<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $125 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $974.8 million </Td> </Tr> <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>

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