Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

146 continuity mistakes

★★★★☆

Starring: Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Richard Griffiths, Ian Hart

Genres: Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Harry Potter

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone mistake picture

Continuity mistake: On his first night in the castle, Harry is sat on a window ledge with Hedwig. In this shot, his feet go from resting on their sides and crossed at the ankles to flat and uncrossed. (00:48:50)

Ssiscool ★

Continuity mistake: When we first see Harry drawing a cake in the dirt, his hand is in the shadow created by the sofa when lightning strikes. When we see a closeup of the drawing, his hand is in the light. (00:12:50)

Ssiscool ★

Continuity mistake: When the letters start flying through the letterbox they are coming in with the address facing down and the red seal facing up. When Vernon says they are going away, the letters are now addressed side up and red seal down. (00:12:15)

Ssiscool ★

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: This is not a mistake. The letters are magically arriving en masse, in batches, pouring in at a rapid speed, and are flying about everywhere. Some naturally are facing up and others are face down as they come through the letter slot.

raywest ★

Continuity mistake: In the scene following Harry's sorting, Hermione has changed sides at the Gryffindor table. (00:43:00)

Continuity mistake: In Olivander's shop, the packages Harry put down when entering the shop change position between shots. (00:24:30)

Ssiscool ★

Continuity mistake: When Harry Ron and Hermione first encounter Mrs Norris, she sits down. When they run off, she is stood up. Note her shadow. (00:59:20)

Ssiscool ★

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Mistakes

Visible crew/equipment: At the Quidditch match, after Hermione sets Snape's cloak on fire and someone shouts, "Fire! You're on fire!" there is a close-up of Harry with his hands gripping the Nimbus 2000. In this shot, the wire rods which are attached/taped to the broomstick, near Harry's fingers, that lead under both of his red sleeves, are entirely visible. (01:21:35)

Super Grover ★

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Quotes

Draco Malfoy: Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair... And a hand-me-down robe. You must be a Weasley.

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Trivia

Trivia: The Hogwarts motto, 'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus', is Latin, and means 'Never tickle a sleeping dragon.'

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Questions

Question: I get that the DADA role is cursed because of Voldemort being denied the role when he applied for it at Hogwarts, but why does Dumbledore not let Snape take the role like he's wanted to every year? I thought Snape was a double agent (he spies on the Death Eaters and Voldemort for Dumbledore, and he pretends to be on Voldemort's side too), so unless Voldemort decides that he wants to get rid of him for being in the role, he's okay to take it on provided he's given it, and yet every year, Dumbledore turns down his application. Is it because Snape's too involved in Voldemort's side of things or some other reason? I hope I explained it well.

Heather Benton ★

Chosen answer: There are several reasons. First, the position is cursed, so there is little reason to give Snape the job when he will not last any longer than all the previous instructors. If Snape did become the DADA instructor, something could happen to him that could result in his being harmed, having to leave Hogwarts, or be otherwise incapacitated in some way; that would render him useless to Dumbledore as a double agent. Also, Dumbledore trusts Snape, but putting him in an environment where he is teaching about dark magic on a daily basis would be too tempting and emotionally compromising to someone who had been so easily seduced by the dark side. He could possibly relapse. It would be like having a recovering alcoholic work as a bartender. Of course, he does eventually become the DADA instructor, and lasted no longer than his predecessors.

raywest ★

In the movies it is never mentioned that DADA role was cursed by Voldemort.

This is true; though it doesn't say it's not either. With trying to fit 7 long books and years worth of pages of HP information in 2 and a half hours; as long as the movie doesn't say it's not cursed, with our knowledge, there is no problem with reporting that it is. Even directors of non-book movies do this all the time; leave background information out that helps explain things they just didn't have time so they explained it behind the scenes.

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