<P> Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures . It is based on the novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling . The film is the first instalment in the long - running Harry Potter film series, and was written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman . Its story follows Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his education . The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger . </P> <P> Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the book in 1999 for a reported £ 1 million ($1.275 million). Production began in the United Kingdom in 2000, with Chris Columbus being chosen to create the film from a short list of directors that included Steven Spielberg and Rob Reiner . Rowling insisted that the entire cast be British or Irish, and the film was shot at Leavesden Film Studios and historic buildings around the United Kingdom . </P> <P> The film was released in theatres in the United Kingdom and the United States on 16 November 2001 . It became a critical and commercial success, grossing $974.8 million at the box office worldwide . The highest - grossing film of 2001, it is the 33rd highest - grossing of all - time (2nd at the time of its release) and the second most successful installment of the Harry Potter series behind Deathly Hallows--Part 2 . The film was nominated for many awards, including Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design . It was followed by seven sequels, beginning with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in 2002 and ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Part 2 in 2011, nearly ten years after the first film's release . </P> <P> Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, and Rubeus Hagrid, professors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, deliver an orphaned infant named Harry Potter to his only remaining relatives, the Dursleys . Ten years later, Harry has been battling a disjointed life with the Dursleys, inadvertently causing an accident during a family outing, and begins receiving unsolicited letters by owls . Finally, Hagrid re-appears, and informs Harry that he is actually a wizard, and has been accepted into Hogwarts, against the Dursleys' wishes . He also tells Harry of the latter's past; Harry is the orphaned son of two wizards who met their demise at the hands of Lord Voldemort, a malevolent, all - powerful wizard, by a Killing Curse, with Harry being the only survivor in the chaos thus, leading to his fame in the wizarding world as "The Boy Who Lived". Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley to purchase school supplies, then takes him to King's Cross station to board a train to the school . </P>

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