Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    100
    A red-blooded adventure movie, dripping with atmosphere, filled with the gruesome and the sublime, and surprisingly faithful to the novel.
  2. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    91
    It's eye-filling, well-cast, often very funny and executed with great imagination and flair.
  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    90
    The script is faithful, the actors are just right, the sets, costumes, makeup and effects match and sometimes exceed anything one could imagine.
  4. New Times (L.A.)
    Reviewed by: Gregory Weinkauf
    90
    Happily, then, the first movie of the Harry Potter series casts a splendid spell, as screenwriter Steve Kloves has transcribed J.K. Rowling's novel nearly to a T, with precious little tweaked or trimmed.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    88
    If the movie doesn't ultimately transport us to places The Wizard of Oz once took us, that may be partly because "The Sorcerer's Stone" is just the first chapter, with more magic waiting to be parceled out in the coming years.
  6. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    88
    Can there be higher praise for a motion picture designed to capture a beloved book with fidelity, thoroughness and affection? Only this: They made it better.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 347 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 129 out of 156
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 156
  3. Negative: 20 out of 156
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    Director Chris Columbus has created "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" a dazzling movie that stays true to its book and adding itself with pure zeal and passion with impressive visuals.… Full Review »
  2. EstebanF.
    10
    This is the most-"loyal"-to-the-book Harry Potter movie, and it's from one of the best books. Logically, results in a wonderfull, amazing movie. Even if the effects aren't so good compared with the later films, the plot line is incredible. I have to repeat it, the "loyalty" to the book was amazing, that made this film awesome. I watched it 7 times in video and 2 times in the cinema. Yes, you heard well. I repeated a movie in the cinema, without beeing a super-fan. I loved it.… Full Review »
  3. potatoes351
    7
    We all know the story to Harry Potter. Orphan who has nothing turns into the greatest wizard of all time. The first film instalment sticks true to the original book and includes some good special effects but nothing that will stand out from anything but a kids film.… Full Review »
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