The magic of Harry Potter

JK Rowling has captivated millions with magical tales about a young wizard. Now her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, has been turned into a film which looks set to become one of the most popular children's movies of all time.

19 November 2001 - Box office smash

A young Harry Potter fan makes his way into a US cinema

The celluloid adventures of Harry Potter perform magically at the box office, notching up record sums in their debut weekend. The tale of sorcery made £16m in Britain and took $90m (£63m) in America - smashing all previous records.

 The BBC's Catherine Marston: "It's little wonder that Harry Potter has made record ticket sales"

15 November 2001 - The location trail

Oxford's Christ Church College is used as Hogwarts

The harshest critics of the Harry Potter film will probably be the children who have read the book and formed an opinion of what the imagery should look like. Many will be eyeing up the locations used in the movie so they can follow in the footsteps of the boy wizard himself.

 The BBC's Julie Etchingham joins a group of children in Oxford on a pilgrimage to one of the film's most enchanting backdrops

14 November 2001 - The child stars

Potter stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson

Daniel Radcliffe has found fame as Harry Potter, and was chosen for the highly coveted role from thousands of boys. He stars alongside newcomers Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who play the young wizard's best friends Ron and Hermione.

 The BBC's arts correspondent Rosie Millard interviews the film's three child stars

13 November 2001 - Columbus and Coltrane

Harry Potter heavyweights: Coltrane and Columbus

Chris Columbus is perhaps best known for directing the Home Alone movies but that looks set to change with the success of Harry Potter. Columbus and Robbie Coltrane, who stars as the friendly giant Hagrid, talk to the BBC's arts correspondent Rosie Millard.

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12 November 2001 - America falls under Potter's spell

Emma Watson who plays Hermione Granger arrives for the screening

America got its first peek of the new Harry Potter film with a première in New York. Hundreds of thousands of advance tickets have been sold and the adaptation of JK Rowling's book is well on its way to becoming one of the biggest movies ever.

 The BBC's Tom Brook: "The hype has now reached fever pitch"

5 November 2001 - Potter première

Daniel Radcliffe was at the London première

Thousands of excited fans crammed into Leicester Square for a glimpse of arriving celebrities at the film's London première and were not disappointed when the film's stars arrived.

 The BBC's Rosie Millard: "Harry Potter could become one of cinema's most bankable creations"

 BBC News Online's Jayne Douglas: "London fell under the spell of Harry Potter"

8 July 2001 - Fans snap up Goblet of Fire

Staff prepare orders of The Goblet of Fire

Booksellers across the UK mop their brows after hundreds of thousands of the latest Harry Potter novel were snapped up by fans. Stores around the country said JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was one of the fastest selling books they had ever seen.

 The BBC's Lizo Mzimba: "Children and parents besieged bookstores"