The acting is not great, the story's cookie-cutter, but some of the graphics still held up and there are interesting aspects of the wizard world. I think I may have missed the boat on this by watching this as a grown man, but I get why people like this.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 13, 2024

This is a solid foundation for the film series but the pacing and acting make this a slog to get through.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 13, 2024

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.

| 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.

| Jan 6, 2024

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

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

An exceptional big-screen half-term treat.

| 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.

| 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.

| 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.

| 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.

| 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]

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

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

| 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.

| Jan 30, 2018

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

| 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 .

| 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.

| Nov 27, 2013

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

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

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

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

A surprisingly excellent exciting fantasy flick...

| Jun 15, 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.

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