Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

NZ release: 29 November 2001

Supernatural themes Rated on: 14 November 2001

harry 1

What’s it about?

An orphaned boy enrols in a school of witchcraft and wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts his new magical world.

The facts

  • Directed by Chris Columbus
  • Starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Richard Harris (Albus Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall)
  • English and Latin languages
  • Runtime: 152 minutes
  • Film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by J. K. Rowling
  • The first in the series of eight films adapted from the novels

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Supernatural themes

Two boys roam a spooky forest and come across an unsettling figure with a hooded black cloak, who is eating a dead unicorn. It has a zombie-like voice, and approaches Harry menacingly before it is scared off.

A man reveals a scary evil spirit on the back of his head, with sharp teeth, snake-like eyes and an eerie voice, which may frighten some younger viewers.

A snake escapes from a zoo exhibit, briefly causing chaos and scaring kids, but no one is attacked or hurt by it.

One huge troll attacks a girl, smashing bathroom stalls while trying to hit her, but he misses.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

Further information

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