One of the Most Influential Fantasy Movies of All Time Is Having a Moment on Streaming

There’s something to be said about an evergreen hit like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which remains popular on streaming platforms all year round. But Sorcerer’s Stone also typically witnesses a spike in interest during the holidays, having evolved into a Christmas classic over the last couple of decades. While at least a couple of other Harry Potter movies have also been hovering around the domestic and global top 10 charts this past week, Sorcerer’s Stone has remained a steady fan-favorite. According to FlixPatrol, it was among the 10 most-watched titles on the domestic HBO Max charts recently, once again proving how valuable the Harry Potter franchise is for Warner Bros.

Released in 2001 to critical and commercial success, Sorcerer’s Stone accomplished one of the most difficult tasks in all mainstream filmmaking: It launched a franchise that audiences actually returned loyally to for more than a decade. Sorcerer’s Stone was directed by Chris Columbus, who returned to direct Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as well, before making way for other filmmakers to bring the franchise home. Alfonso Cuarón directed the third chapter, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, while Mike Newell directed the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The final four films of the series — the last book was divided into two parts — were directed by David Yates, who was also given the responsibility of launching a new series of spin-offs.

Harry Potter Is Being Rebooted for TV

However, none of the Fantastic Beasts films was able to replicate the magic of Sorcerer’s Stone, which made over $1 billion at the global box office, against a reported budget of $125 million. The series is now being rebooted for television by HBO. The new project remains controversial for reportedly involving author J.K. Rowling in a creative capacity. But the original film franchise’s continued popularity should be a sign of relief for HBO; it suggests that regular audiences aren’t really bothered by Rowling’s involvement, and that the characters and world she created are more important than her transphobic comments. Sorcerer’s Stone marked the debut of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in the lead roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.