In news that will truly make you feel ancient, the beloved first instalment of the Harry Potter film franchise, The Philosopher’s Stone is 18-years-old today. The Sorcerer’s Stone for those of you playing in the US.
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Yes. The film is officially an adult. Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone is old enough to buy you a butterbeer.
The film premiered at Odeon Leicester Square in London on November 4, 2001, with all of the cast and crew in attendance.
Since that glorious day, Harry Potter has well and truly taken the world by storm. I dare you to find someone who can’t tell you which Hogwarts house they’re in. I fucking dare you.
18 years on, a now 30-year-old Daniel Radcliffe’s acting pursuits are much more low key than his role as the titular character in the stories that made J.K Rowling a household name. He has pursued a few Broadway gigs, and more recently starred in the TBS comedy series Miracle Workers, which debuted this year.
Fellow star Emma Watson, 29, has pursued a number of serious acting gigs since wrapping up filming in 2011, including roles in The Perks of Being A Wallflower and of course, her lead role as Belle in the live-action remake of Beauty and The Beast. Meanwhile, Rupert Grint has kept a much lower profile, staring in a few less noteworthy roles including Moonwalkers and the TV miniseries The ABC Murders.
So why is it such a big deal that this glorious film (my personal second favourite after The Goblet Of Fire) is old enough to buy you a Butter Beer?
Since the release of the first novel in 1997, and the film in 2001, the story of Harry Potter has gained worldwide success, with over 500 million books sold and the media franchise being worth a whopping $25 billion USD according to Money. The films alone grossed a whopping $7.7 billion across all eight instalments.
We’ve also seen the Wizarding World come to life in recent years, thanks to the IRL Hogwarts at Universal Studios, and the wonderful but uber-expensive Cursed Child play that I am definitely too broke to ever get to watch.
I hate to break it to you, but it’s Harry Potter’s world and we’re all just living in it. Now, pass me a fucking butterbeer, damn it!
