in the seventh book.

Protean Charm

This spell allowed several objects to change simultaneously through a common purpose. It linked things together for better communication. Hermione used the charm to connect fake coins to communicate with the members of Dumbledore’s Army.

Reparo is a spell for fixing broken things. Arthur Weasley used it on Harry’s glasses in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. ” The charm is believed to have been invented by Orabella Nuttley, a Ministry of Magic employee.

Spongify Spell

This charm softens a target area or object, making it rubbery and bouncy. The Softening charm is part of the first-year charms syllabus at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Stupefy Spell

The stupefying spell stunned the target, rendering them unconscious. This charm was especially useful in dueling, as it can quickly end a duel without causing lasting damage.

Tarantallegra

Tarantallegra is the incantation of a spell that forces the victim’s legs wildly out of control in a kind of quickstep dance. We first see this spell when it is cast against Harry by Malfoy.

Langlock was the enchantment that caused one’s tongue to affix to the root of their mouth. It was invented to prevent someone from speaking aloud and can be used on both humans and spirits.

Generally referred to as the Bouquet Spell was a transfiguration charm that configured a bouquet from the tip of the caster’s wand. The movement for this spell was to move one’s wand in a circle in the air, with the spell producing a pink light upon casting.

Mucus Ad Nauseam

The Curse of Bogies (Mucus Ad Nauseam) was a charm that gave the recipient a nasty cold and an extremely runny nose. The cold could cause the victim to collapse if it were not treated.

This is one of the lesser-known Harry Potter spells. It is also known as “The Revulsion Jinx.” Relashio is a unique jinx that forces its target to loosen or release its grip on whatever it is holding. It’s a handy spell for disarming your target. Even better, it works on both living and non-living things, as long as it is holds something.

So, there you have it, Potterheads, your own handbook to fascinating Harry Potter spells. Get practicing all of these Harry Potter spells, and in no time, you’ll be ready to traverse the Wizarding World and maybe even apply to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Posted by: Igor Ovsyannnykov

Igor is an SEO specialist, designer, photographer, writer and music producer. He believes that knowledge can change the world and be used to inspire and empower young people to build the life of their dreams. When he is not writing in his favorite coffee shop, Igor spends most of his time reading books, taking photos, producing house music, and learning about cinematography. He is a sucker for good coffee, Indian food, and video games.

Check Out All the Must-Watch Movies and Shows Streaming on Max in September 2024

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Summer may be over, but that isn't stopping Max from delivering a blockbuster month of new movies and shows that you'll be able to stream this month. From the next chapter in Matt Reeves ' The Batman saga, the latest animated masterpiece from beloved filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki , and two new acclaimed movies from A24. You can check out the list below to find out everything that'll be arriving on Max in September 2024.

Available September 1:

• 21 & OVER (2013)
• 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, Season 7 (TLC)
• Addicted (2014)
• Anaconda (1997)
• Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
• Boogie Nights (1997)
• Braddock: Missing In Action III (1988)
• Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)
• Care Bears: Unlock the Magic (Specials) S1D: The Bad Crowd Strikes Back!
• Climax (2019)
• Creator League Showdown Eps. 10 & 11
• Criminal (2016)
• Disobedience (2018)
• Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
• Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
• Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone: Magical Movie Mode (2001)
• High-Rise (2016)
• Ice Age: Collision Course (2016)
• Independence Day (1996)
• Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
• Inherent Vice (2014)
• Ismael’s Ghosts (2018)
• Knight and Day (2010)
• Marcel the Shell with Shoes on (2022)
• Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
• Missing in Action (1984)
• Missing in Action 2 – The Beginning (1985)
• Need for Speed (2014)
• Paranoia (2013)
• Pulse (2005)
• Role Models (2008)
• Shrek Forever After (2010)
• Sunset Song (2016)
• Tell (2014)
• Tiny Furniture (2010)
• To Have and Have Not (1944)
• The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)
• The Big Chill (1983)
• The Big Sleep (1946)
• The Birdcage (1996)
• The Boss (2016)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• The Final Destination (2009)
• The Martian (2015)
• The Shining (1980)
• The Three Musketeers (2011)
• The Wolfpack (2015)
• The Wrecking Crew! (2015)
• Trick 'r Treat (2009)
• Troll Hunter (2011)
• Vampires Suck (2010)
• Venus and Serena (2013)
• Viva (2016)
• Whose Streets? (2017)
• World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
• X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Available September 2:

• Bellator: Fight Week San Jose
• Born Evil: The Serial Killer and The Savior, Season 1 (ID)
• Drive My Car (2021)
• Margarita, Season 1 (Max Original)
• Mini Beat Power Rockers (2023)

Available September 4:

• Bargain Block, Season 4 (HGTV)
• How (Not) To Get Rid of a Body, Season 1 (ID)
• Mecum Full Throttle: Monterey CA 2024
• Unsellable Houses, Season 5 (HGTV)

Available September 5:

• Coming From America (Max Original)

Available September 6:

'the boy and the heron'.

Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning masterpiece The Boy and the Heron is finally arriving on Max, over a year after its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. Set amid World War II, the movie follows Mahito, a young boy who has recently lost his mother. His father quickly remarries his mother's sister and relocates his family to a rural estate. While at his new home, Mahito finds a stubborn talking grey heron who leads him to a mysterious and abandoned tower which leads him to a fantastical world full of people who hold a connection to his loved ones.

Also available September 6:

• Restoring Galveston, Season 6 (Magnolia Network)

Available September 7:

'wise guy david chase and the sopranos'.

Long before the days of Game of Thrones , The Last of Us , and Euphoria , one of the Home Box Office Network's most beloved and popular series was The Sopranos . Even 17 years after the finale's infamous cut-to-credits, the series has maintained a high spot in the pop culture lexicon, even earning a prequel film, The Many Saints of Newark , in 2021. This new two-part documentary hails from Academy Award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney ( Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief ) as he dives deep into series mastermind David Chase 's life and career while replicating Tony Soprano's vulnerable conversations with his therapist Dr. Melfi.

Also available September 7:

• Family Empire: Houston (OWN)

Available September 8:

• Triple 9 (2016)
• Love & Marriage: Huntsville (OWN)

Available September 9:

'my brilliant friend' season 4.

My Brilliant Friend returns for its fourth and final season this month on Max. The new season, which is titled "Story of the Lost Child", dives deep into the adult lives of Elena and Lila as they navigate the political violence, social unrest, and turmoil that plagued the streets of Italy in the late 80s.

Also available September 9:

• Bellator: Fight Week London
• Cabin in the Woods, Season 1 (ID)
• The Real Murders on Elm Street, Season 1 (ID)

Available September 10:

• Doppelgänger. The Double, Season 1

Available September 13:

'civil war'.

Academy Award nominee Alex Garland ( Ex Machina ) delivers his most controversial and thought-provoking film to date in the dystopian thriller Civil War . Set in the not too far off future, the United States has found itself in a second civil war after the embattled president ordered drone strikes on his civilians. The film chronicles a group of journalists as they travel across the war-torn streets of America to get an exclusive interview with the president himself before he is assassinated by the so-called "Western forces of Texas and California."

Also available September 13:

• In With the Old, Season 6 (Magnolia Network)

Available September 14:

• Aloha! Scooby-Doo (2005)
• A Pup Named Scooby Doo
• Baby Looney Tunes
• Jonny Quest
• Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001)
• Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999)
• Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
• The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo
• The New Scooby-Doo Movies
• The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries
• The Tom & Jerry Show
• Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (2012)
• Tom & Jerry Tales
• Tom & Jerry: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2017)

Available September 15:

• Have I Got News for You, Season 1 (CNN)
• Sister Wives, Season 19 (TLC)

Available September 16:

• Halloween Baking Championship, Season 10 (Food Network)
• Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, Season 2 (Discovery)

Available September 17:

• Body Cam, Season 9 (ID)
• Exposed: Naked Crimes, Season 2 (ID)
• Road Rage, Season 2 (ID)

Available September 18:

• Graveyard Carz

Available September 19:

'the penguin'.

Academy Award nominee Colin Farrell reprises his role as one of Batman's most infamous foes in The Penguin . Set directly after the events of Matt Reeves' The Batman , the new limited series finds Oz Cobb navigating the crime-riddled streets of Gotham City with his sole goal being to rise to the top of the city's criminal food chain. Along the way, Oz butts heads with Sofia Falcone, the daughter of the late Carmine Falcone, who will stop at nothing to maintain her family's sense of power.

Available September 20:

'i saw the tv glow'.

Jane Schoenbrun ( We're All Going to the World's Fair ) delivers one of the most acclaimed films of the year in the psychological horror/coming-of-age movie I Saw the TV Glow . Justice Smith ( Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves ) and Brigette Lundy-Paine ( Atypical ) star as Owen and Maddy, two troubled teenagers who bond over their shared love of the young adult television series "The Pink Opaque." But as their obsession with the series grows, the two begin to lose their grip on reality.

Also available September 20:

• Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
• Building Off the Grid, Season 13 (Magnolia Network)
• Prisoners (2013)

Available September 21:

• Batwheels, Season 2

Available September 22:

• Halloween Wars, Season 14 (Food Network)

Available September 23:

• Bob Hearts Abishola, Season 5
• Yellowstone Wardens, Season 5 (Animal Planet)

Available September 24:

• Windy City Rehab, Season 5 (HGTV)

Available September 25:

• Impractical Jokers Australia, Season 1
• Impractical Jokers Australia, Season 2

Available September 28:

• Mecum Full Throttle: Dallas TX 2024

Available September 29:

• Be My Guest with Ina Garten, Season 5 (Food Network)
• Outrageous Pumpkins (Food Network)
• Uzumaki (Adult Swim)

Available September 30:

• Bellator: Fight Week Chicago, Season 6

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Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch Shares Exclusive Details About 'From the Wizarding Archive'

Ahead of the audiobook's Aug. 29 release on Audible, the actress chats with CNET about lending her voice to the project, and shares some Wizarding World fun facts in an exclusive teaser.

• Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.

From the Wizarding Archive arrives on Audible on Aug. 29. 

Just in time for  Back to Hogwarts Day on Sept. 1, Audible has a treat for Harry Potter fans called From the Wizarding Archive , an audiobook packed with details and answers to common questions about the Wizarding World. To gear up for the release on Aug. 29, CNET got an exclusive sneak peek at the project featuring Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter movies. 

Lynch also answered some questions via email about the enduring legacy of Harry Potter, and why she continues to be a face (and voice) for the Wizarding World, years after the movie franchise wrapped up. (You can check out that Q&A below.)

From the Wizarding Archive contains 80 articles originally written by Harry Potter author JK Rowling for the Pottermore website, now available in audio form for the first time. It aims to answer questions like, "Why can't Squibs go to Hogwarts?" and "How did Dumbledore and McGonagall become friends?" 

Along with Lynch, the audiobook is narrated by actors Finlay Robertson and Lara Sawalha, as well as Hugh Quarshie, who played Mustafa Kama in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald . Lynch also penned the brand-new forward for the audiobook.

See also:   Harry Potter Gifts Perfect for Any Aspiring Wizard

From the Wizarding Archive arrives ahead of the release of Audible's upcoming  full-cast audio productions  of the Harry Potter series, due to land next year. All seven English language books will be released consecutively around the world, and will exist alongside the popular recordings by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry (meaning those aren't going anywhere). It's still not clear who will voice the new audio productions, but the initiative showcases the enduring magic of the Wizarding World, more than 25 years after the first Harry Potter book was published in 1997.

Audible's Harry Potter collection also includes  Harry Potter: A History of Magic  performed by Natalie Dormer;  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them  performed by Eddie Redmayne; and  Quidditch Through the Ages  performed by Andrew Lincoln. Lynch, along with Harry Potter castmates including Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley, and Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy, also voiced another Audible project,  The Tales of Beedle the Bard .

Check out our Q&A with Evanna Lynch below, which has been edited for brevity.

Interview with Harry Potter's Evanna Lynch

Q: Why is From the Wizarding Archive something you wanted to be part of? Lynch: Being an avid reader and a passionate fan of the Harry Potter books was how I originally entered this magical world that continues to be such an important part of my life. I feel centered when I remember that all my dreams started with these books. I'll never forget what it felt like to be a shy child who felt perpetually awkward and yet who found comfort, joy and companionship in the characters and stories of the Wizarding World. The books have been a deeply formative influence on me both personally and artistically, and it gives me such a sense of nostalgia and hope to see other children and adults feeling inspired and supported by these stories, as I was.

What can listeners look forward to with this audiobook? What do you enjoy most about it? Listeners can look forward to being reacquainted with the vast lore of the Wizarding World and being totally re-immersed in this epic story. For longtime fans, many of these articles will recall that specific time at the height of Harry Potter hysteria when the books were still being released and we were all entertaining our imaginations with fan fiction, trivia battles and speculative theories on how it would all end, and we were absolutely ravenous for any titbit of canon information JK Rowling would throw our way from time to time in between writing the books. It was such an exciting time, before the internet really took off and you had to seek out connection over shared passions in a way that isn't so hard to find these days, and so in many ways felt more sacred then.

Listeners can also look forward to fantastic actors joining the Potterverse by lending their vocal talents to these incredible characters. It always thrills me to hear how other actors interpret the unusual witches and wizards that populate Harry's world.

Personally, what I enjoyed most with this archive was JK Rowling's commentary and reflections on her ideas and inspirations. I used to read the books for pure escapism and comfort, but nowadays I'm looking to understand the craft of storytelling and how brilliant ideas are recognized and teased out.

You've also voiced one of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, working with Pottermore and Audible -- what power do audiobooks have to bring more dimension to a world so thoroughly explored through books and movies?   For me, audiobooks represent an inclusive and accessible way to create the utter privacy and intimacy that reading provides. Watching a film, it's a cacophony of voices, so many artists -- the director, the actors, all those creatives who physically build the world -- not to mention all the ads you have to sit through before the movie. So I can admire the world of a film, but it is more detached. But as a reader, it's just you and the story, and you set the pace and your imagination and experience bring the words to life. 

For example, when I first read the Harry Potter books as a child -- despite the multitude of British references -- I imagined all the characters had Irish accents because that was what was familiar and known to me. I got a shock when I watched Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone and all the characters had such funny accents! And obviously, as you get older, your experience of humanity broadens and that informs the texture of your imaginary landscape when you read. But reading is still a uniquely personal experience, and more and more it's the only place I can find enough quiet to hear myself think. I think audiobooks help preserve that intimate relationship of reading a book because it is just you, the story and the narrator, but of course it is slightly more convenient for busy people doing laundry and walking the dog! It's not total immersion, but close.

What do you enjoy about narrating an audiobook, versus acting on screen? Silliness and big reactions work better in voice acting than on screen, and I find that very liberating. I've been told I'm a "subtle" actor, not always in the most complimentary of tones, so the note I get when doing audiobooks is, "do what you just did, but 150%!" -- a direction which terrifies me but is ultimately a lot of fun and shakes something loose. And of course, it is nice to be able to express oneself without worrying how you look. You can roll out of bed and just lose yourself in the work in the recording booth. And frankly, what is more pleasurable than being locked in a soundproof room for a day and told to read a book?! Or is that just me?

You've continued to be a face of the world of Harry Potter, years after the final film wrapped up. Why is that? It's a safe place for me. Perhaps there is a slightly regressive instinct there, returning to my childhood comforts… But it goes deeper, too. The feeling of belonging in a room has always been an elusive one for me. So then there is the Harry Potter world, where I have been not just accepted but embraced and celebrated, so it is an enormous privilege to have that warmth and familiarity to step into. Not every quirky kid finds that lifelong community. 

I don't watch the films as it's too emotional, but recently, Prisoner of Azkaban was on and my partner and I started passively watching it, and I had that strong feeling of, "I want to be part of that world," and then remembered, "Oh, I already am!" The fans have kept that world very alive in my life. I continue to try to find that sense of belonging in other communities, but none have proved quite so profound a match yet. So yes, I'll always be happy to be a familiar face in the Harry Potter world.

How do you think the fandom will evolve in the coming decades? There's a certain type of fan -- young children who are utterly enchanted by Hogwarts and fully anticipate a letter -- that is just an eternal presence in the Harry Potter fandom. No matter how old the rest of us get, there is always going to be a new generation of children discovering the stories for the first time. As for the grown up fans like myself, regressing to this safe place through life's ups and downs, I don't know… I just hope we can always use these stories to reconnect to our own inner child and be reminded of our innocence. There's nothing more precious and disarming than remembering our innocence.

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Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone

”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is a red-blooded adventure movie, dripping with atmosphere, filled with the gruesome and the sublime, and surprisingly faithful to the novel. A lot of things could have gone wrong, and none of them have: Chris Columbus’ movie is an enchanting classic that does full justice to a story that was a daunting challenge. The novel by J.K. Rowling was muscular and vivid, and the danger was that the movie would make things too cute and cuddly. It doesn’t. Like an “Indiana Jones” for younger viewers, it tells a rip-roaring tale of supernatural adventure, where colorful and eccentric characters alternate with scary stuff like a three-headed dog, a pit of tendrils known as the Devil’s Snare and a two-faced immortal who drinks unicorn blood. Scary, yes, but not too scary–just scary enough.

Three high-spirited, clear-eyed kids populate the center of the movie. Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter, he with the round glasses, and like all of the young characters he looks much as I imagined him, but a little older. He once played David Copperfield on the BBC, and whether Harry will be the hero of his own life in this story is much in doubt at the beginning.

Deposited as a foundling on a suburban doorstep, Harry is raised by his aunt and uncle as a poor relation, then summoned by a blizzard of letters to become a student at Hogwarts School, an Oxbridge for magicians. Our first glimpse of Hogwarts sets the tone for the movie’s special effects. Although computers can make anything look realistic, too much realism would be the wrong choice for “Harry Potter,” which is a story in which everything, including the sets and locations, should look a little made up. The school, rising on ominous Gothic battlements from a moonlit lake, looks about as real as Xanadu in “ Citizen Kane ,” and its corridors, cellars and great hall, although in some cases making use of real buildings, continue the feeling of an atmospheric book illustration. At Hogwarts, Harry makes two friends and an enemy. The friends are Hermione Granger ( Emma Watson ), whose merry face and tangled curls give Harry nudges in the direction of lightening up a little, and Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grint ), all pluck, luck and untamed talents. The enemy is Draco Malfoy ( Tom Felton ), who will do anything, and plenty besides, to be sure his house places first at the end of the year.

The story you either already know, or do not want to know. What is good to know is that the adult cast, a who’s who of British actors, play their roles more or less as if they believed them. There is a broad style of British acting, developed in Christmas pantomimes, which would have been fatal to this material; these actors know that, and dial down to just this side of too much. Watch Alan Rickman drawing out his words until they seem ready to snap, yet somehow staying in character. Maggie Smith , still in the prime of Miss Jean Brodie, is Prof. Minerva McGonagall, who assigns newcomers like Harry to one of the school’s four houses. Richard Harris is headmaster Dumbledore, his beard so long that in an Edward Lear poem, birds would nest in it. Robbie Coltrane is the gamekeeper, Hagrid, who has a record of misbehavior and a way of saying very important things and then not believing that he said them.

Computers are used, exuberantly, to create a plausible look in the gravity-defying action scenes. Readers of the book will wonder how the movie visualizes the crucial game of Quidditch. The game, like so much else in the movie, is more or less as I visualized it, and I was reminded of Stephen King’s theory that writers practice a form of telepathy, placing ideas and images in the heads of their readers. (The reason some movies don’t look like their books may be that some producers don’t read them.) If Quidditch is a virtuoso sequence, there are other set pieces of almost equal wizardry. A chess game with life-size, deadly pieces. A room filled with flying keys. The pit of tendrils, already mentioned, and a dark forest where a loathsome creature threatens Harry but is scared away by a centaur. And the dark shadows of Hogwarts library, cellars, hidden passages and dungeons, where an invisibility cloak can keep you out of sight but not out of trouble.

During “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” I was pretty sure I was watching a classic, one that will be around for a long time, and make many generations of fans. It takes the time to be good. It doesn’t hammer the audience with easy thrills, but cares to tell a story, and to create its characters carefully. Like “ The Wizard of Oz ,” “ Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory ,” “Star Wars” and “E.T.,” it isn’t just a movie but a world with its own magical rules. And some excellent Quidditch players.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom
• Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
• Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley
• Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore
• Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid
• Alan Rickman as Prof. Snape
• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
• Emma Watson as Hermione Granger
• John Cleese as Nick
• Maggie Smith as Prof. McGonagall
• Ian Hart as Prof. Quirrell

Directed by

• Chris Columbus

Based On The Novel by

• J.K. Rowling
• Steven Kloves

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Harry potter and the sorcerer's stone.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 152 Reviews
• Kids Say 550 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?

First Potter movie is a magical ride but also intense.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , the first movie in the massively popular and successful Harry Potter series (all based on the books by J.K. Rowling), has some intense and scary moments. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and friends -- who are only 11 years old here -- are in…

Why Age 7+?

Kids are in peril often, mostly from fantasy creatures. A three-headed dog chase

While the candy featured in the film wasn't originally real, it is now: Bertie B

Any Positive Content?

Plenty examples of courage, teamwork, and loyalty. Friendship, standing up for o

Harry's relationship with Ron and Hermione demonstrates the idea behind strength

As one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter series, Hermione shine

Violence & Scariness

Kids are in peril often, mostly from fantasy creatures. A three-headed dog chases Harry and friends. Harry and Draco see a dead, bloody unicorn and are chased by a hooded figure in the Forbidden Forest. Harry and friends fight a troll and knock it unconscious, are nearly crushed by a constricting plant, are chased by flying keys, and pummeled by a life-sized chess board. One character dies by turning to dust. Mostly friendly ghosts roam the halls; the ghost Nearly Headless Nick shows how he got the name. Flashback to the (bloodless) death of Harry's parents and much discussion about how they died and the one who killed them.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

While the candy featured in the film wasn't originally real, it is now: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Jelly Slugs, and more. And then there are the action figures, Lego playsets, wands, clothing, and much more associated with the franchise.

Positive Messages

Plenty examples of courage, teamwork, and loyalty. Friendship, standing up for others, expressing compassion, generosity, perseverance, and the triumph of the underdog are also strong themes.

Positive Role Models

Harry's relationship with Ron and Hermione demonstrates the idea behind strength in numbers when it comes to friendship. They're able to work together despite their respective flaws, forgive one another for their mistakes, and overcome great challenges. Hermione is studious and unafraid to express how smart she is, earning admiration of her teachers and eventually peers. Harry stands up for those who've been compassionate toward him, as well as those he feels deserve better treatment; he treats people with respect and loyalty. His generous tendencies encourage viewers to use their experiences with adversity in a positive manner.

Diverse Representations

As one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter series, Hermione shines as a multi-dimensional young girl. She's smart and speaks her mind, even when her classmates ridicule her for it. Among the student body at Hogwarts, witches and wizards of color appear, including Harry's fellow Gryffindors Dean Thomas and Lee Jordan, who are both Black. But they have few lines, and their roles aren't central to the plot. Disparities in wealth and privilege are revealed with Ron having less money than Harry, while Draco exudes high-class snobbery, though the issue isn't explored deeply. A Hogwarts teacher Professor Flitwick is played by an actor who was born with the condition spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital (SED), which caused his dwarfism. The movie, like its source material, plays into fat-phobic stereotypes, depicting villains such as Harry's Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley as gluttonous and less intelligent.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , the first movie in the massively popular and successful Harry Potter series (all based on the books by J.K. Rowling), has some intense and scary moments. Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ) and friends -- who are only 11 years old here -- are in peril and get hurt, but not seriously, and most of the scares come from fantasy creatures. There's a flashback to the (bloodless) death of Harry's parents and discussion about how they died and the villain who killed them. Characters show courage, teamwork, and loyalty. Friendship, standing up for others, expressing compassion, generosity, perseverance, and the triumph of the underdog are also strong themes. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (152)
• Kids say (550)

Based on 152 parent reviews

inappropriate for most

Unreported swear word, what's the story.

When HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE begins, Harry ( Daniel Radcliffe ) is an orphan who lives with the awful Dursleys, his aunt, uncle, and cousin. On his 11th birthday, Harry receives a mysterious letter, but his uncle destroys it before he can read it. Letters keep coming, and the Dursleys panic and hide away on a remote island. But they're found by Hagrid ( Robbie Coltrane ), a huge, bearded man with a weakness for scary-looking creatures. It turns out that the letters were coming from Hogwarts, a boarding school for young witches and wizards, and Harry is expected for the fall term, so Hagrid whisks him off to begin his new life as a wizard in training. On the train to Hogwarts, Harry meets his future best friends, Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grint ) and Hermione Granger ( Emma Watson ). When school begins, things really get exciting, with classes in Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, a sport called Quidditch (a sort of flying soccer/basketball), a mysterious trap door guarded by a three-headed dog named Fluffy, and a baby dragon named Norbert. Throughout the year, Harry adjusts to his magical life and begins to come to grips with his famous status in the wizarding world and what he represents to the darker forces there. He also learns some important lessons about loyalty and courage.

Is It Any Good?

This first film in the Harry Potter series is filled with visual splendor, valiant heroes, spectacular special effects, and irresistible characters. It's only fair to say that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is truly magical. The settings manage to be sensationally imaginative and yet at the same time so clearly believable and lived-in that you'll think you could find them yourself, if you could just get to Platform 9 3/4. The adult actors are simply and completely perfect. Richard Harris turns in an excellent performance as headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Maggie Smith (whose on-screen teaching roles extend from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to Sister Act ) brings just the right dry asperity to Professor McGonagall, and Coltrane is a half-giant with a heart to match as Hagrid. Alan Rickman provides shivers as potions master Professor Snape, and the brief glimpse of Julie Walters (an Oscar nominee for Billy Elliott ) will make you glad you'll be seeing more of her in future movies. And the kids are all just fine, though here they're mostly called upon to look either astonished or resolute.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the Harry Potter book series that inspired Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the other movies. Do you like the books or movies better?

Which themes from the first in the series pop up again in later installments?

What do you think about Harry and his friends going away to school? Would you ever want to do something like that?

How do Harry and his friends demonstrate teamwork , perseverance , and courage in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ? Why are these important character strengths ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : November 16, 2001
• On DVD or streaming : May 28, 2002
• Cast : Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint
• Director : Chris Columbus
• Studio : Fine Line Features
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 152 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some scary moments and mild language
• Last updated : June 1, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

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Best magical movies, harry potter book series, related topics.

• Perseverance
• Magic and Fantasy
• Book Characters
• Great Boy Role Models
• Great Girl Role Models
• Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Reviews

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone remains a memorable debut for one of the biggest fantasy franchises of all time. Not only does it hold after over 20 years, but this movie is still a benchmark for world building by any standard.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Jun 25, 2024

... a painstakingly literal translations of J.K Rowling’s first novel, a near-perfect replica created with a kind of funhouse spectacle of the wonders of the magical world come to life.

Full Review | Jan 6, 2024

...a decent-enough first installment that admittedly does a nice job of establishing Rowling's impressively detailed world and characters...

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 15, 2021

An exceptional big-screen half-term treat.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 29, 2021

The Harry Potter movies are the rare series to defy the notion that the books are always better.

Full Review | Oct 27, 2020

It's always thrilling to see kids taking matters into their own hands, outthinking their peers, outwitting adults, and defeating superior enemies.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Sep 29, 2020

Does a magnificent job in bringing to life the unique world of magic and fantasy that, until its mega-hyped release, existed only in the imaginations of author J.K. Rowling's devoted readership.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 11, 2020

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is truly a tale for all ages that will last for ages.

Full Review | Nov 13, 2019

Good film directed for a teenage audience in which not only is magic taught but also how stereotypes affect it while the film itself recreates some British stereotypes. [Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 11, 2019

The introduction to Hogwarts and the magic world is very charming and fun.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 12, 2019

This is the world-building moment for Harry Potter, and I loved it. It's sweet and endearing...the set-up is so enjoyable to see.

Full Review | Jan 30, 2018

Harry Potter's first venture onto the screen is a solid blockbuster.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 13, 2015

Chris Columbus has created an extraordinarily detailed look that's both fantastic and yet has its own reality - exactly like an English public school, come to think of it, especially in your first term .

Full Review | Jun 16, 2015

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is, despite its trickery, that plainest and least surprising of artifacts: the work of art that is exactly the sum of its parts, neither more nor less.

Full Review | Nov 27, 2013

Harry Potter's adventures in wizard-land are cozy and comfortable in Chris Columbus' faithful adaptation.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 27, 2013

This faithful rendition of the inaugural Potter book demonstrates that the franchise is in safe, sensible hands.

A surprisingly excellent exciting fantasy flick...

Full Review | Jun 15, 2013

Slow, but it establishes the myth, the cast and the look. And it's holding up surprisingly well.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 27, 2013

Although it suffers nominally from being over-stuffed and under-paced, it's grand and involving, with magnificent production design and special effects, and some fabulous thesps present and correct.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 27, 2011

First Potter movie is a magical ride but also intense.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Dec 24, 2010

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‘harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone’: thr’s 2001 review.

On Nov. 16, 2001, Warner Bros. launched J.K. Rowling's wizarding universe in wide release.

By Kirk Honeycutt

Kirk Honeycutt

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On Nov. 16, 2001, Warner Bros. launched J.K. Rowling’s wizarding universe in wide release with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which grossed more than $970 million worldwide. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below.

More than 100 million copies of these novels now circulate in 47 languages. The movie version of the first book has claimed national magazine covers and is backed by an initial marketing campaign pegged at more than $40 million. Internet buzz-meisters have made the film an odds-on favorite to break the three-day opening box-office record. Thus, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone , the first of what Warner Bros. hopes will be a series of Harry Potter films to open each Christmas season, runs the risk of getting lost in its own consumer and media frenzy.

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Fortunately, all hands involved in the production have faithfully observed the mantra, “It’s the book, stupid.” Taking only a few shortcuts and hewing as close to the spirit of a literary work as any movie can, Harry Potter vividly imagines the world of wizards, magic school and mystical creatures found in J.K. Rowling’s series of children’s adventure books. Clearly, the sky’s the limit, not only for worldwide box office but video, DVD, television and merchandising.

It cost a reported $126 million to give substance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with its floating staircases and owl mail-delivery system. But the money is well spent: It has established Harry Potter’s cinematic credibility. Adapted by Steve Kloves and directed by Chris Columbus, the story remains a child’s fantasy version of a British boarding school, where young heroes and a spunky heroine battle not only against the forces of evil but, more importantly, study hard enough to continue next year. (After all, who wouldn’t want to go to this school?)

The young actors in the major roles all but pop out of Rowling’s pages. Daniel Radcliffe plays the Oliver Twist-like Harry with an unaffected, intelligent approach that maintains his wide-eyed wonder yet grounds Harry in a realistic sense of loyalty and honor.

A beautiful young girl named Emma Watson nails precocious Hermoine Granger. She makes scholarly ambition and determination admirable virtues, even if these don’t always go down well with fellow students. Rupert Grint’s Ron Weasley gamely bucks a class system that exists even in a magic school and looks to exploit talents he does possess to maximum effect. As their snotty nemesis Draco Malfoy, Tom Felton is the personification of upper-class insolence.

As your child will be happy to tell you, Harry is an unreasonably well-balanced youngster, considering his miserable upbringing by a bullying family of Muggles  — humans with no magical abilities. On his 11th birthday, though, the bespectacled Harry learns that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards. They were killed in a battle with an evil wizard, who was unable to kill Harry as an infant but did leave a lightning scar on his forehead. Now an adolescent, he is invited to attend Hogwarts to fulfill his destiny.

This opens up a parallel universe to Harry where the magical is everyday life. This begins with the school’s groundskeeper , Hagrid . Robbie Coltrane plays this hulking gentle giant as a naif , fond of weird creatures and loyal in his heart but forever letting school secrets slip despite the best of intentions.

Richard Harris lends graceful sagacity to headmaster Albus Dumbledore, while Maggie Smith is no-nonsense professor McGonagall (though looking too much like the Wicked Witch of the West). Alan Rickman gets the right edge of haughty arrogance for potions professor Snape , but soft-peddles the anger that marked the book’s character. As his counterpart, the stuttering Quirrell , instructor in the defenses against the dark arts, Ian Hart performs in the overanxious, hesitant manner we later learn is a ruse.

In striving to include nearly every major episode from the book, Columbus’ movie clocks in at over 2-1/2 hours. While this may create problems for parents of restless youngsters, the greater problem is this: Harry Potter  feels like a movie in which its makers are afraid to make a single creative move. Rowling’s book is Holy Writ. No liberties are allowed. Consequently, the film, while slavishly faithful, contains little innovative juice outside of its visual richness.

On U.K. soundstages , designer Stuart Craig and cinematographer John Seale establish a dark and intricately detailed Hogwarts. Portraits on walls come alive, prankish ghosts float through corridors and interiors always seem in motion, shifting with the castle’s moods and whims. The midair games of Quidditch have been reduced from two to one for the movie version. But seeing it makes all the difference as the wild and woolly sport feels like a giant pinball game in the sky.

All other technical credits are top-notch, save for John Williams’ score — a great clanging, banging music box that simply will not shut up.  — Kirk Honeycutt , originally published on Nov. 9, 2001

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• DVD & Streaming

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

• Action/Adventure , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter; Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon Dursley; Fiona Shaw as Aunt Petunia Dursley; Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley; Emma Watson as Hermione Granger; Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley; Robbie Coltrane as Gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid; Richard Harris as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore; Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape; Maggie Smith as Professor Minerva McGonagal; Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Home Release Date

• Chris Columbus

Distributor

• Warner Bros.

Movie Review

As far as Harry knows, his parents were killed in a car crash when he was an infant, and he’s stuck with his aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Like a modern Cinderella, Harry sleeps in a closet and waits on his relatives hand and foot while his pudgy cousin Dudley is spoiled rotten. But as Harry’s 11th birthday approaches, all of that changes. A gentle giant named Rubeus Hagrid shows up to inform Harry that he is a wizard by birth and invite him to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

At Hogwarts, Harry finds much of what his pitiful life has lacked. Close friends. Bits of his own family history. Magical skills. Recognition. And a starting position on the Quidditch team (think airborne soccer)—an honor unheard of for a “first-year.” But he also gets a few things he didn’t bargain for, including a mystery and a ferocious three-headed dog named Fluffy. Most formidably, he finds he’s the object of renewed hatred from the evil Voldemort, who killed his parents. Harry meets the challenge head-on and faces off with this villain so wicked other wizards won’t even speak his name. Voldemort gets what’s coming to him, but you can be sure he’ll be back in the sequels.

positive content: Two prominent teachers at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, are some of the finest authority figures to grace a kids’ movie in quite some time. Professor McGonagall is stern and a stickler for rules. But rather than scorning her, Harry and his friends like and respect her. Dumbledore proffers wise advice and teaches common sense. He becomes like a father to Harry, comforting him when he misses his parents and taking time to talk through his questions and problems.

When Harry is being assigned to one of Hogwarts’ four houses, the “sorting hat” assesses his character, then applauds him for having “courage, talent, not a bad mind and a thirst to prove [himself].” During the course of the story, it becomes clear to Harry that—just as Lucifer was once a high angel—these talents could just as easily have landed him in the malevolent Slytherin house as in the noble Gryffindor. His own human potential for “going bad” bothers Harry until Dumbledore reminds him that he asked not to be put in Slytherin and teaches him that choosing the good over the bad makes all the difference.

The evil acts of dark-side wizards—such as killing a unicorn for its life-giving blood—are denounced. In addition, lines spoken by villains expose dark-side philosophy, which is then refuted when the scoundrels are defeated. For example, one of Voldemort’s followers says to Harry, “There is no such thing as good and evil. There is only power and those too weak to seek it.” Harry swiftly and strongly opposes both this villain and his sentiments.

When Harry discovers that it wasn’t a car crash that killed his parents, he also learns that his mother actually died saving his life. Dumbledore instructs him on the importance of sacrificial love, telling Harry, “love leaves a mark that lives in your very skin.”

Harry, Ron and Hermione go on an Indiana Jones- like adventure, solving puzzles and dodging obstacles to unravel their mystery and find the sorcerer’s stone. One leg of the course is a life-sized chess game in which captured pieces get smashed by their opponents. As an accomplished chess player, Ron gets to call the shots, and in a heroic act, he sacrifices his knight (and gets injured in the process) in order to save Harry.

spiritual content: The big debate about Harry Potter , of course, is whether its magic is of a spiritual or mechanical nature. More on that follows, but for now, magical elements are listed here as “spiritual content.”

Before he discovers he’s a wizard, Harry accidentally dissolves the glass over a snake cage at the zoo. This begins to make sense to Harry when Hagrid comes to take him to Hogwarts. The giant asks, “Did you ever make things happen that you couldn’t explain?” The light comes on for Harry—his mysterious power comes from being a wizard. Hagrid makes Dudley grow a pig’s tail. Doors open Ali Baba-style to a series of taps from Hagrid’s pink umbrella (which also happens to shoot fire). Harry and friends get to the platform for the Hogwarts Express by walking through a brick wall in a London train station. On the train, Ron tries to put a spell on his pet rat to turn it yellow. Other spells are of similar sort, spoken in Latin and intended to make changes in the physical realm. Harry and his friends take classes in Potions, The History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, etc. Their school supplies include robes and magic wands which they purchase on a magical street called Diagon Alley. When Harry goes to pick out a wand, he finds that it is the wand that instead “picks” him. Wandmaker Mr. Ollivander tells Harry that the wand he was “destined for” is “brother” to the wand Voldemort used to kill Harry’s parents and give him his scar. At Hogwarts, the ceiling in the Great Hall is “bewitched” to look like the night sky. Staircases move under the influence of permanent spells. The school celebrates Halloween with a huge banquet, but it also celebrates Christmas in the same way. The dormitories are supervised by silvery-gray ghosts. The head of Harry’s dormitory is Nearly Headless Nick, who died 500 years previously in a botched decapitation.

Missing from the movie (and at no great loss) is the one class that, in the book, came closest to mentioning supernatural contact—Divination. Also missing is a particularly troublesome line in which Dumbledore says, “To the well-organized mind, death is just the next great adventure.”

All the villains in The Sorcerer’s Stone are practitioners of “The Dark Arts.” Their spells come in the form of curses and are used to harm other wizards. Foremost on the dark side is Voldemort, who uses a death curse to kill Harry’s parents and to try to kill Harry.

Also very troubling is the overarching idea that Harry is “rescued” from a miserable life by a bunch of wizards and witches. Of course, there are two ways to see this. Viewers who bring to the movie a background in Christian fantasy may see it as somewhat similar to C.S. Lewis’ Narnia—a magical world far more exciting and “fitting” for the human spirit than the plain physical world. On the other hand, there’s the likely interpretation that Harry is being “saved” by witchcraft, a disturbing idea to say the least. The immediate emotional impact of film makes the concept even more dangerous, because passive thrill-seekers won’t necessarily ponder and process it as they might while reading a book.

sexual content: None.

violent content: Uncle Vernon never hits Harry, but he treats him roughly at times. He also tries to shoot at Hagrid, but the giant bends the end of his shotgun. Scenes that flash back to the death of Harry’s parents are short and discreet, showing only a flash of light and Harry’s mom falling to the ground.Hagrid kicks down a door when he comes to retrieve Harry from the Dursleys. (He then apologizes and puts it back in place.) One student gets caught on a runaway broom, crashes into a building and falls, breaking his wrist. Ron accidentally gets hit in the nose with a broom handle. A huge digitally animated troll smashes up a school bathroom and tries to hurt Hermione. A wand up the nose (gross!) distracts him and his own club eventually knocks him out. A Quidditch match turns ugly and Harry is nearly knocked from his flying broom. Ron, Harry and Hermione get trapped in the clutches of a vining plant with a vicious will of its own. The chess scene is intense, with many shattering chess pieces. Ron gets forcefully knocked to the ground.

Because watching film footage takes less time than reading pages, Harry’s final battle scene is actually shorter in the movie than in the book. Thankfully missing is a lot of Voldemort’s dialogue in which he repeatedly instructs a follower to kill Harry. Still, the scene is intense, and for young viewers, scary. Things look grim for Harry at first, until he discovers that his mother’s love has placed a seal on him that makes it impossible for his enemy to touch him. (Instead, physical contact causes his foe to be charred to a crisp.) The evil wizard Voldemort leaves the building in a dramatic and somewhat frightening rush.

crude or profane language: There’s a line about someone falling on his “a–.” Ron once exclaims, “Bloody hell!” Also: three misuses of God’s name and one use of “d–n.”

drug and alcohol content: On several occasions, Hagrid talks about visiting a pub. He enters one and the bartender says, “The usual, Hagrid?” to which Hagrid replies, “Not today. I’m on official Hogwarts business.” One student tries to turn water to rum, but fails.

other negative elements: Though it’s arguably played down from the book, Harry and his friends sometimes break rules with impunity. For example, Harry is told not to fly on his broomstick; he does it anyway (albeit for noble purposes) and ends up being rewarded with a starting spot on the Quidditch team.

conclusion: Aside from the exceptions noted, Harry Potter the movie is quite faithful to Harry Potter the book—a smart move on the part of filmmakers, who knew any significant departure would quickly alienate the target audience. The masterfully made film offers virtually no surprises. That leaves us dealing with the same questions that have been lurking since the first copy of J.K. Rowling’s book rolled off the press. Is it fantasy magic or occult magic? Does the distinction even matter?

These questions are both difficult and worthwhile. Fantasy (not just “make believe,” but a rich literary tradition with extensive principles and precedents) has made use of wizards and magic for centuries. Even Christian fantasy has employed “good witches.” Sometimes it has been as clear-cut as Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia , sometimes not. Christian fantasy fans contend that such tales have a powerful ability to convey truth and that real-world rules don’t apply in fantasyland. Well-respected Christian author Chuck Colson explains that Harry ’s magic is of an entirely different nature from real-world witchcraft: “Harry and his friends cast spells, read crystal balls, and turn themselves into animals—but they don’t make contact with a supernatural world.”

Similarly, Wren Walker, a practicing witch in Clearwater, Fla., and co-founder of the Witches Voice, an umbrella group for witches and Wiccans worldwide, insists that Harry Potter could never be an instructional piece for real-life witchcraft. “Spells tend to be more like prayers for most Wiccans and witches that practice it in the religious sense,” says Walker. “We don’t use ‘abracadabra.’ If somebody wanted to pick up the book and do the things in it, it wouldn’t be witchcraft.”

Richard Abanes, author of the book Harry Potter and the Bible , disagrees. While Rowling insists her stories are imaginary, she “admits she has been studying witchcraft to make the books more ‘accurate,'” Abanes told Crosswalk.com, which reports that Rowling also claims a significant minority of the sorcery appearing in her books is “material that was once believed in Britain.” “What she fails to mention,” Abanes says, “is that the vast amount of the occult she borrows from historical sources still plays a role in modern witchcraft.”

Such debate within the Christian community (and outside of it) will continue to rage. But even if Harry Potter ‘s magic isn’t of the occult, it still carries with it serious dangers. First, Rowling’s stories—unlike Lewis’ or Tolkien’s—are neither a Christian allegory, nor do they subscribe to a consistent Christian worldview. And second, we live in a culture that glorifies and promotes witchcraft and the occult. No matter what the essence of Harry’s magic, the effect of it is undoubtedly to raise curiosity about magic and wizardry. And any curiosity raised on this front presents a danger that the world will satisfy it with falsehood before the church or the family can satisfy it with truth. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone definitely raises those curiosities. That, accompanied by violent and scary scenes, a few mild profanities, and hints at moral relativism should be enough to keep families from shouting hurrah for Harry.

Lindy Keffer

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Witch in the Bible

THE OCCULT—What does the Bible say about it? Answer

What is the Occult? Answer

Magic in the Bible

Is Harry Potter Harmless?

“Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged” video review

I t is difficult to argue against success… almost impossible. J.K. Rowling’s four books have grossed over $100 million in sales. There are more than 700 tie-in products. The film has set and broken several records: it opened in a record 3,672 theaters, shown on a record 8,000 screens, breaking the record (once held by “ Star Wars: The Phantom Menace ”) for one-day sales at $32.9 million. It smashed the total weekend sales (once held by “ Jurassic Park: Lost World ”) at $93.5 million. I am sure it will reach $100 million in four days (beating the record now held by “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace”—which reached $100 mil in 5 days). Now Christian parents will have to decide if they can resist this new tidal wave of media pressure.

There is an on going literary debate surrounding the content of the stories. Christians are even divided on this very controversial issue. I know that I wrote a brief article for my weekly parents guide to the movies (which is published in a local paper) and I received a 4-page letter from a local clergy. Pat Robertson’s CBN News has been very outspoken regarding the content of the Harry Potter books as “evil and occultic”. Charles Colson on his radio show “Breakpoint” described the witchcraft in Harry Potter as “not real-life witchcraft that the Bible condemns”. He also said “the practices in the book are purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic.”

Jeremiah Films has described the series as “making evil look innocent”. Focus on the Family has posted an article in their Plugged-In magazine by Lindy Beam. She contends that adults can use the themes of the Harry Potter series as a tool for evangelism. Christianity Today and World Magazine has also given the book series recommendations and suggests that the themes of fantasy should not be taken literally. You can find an opinion to support whatever view you have on the subject.

I enjoy reading Fantasy and Science Fiction Literature. (In fact, I’m writing a series of Christian sci-fi spiritual warfare books called “The Hologram Investigator”). I’m well aware of the debate over children’s ability to separate fantasy from reality. The books, after all, have received an enthusiastic endorsement from the American Psychiatric Association. But I still struggle with the themes in the books and, now that I have seen the film, the straining seems even more intense.

First of all, I want to make one point very clear. Reading or watching Harry Potter will not send you to Hell . I just think that parents should use wise and well-founded discernment regarding the content of this product. I believe there is a vast difference between a story where the main character goes to a school for witches and wizards vs. the use of a wizard in The Hobbit and a witch in “ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe ”. I also think that the emphasis on magic is different than its use in the book “A Wrinkle in Time”. If you found those themes objectionable in the Harry Potter books—they are very convincing in the film.

Harry Potter ( Daniel Radcliffe ) is the story of an orphan boy that lives in the cupboard under the stairs. He is being raised by his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys (Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw). They pamper their own son and abuse their nephew. Harry, however, is destined for greater things and has been selected to attend Hogwarts (a renowned school for wizards and witches). There Harry’s gifts begin to flourish and he finds out that he is especially good at Quidditch (a game involving flying brooms and four balls). Harry also begins to build friendships with Ron Weasley ( Rupert Grint ) and Hermione Granger ( Emma Watson ). They are shown studying and practicing the occult like real students. The movie covers his first year in school. Harry has to learn how to separate his friends and his enemies, which is not always an easy task. The primary plot point surrounds a faculty member who is trying to steal the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry also learns that a character named Voldemort murdered his parents and left the scar on his forehead.

There is plenty of suspense in this well-written story. This film succeeds in every possible way. I am sure it will walk away with no less than six Oscars. Director Chris Columbus did an outstanding job translating the story to the big screen. He set aside his ego and allowed Rowling to have a great deal of input in the project (a courtesy that many writers do not enjoy). Rowling even got to select many of the cast members. She also worked closely with Steven Kloves on the script. From the set design to the finished product, everyone wanted to satisfy Rowling’s reluctance to have her stories made into films. John Williams also conducted an outstanding musical score. His music brilliantly captured the personality of the characters and the mood of every scene. The special effects were well placed and not over-done.

My primary objection to the film and the story is the very strong and central theme of witchcraft. This is condemned clearly in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 . Ephesians 5:11 says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” I plead with parents to use strong discernment regarding this film. Matt. 18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” My cautions are underscored by the fact that we are living in a day different than “ The Wizard of Oz ”. We are technologically “not in Kansas” anymore.

The Internet (which has numerous fan sites hyper-linked to Wiccan and Witchcraft sites) and this compelling visual film experience could be powerful enough to engage young minds to ponder “the dark side”. Many of the toy tie-ins promote spells (55 mentioned so far in the series) and witchcraft. Parents may want to wisely choose their “potter”.

What could be the consequences of placing the clay of young minds on Harry Potter’s wheel of fantasy? I do know that Warner Brothers is enjoying two gifts this Christmas. One, for the box office success and two, for a PG rating in a film that is extremely violent. I recommend that you resist this “Pied Piper” and skip it altogether. Alternately, I highly recommend the “Redwall” series by author Brian Jacques. I have suggested it as a reading alternative to several parents and they and their children have thanked me. If you can avoid the Harry Potter hype—you too may one day thank me.

Harry Potter series reviews

• “ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ” (2001)
• “ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ” (2002)
• “ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ” (2004)
• “ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ” (2005)
• “ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ” (2007)
• “ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ” (2009)
• “ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 ” (2010)
• “ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ” (2011)
• Young people
• Non-viewer comments

A warning… “I respect the opinions of all those here, however! My experience comes from being an ex Wizard/warlock/satanist myself and now serving the Lord without any spells or so called magic. Witchcraft is very real, and anything that points to witchcraft being good or acceptable is against the Bible. Call me a conservative if you must, but consider the biblical mandate to stray away from any appearance of evil, and the many passages in the Old Testament referring to sorcery. We are expressly commanded to not be involved in such things. I’ve never seen Harry Potter, nor will I ever. God’s word and call is much too important to take this movie lightly. Harry Potter is a definite attempt to charm our children into things they don’t understand and will trap and in a world where God is everything and everyone, including themselves. BEWARE! SATAN COMES AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT! Any comments or questions can be emailed to me at [email protected] Michael A. Porter, age 36

Please note that the opinions expressed in viewer comments below do not accurately reflect an appropriate cross-section of the Christian community because many Christians chose not to view this film.

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‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ at 20: The Film That Started It All

Two decades after the film’s release, Daniel Radcliffe and the director, Chris Columbus, take us inside four key scenes.

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By Sarah Bahr

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” ruined Daniel Radcliffe’s expectations for what is normal on a film set.

The Great Hall, where he shot many of the scenes from the first of eight films based on the J.K. Rowling series, was a phantasmagoria of detail. Platters of real lamb chops, roasted potatoes and puddings sat alongside 400 hand-lettered menus and — for at least one scene — hundreds of real, glowing candles. The hall set took 30 people a little over four months to construct.

“I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of sets I’ve been on since in my career that are of that scale,” Radcliffe said in a video interview from his New York apartment in October.

Directed by Chris Columbus, the story of a boy who, upon turning 11, discovers he’s a wizard and goes off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opened Nov. 16, 2001, and went on to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

When Radcliffe and the young actors who played his friends, Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), were making the film, they weren’t just pretending to have the time of their lives — they were, Columbus said.

“That’s why we shot with three or four cameras — if one of the kids looked into the camera or smiled like they couldn’t believe their good fortune, I had something else to cut to,” he said in a phone conversation on a walk near his home in Malibu in September.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. An orphaned boy enrolls in a school of wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world.

• Chris Columbus
• J.K. Rowling
• Steve Kloves
• Daniel Radcliffe
• Rupert Grint
• Emma Watson
• 2K User reviews
• 154 Critic reviews
• 65 Metascore
• 20 wins & 74 nominations total

Top cast 99+

• Harry Potter

• Ron Weasley

• Hermione Granger

• Albus Dumbledore

• Professor McGonagall

• Baby Harry Potter

• Aunt Petunia Dursley

• Dudley Dursley

• Uncle Vernon Dursley

• Bartender in Leaky Cauldron

• Professor Quirrell

• Diagon Alley Boy

• Goblin Bank Teller …

• (as Vern Troyer)

• Mr. Ollivander

• He Who Must Not Be Named

• Lily Potter
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Alan Rickman was handpicked to play Snape by J.K. Rowling , and received special instructions from her about the character. Rowling even provided him with vital details of Snape's backstory, not revealed until the final novel.
• Goofs (at around 1h 11 mins) When Harry is upside down with the troll holding him by his legs, his hair is pointing to the floor and his scar is no where to be seen on his forehead.

Dumbledore : It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live.

• Crazy credits Richard Bremmer (the face and voice of Lord Voldemort) is credited as "He Who Must Not Be Named", Lord Voldemort's title.
• Dudley's Uniform: Aunt Petunia dyes Dudley's old uniform gray so Harry could use it as his school uniform (before Harry receives the letter from Hogwarts.)
• Cracking Eggs: Aunt Petunia opens egg cartons and cracks them, discovering rolled up letters from Hogwarts addressed to Harry.
• On the train: Hagrid and Harry take the train to London, and Hagrid reveals his love for dragons.
• Snape's Class: An extended version of Snape's potions class.
• Finding Flamel: Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover Nicholas Flamel's name in a wizard card while looking for a counter curse for Neville's leg locker curse.
• Harry's Meditation: Harry and Ron discuss the Mirror of Erised.
• Connections Edited into 5 Second Movies: Harry Potter (2008)

User reviews 2K

• Nov 11, 2001

Everything New on Max in September

• Is the character Hermione Granger based on anyone?
• What is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" about?
• Is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" based on a book?
• November 16, 2001 (United States)
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal
• Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK (broomstick flying lessons; Ron insults Hermione; Harry complaining that his scar keeps hurting)
• Warner Bros.
• Heyday Films
• 1492 Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $125,000,000 (estimated)
• $318,886,962
• $90,294,621
• Nov 18, 2001
• $1,024,466,594

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 32 minutes
• Dolby Digital EX
• 12-Track Digital Sound
• IMAX 6-Track

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Based on the popular first book of the series by J.K. Rowling, in the normal human world--the world of "Muggles"--Harry is a nobody, treated like dirt by the aunt and uncle who begrudgingly inherited him when his parents were killed by the evil Voldemort. A mysterious letter, delivered by the friendly giant Hagrid, wrenches Harry from his dreary, Muggle-ridden existence. It is an acceptance letter to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Soon enough, Harry finds himself at Hogwarts with his owl Hedwig and in the world of wizards, he is famous as a survivor of the wizard who tried to kill him.

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