If you identify as a Muggle or a wizard, we’ve got what is sure to be exciting news for you! The first feature film adaptation in the beloved Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, is now available to stream on Max. But wait, that’s not even the most exciting part, not by a long shot. The most enticing aspect of this announcement is that the platform has an enhanced version of the film available to stream, a version with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, trivia, and more. This special presentation of the picture has been dubbed “Magical Movie Mode.” If you remember Pop-Up Video on VH1, you will surely see the similarities. Magical Movie mode allows fans to watch the original series installment with a bevy of bonus content.
If you’re curious to experience this special version of the film for yourself, you can do exactly that on Max!
Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Magical Movie Mode on Max
The film exists in both its standard form and in the Magical Movie Mode version on Max. So, you’ll want to check beforehand to make sure you’ve selected the appropriate listing, seeing as Magical Movie Mode is offered as a different title in the streamer’s database, not a feature you can toggle on and off.
If you opt to watch the Magical Movie Mode version of the film (which is available right here), you’ll be treated to behind-the-scenes asides, director’s commentary, deleted scenes, fun facts, and much more.
This special version of the film, complete with a quirky set of bonus features, ties into the picture’s 20-year anniversary re-release. Warner Bros. re-packaged the flick on home video in 2021 to tie into the buzz surrounding the milestone anniversary.
While the standard version is streaming elsewhere, Max appears to be your only online destination for watching the film (either free of charge or with a subscription) in Magical Movie Mode. Warner Bros. is Max’s parent company, so it makes sense that they seem to have the exclusive streaming rights.
If you’re a physical media person, however, you also have the option to experience Magical Movie Mode on disc. Most of the picture’s more recent physical media releases (in a variety of formats) include this enhanced version of the picture.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone outside the U.S) follows the titular character, an orphaned boy wizard (Daniel Radcliffe), who ultimately discovers that he comes from enchanted stock and attends Hogwarts, a magical school for magical children.
During his tenure at Hogwarts, the boy wizard learns the truth behind the untimely death of his mother and father while also cultivating friendships with fellow aspiring sorcerers that will surely last a lifetime.
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Fans of the series likely know that the wildly successful film is an adaptation of the J. K. Rowling children’s book of the same name. What fans may not know is that famed director Steven Spielberg was initially considered to helm the big-screen adaptation of the first book in the series. He ultimately declined, with Chris Columbus eventually assuming directorial duties on the project. What a different movie The Sorcerer’s Stone might have been with Spielberg at the helm.
So, now you know where (and how) to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Magical Movie Mode. If the mood strikes, make your way over to Max or pick up a specially marked copy of the flick on physical media to experience a nostalgia-fueled ride down memory lane complete with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, director’s commentary, and more.
As for what’s next for the franchise, there are no Harry Potter feature films in any stage of development, however, there is a small-screen series in the works at Max. The program in question has already tapped actors to play three of the key roles. We don’t have any firm idea just yet when the program will hit the airwaves, but rest assured that we will update you when we know more. Our best guess at this point is that the show will bow on Max in late 2026 or early 2027.
Have you experienced this celebrated film in Magical Movie Mode yet? If you have, make sure to hit up the comments section below and let us know what you think.
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