Harry Potter: Every Wizarding World Movie Ranked Worst To Best

Given the expectations and requirements of the first adaptation - erroneously of course called the Sorceror's Stone in America because they don't have philosophy there or something - that it was any good at all is quite remarkable.

It was charged with not only launching a franchise from an already beloved book series, but also making it mainstream enough to capture the attentions (and money) of an entirely new fanbase. In that respect, what Chris Columbus managed is remarkable, as he captures a significant slice of the book's spirit as well as catering for a broader audience.

The Good

The casting still feels absolutely nailed on looking back, which is often over-looked when a franchise trundles on so far. And there's a lot to be said for Columbus' capturing of the magic of the books: he sells Harry's arc beautifully (with almost Spielbergian astuteness, in fact), and focusing on him as the heart does the film a great service generally.

The Bad

There are problems (the CGI on Voldemort at the end is flat out terrible now), but it's almost impossible to separate this film from the general affection associated with the rest of the franchise.