After Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone had its world premiere on 4 November 2001, the world was at buzz.
The film had previews in the United Kingdom on 1,137 screens at 491 theatres on 10 and 11 November 2001. It officially opened on 16 November 2001 on 1,168 screens at 507 theatres in the United Kingdom and Ireland; in 3,672 theatres in the United States and Canada. It was the most expansive release at the time in the UK and the US.
But the numbers continued; the movie was also widely received in Asia and Europe.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone grossed a single-day gross of £6 million during the first day of previews, beating the previous record.
It grossed a record £5 million for a Sunday, bringing its total to £11 million from the previews.
