Twenty years ago, the cute kid with the lightning scar on his forehead showed up on the movie screen waving his wand and casting spells with his friends.
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was the first of seven movies. Full of magic in the Great Hall, wizards we loved, and those we didn't.
We chatted with the film's director Chris Columbus for a look back.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Academy Award-nominated director, writer, and producer Chris Columbus is best known for having directed and produced some of the most successful and iconic box-office hits, including "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", where he cast newcomers Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the leading roles, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," "Home Alone," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Stepmom," and "Rent", among many other critically acclaimed films. Columbus first gained prominence by writing several original scripts produced by Steven Spielberg, including the back-to-back hits "Gremlins" and "The Goonies." In 2011, Columbus produced the blockbuster hit "The Help," which received four Academy Award nominations, including two for Best Supporting Actress and one for Best Picture. In 2013, he teamed up with his daughter, Eleanor Columbus, to form Maiden Voyage Pictures, where they produced "Patticake$" and "Menashe," both nominated for “Best First Feature” at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Maiden Voyage’s other film credits include Robert Eggers’ "The Lighthouse," Sara Colangelo's "Little Accidents," Jonas Carpignano's "Mediterranea," Robert Eggers' "The Witch," and Sian Heder's "Tallulah." Columbus most recently directed, co-wrote, and produced through his production company 26th Street Pictures, the fan-favorite film "The Christmas Chronicles 2." Starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, the film was released on Netflix in November 2020.
Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest 11 AM weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.