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Credit: Inside the MagicMore than two decades after it first arrived in cinemas, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (AKA Philosopher’s Stone) is heading back to the big screen to mark a major milestone for the franchise.
Warner Bros. is re-releasing the original Harry Potter film in theaters this August to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The film, which premiered in November 2001 and launched one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, will return to cinemas worldwide for a limited run between August 27 and September 3, as reported in a press release shared with IGN.
There’s More Magic in Store
But what makes this re-release extra magical is the previously unseen extras. The anniversary screenings will feature 10 minutes of additional behind-the-scenes material “not previously seen on the big screen” — although it’s unknown exactly what these might be yet.
The theatrical run is part of a broader 25th-anniversary celebration for the first Harry Potter movie, which adapted J.K. Rowling’s 1997 novel and set the foundation for eight films, a sprawling fanbase, and a lasting pop-culture legacy.
The original movie was directed by Chris Columbus and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, and Richard Harris.
New Harry Potter Content and Experiences
In addition to standard cinema screenings, the anniversary release will also include special presentations at Cosm “Shared Reality” venues in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, and Detroit.
The re-release arrives at a time when the Wizarding World is once again in focus. A new Harry Potter television series is currently in development, and the franchise continues to expand through books, stage productions, video games, and theme park attractions.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the anniversary screenings offer a rare opportunity to revisit the film that started it all — this time, on the big screen, with added material that hasn’t been seen before.
Will you be rewatching the original Harry Potter in theaters? Let us know in the comments!