Why "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is My Go-To Comfort Film

I must admit, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is the film I most frequently rewatch. I watch it on Christmas Day or whenever I feel bored and can't decide which film to choose. It's also my ultimate comfort movie. It empowers me, pulls me out of sadness, vulnerability, and despondency, and bestows me with the courage to press on.

You might wonder, what's the magic formula? What keeps me going back to it without getting bored? From the perspective of a cinematic analysis, it's a tough question. Of course, there's no denying the film's success. It was a massive hit, topping the global box office in 2001 and coming in second in the entire Harry Potter series. Like most big hits, the success of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" lies in its story. It is about a simple but exhilarating heroic adventure of an 11-year-old orphan, Harry Potter, who lives under the stairs in his aunt's house and stumbles upon an unprecedented magical world where he's the big fish. Ultimately, with his valor and gifts bestowed upon him, he proves himself to be the chosen one, and the only one who can face the scary dark wizard Voldemort.

But it's not just the intriguing plot that hooks you. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is like a visual feast with tons of amazing spectacles that just keep you glued to the screen, contributing to its commercial success. When the film first came out, J.K. Rowling had already published her fourth book in the Harry Potter series "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which became the world's bestseller. However, it was "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" that opened the doors to Harry's magical world for many, including myself.

When I first laid eyes on "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" as a kid, I was the same age as Harry and hadn't cracked open any of the original novels. Watching it on the TV, I was gobsmacked by the magical world that unfolded before my eyes. Letter-delivering owls, the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley, and wands choosing their wizards — everything in that world is just so cool and a whole lot better than real life, even though the special effects seem a tad old school now.

Watching Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a bittersweet experience. I had just moved to a new city with my family and was trying to get used to a new boarding school. It was a rough ride adapting to the stringent and arbitrary school rules. Harry's life at Hogwarts was everything I wished mine could be and perfectly matched my definition of the most ideal campus life. He has his best mates, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger; he gets to play an enthralling sport, Quidditch; he explores the maze-like school premises without fear of being disciplined for his acts. His teachers and classmates are encouraging of the trio's curiosity and adventurous spirit. Hogwarts gives Harry a precious sense of security, making him feel like he always has someone rooting for him. Meanwhile, my life was pretty much the polar opposite. I was in my teens and feeling kind of lost and miserable. My suffering stemmed from loneliness as a result of a lack of companionship and the fact that I was forced to be someone that everyone else wanted me to be. My family members and teachers didn't give two hoots what kind of person I was. My encounter with Harry and his experience made me realize that there could be another possibility of me just being myself.

Do you remember the part in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" where Harry is up against Voldemort all by himself? Voldemort tries to trick Harry by promising to revive his deceased parents in exchange for the stone. But Harry sees through it. He sticks to his guns and makes the right choice. I remember going through a similar experience in my teenage years. Trying to be what everyone else wanted me to be was like chasing rainbows. In the end, I just had to be myself, just like Harry.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" concludes with an open ending. Voldemort gets away, and Harry has to go back to his mean aunt's house. Sure, it's a smart move from a business point of view. After all, it took seven books and eight movies to tell the whole Harry-versus-Voldemort story, and the Harry Potter series is the greatest blockbuster franchise ever. But to me, the film's ending was also a reality check, nudging me to get back to real life. Harry makes loads of friends at Hogwarts and learns all about being a wizard. When he gets back to the real world, he isn't the same boy who just puts up with everything. He learns to stick up for himself. And I, a mere muggle who'd watched "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Iearned something about myself, too. Even though I didn't have all the answers back then, I knew I could think and live the way I wanted, not how everyone else wanted me to. I could go my own path, whether it was right or wrong. It's my life.

Throughout the 20-odd years after its release, I still repeatedly watched "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Harry and I have both grown up a lot. The Harry Potter series gets darker and the stakes get higher. Voldemort becomes more formidable with each movie. Harry stumbles along the way, but he always stays true to himself. After the release of the last book, Rowling said that Harry has this amazing character trait that even Voldemort doesn't have: the acceptance of the inevitability of death. After going through my own ups and downs that were way more daunting than acclimatizing to a new boarding school, I've come to accept myself, warts and all, and also others, with all their quirks and complexities.

So, the Harry Potter series concludes in a somewhat serious and downbeat tone, right? But outside this make-believe magical world, no one can escape reality and everyone's just getting on with their own lives. Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who played Harry, once said, "That's what the films are about for me: a loss of innocence, going from being a young kid in awe of the world around him, to someone who is more battle-hardened by the end of it." Radcliffe hasn't exactly reached the same heights in his career as Harry did after taking on this role, but this hasn't stopped him from continuously trying new things.

Remember David Holmes, the stuntman who is Radcliffe's double in the first six Harry Potter films? He was severely injured and ended up partially paralyzed during a stunt test for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" back in 2009. He had to undergo numerous surgeries and extended treatments. It wasn't until 2023, in "David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived," where Radcliffe is one of the executive producers, that we all got to hear about Holmes' challenging journey. His grit and determination after the accident are truly awe-inspiring. He said if he could stand up again, he'd get right back to work because he just loves the film industry so much. Holmes' spirit somewhat reminds me of Gryffindor, the house in the "Harry Potter" series that's all about courage and bravery.

Rowling made a fortune with the "Harry Potter" series, and after concluding it, she started writing novels for adults. As a celebrity, she doesn't hide her political views or ideologies. Her comments about transgender people even sparked a debate about freedom of speech and cancel culture. I'm not here to judge what Rowling said, but standing up for what you believe in, no matter what, is totally her thing, given how much she values courage.

At the end of the day, I still can't quite articulate why I keep re-watching "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," but thankfully, Harry has taught me to be okay with who I am on the inside, and not to judge myself. Every time I watch "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," it takes me back to the moment when I decided to just be myself. Maybe the reason I keep going back to it is to remind myself of the courage it takes to be true to who I am, even though I think I've mastered it.