Today in Film History (November 4th, 2001): "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Premieres in the United Kingdom!

On November 4th, 2001, the first film in the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone" ("Harry Potter and the Philisopher's Stone" outside the U.S.) premiered in the United Kingdom. Based on the 1997 J.K. Rowling novel of the same name, the film was directed by Chris Coloumbus, and starred Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the book in 1999 for a reported $1.65 million, with production beginning in the United Kingdom in 2000. The film was released to U.S. theaters on November 16th, 2001, and became a critical and commercial success, grossing $974 million during its inital run, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2001, and the second-highest-grossing film at the time. The film was nominated for many awards, including multiple Academy Awards, and its success led to seven sequels, beginning with "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" in 2002.