Premiered November 4, 2001, at Odeon Leicester Square, London; wide release on November 16, 2001 .
The film featured a strict "British-only" casting edict insisted upon by J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone (2001)
Produced on a $125 million budget , it grossed $974 million initially and has since surpassed $1 billion through re-releases. Premiered November 4, 2001, at Odeon Leicester Square,
Written by Steve Kloves , who worked closely with J.K. Rowling to ensure faithfulness to the source material. Premiered November 4
Chris Columbus (selected over directors like Steven Spielberg).