Who plays Harry Potter in the 2001 film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"?

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Daniel Radcliffe plays Harry Potter in the 2001 film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The movie is known internationally as "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone," but the American title uses "Sorcerer's Stone."

Directed by Chris Columbus, the film adapts J. K. Rowling's 1997 novel and follows Harry during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Radcliffe's Harry discovers that he is a wizard, makes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and becomes involved in the mystery surrounding the hidden stone.

The role was Radcliffe's breakthrough performance. Producer David Heyman and screenwriter Steve Kloves reportedly noticed him at a theater during an extensive search for the lead, and he was selected alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. The film was released in 2001 and launched an eight-film series. A frequent source of confusion is the title difference: "Sorcerer's Stone" is the U.S. title, while most other markets use "Philosopher's Stone."

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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