Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released in the United States and India as
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
is a
fantasy/
adventure film based on the
novel of the same name by
J. K. Rowling. Directed by
Chris Columbus, it is the first in the popular
Harry Potter films series. The story follows
Harry Potter, a boy who discovers on his eleventh birthday that he is a wizard, and is sent to
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his magical education. The film stars
Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside
Rupert Grint and
Emma Watson as Harry's best friends
Ron Weasley and
Hermione Granger. The adult cast features
Richard Harris,
Maggie Smith,
Robbie Coltrane,
Alan Rickman and
Ian Hart.
Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the book in 1999. Production began in 2000, with Columbus being chosen from a short list of directors to create the film. Rowling insisted that the entire cast be
British or
Irish, in keeping with the cultural integrity of the book and the film. Rowling also approved the screenplay, written by
Steve Kloves. The film shot primarily at
Leavesden Film Studios, as well as historic buildings around the country, and was released in the United Kingdom and the United States in November 2001. Along with mostly positive critical reception, it made in excess of
$976 million at the worldwide box office, received three
Academy Award nominations and is the
fifth highest-grossing film of all-time.