In this era, a film surpassing one billion dollars at the box office was an extremely rare achievement.
So far, only four films had crossed the billion-dollar mark: Titanic, Jurassic Park, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Among them, Jurassic Park had only barely surpassed the one-billion-dollar threshold after a re-release.
These four films represented four different directors—two veteran filmmakers who had risen to fame early, one who emerged in the 1980s, and another from the mid-generation.
Although Gilbert appeared younger compared to the other three, he had already been in the industry for nearly a decade and had delivered eleven films, cementing his status as a top-tier director.
However, in November of this year, the North American theater alliance once again adjusted movie ticket prices. This change meant that future films would find it significantly easier to surpass the one-billion-dollar milestone.
In terms of value, the earlier billion-dollar films held greater weight, especially Titanic.
But with the North American film market nearing saturation, the only way to boost box office earnings was by raising ticket prices.
Increasing ticket prices was inevitable—after all, a dollar today was not the same as a dollar tomorrow.
In the very first month of this price increase, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was officially released nationwide in the United States. At the premiere, Gilbert personally stood on stage to support the film.
J.K. Rowling was also present. Thanks to the Harry Potter series, she had already become a bestselling author and one of the wealthiest figures in the literary world.
However, Rowling understood that for the franchise to truly succeed, the movies needed to be as successful as the books.
She had attended an internal screening earlier, and although she initially had reservations about an American, Haley Joel Osment, portraying the British Harry Potter, his performance had won her over.
Over time, the image of Harry Potter in her mind gradually merged with Haley.
In fact, when the film's first promotional poster was released, many internet-savvy fans felt that Haley was an excellent match for the role—perhaps the most fitting casting choice.
Meanwhile, the original actor who had lost the role was probably crying in the bathroom, having missed out on what could have been the defining franchise of his acting career.
Without Harry Potter, Haley at least still had The Sixth Sense, a film where his outstanding performance had earned him multiple awards and accolades.
This proved that in life, hard work alone wasn't always enough—one also needed the recognition of influential figures.
And in this case, Gilbert was that influential figure who had recognized Haley's potential.
That didn't mean one could simply wait around for an opportunity.
If one didn't put in the effort and showcase their strengths, how could a powerful figure even notice them?
When a talented person took it easy, it was called "taking a break."
When an untalented person did the same, it was called "giving up."
To Gilbert, these were entirely different concepts.
"When I first visited the UK, I was immediately captivated by Harry Potter," Gilbert said as he walked the red carpet with Scarlett Johansson, accepting interviews and fabricating a backstory.
"I saw Harry Potter's potential to be loved and recognized by moviegoers, which is why I supported and recommended its adaptation into a film."
Scarlett Johansson added, "When Gilbert brought the book back from the UK, I finished it in one sitting.
I even begged him to let me play Hermione, but he refused. So now, I'm really looking forward to seeing how the movie turns out."
Today, however, the spotlight wasn't on them.
After sharing a few brief remarks, Gilbert and Scarlett entered the theater.
Unlike The Lord of the Rings, which faced large-scale protests during its production and release, the adaptation of Harry Potter encountered little resistance.
Perhaps this was because Harry Potter was a relatively easy story to adapt, giving audiences confidence in the film's success.
Once inside the theater, Haley led the two other young actors over.
"Hello, Director Gilbert," he greeted.
Gilbert didn't pay much attention to the other two actors—they were just kids, nothing noteworthy yet.
Besides, child actors at this stage were still manageable and didn't require his personal oversight.
He focused on speaking with Haley.
"I watched the final cut," Gilbert said. "You all did a great job—especially you, Haley. Your acting remains consistently strong.
But you should watch your weight. Have you been eating too much cake lately? You look like you've gained a little."
"Uh…" Haley looked slightly embarrassed. He touched his face and replied, "I've been trying to control my diet so I don't gain too much weight."
Haley had an easy-to-gain-weight physique, and with his round, baby-faced features, his facial structure looked good when slim.
But if he gained too much weight, his facial features would become squeezed together, making him look awkward.
For now, at least, he was still able to keep it under control.
Gilbert wasn't overly concerned about Haley as an individual—it was about the image he represented.
After all, audiences couldn't be expected to accept a chubby Harry Potter. That would be disastrous.
So, even if Haley wanted to indulge himself, as long as he played Harry Potter, he would be under strict supervision to ensure he didn't become overweight.
This was both an actor's duty and responsibility—his image directly influenced the integrity of the character.
Gilbert also met with Rowling briefly. She greatly admired him and immediately said, "I watched The Lord of the Rings, and it was absolutely brilliant.
I feel like Harry Potter might have been even better if you had directed it yourself."
Though Chris Columbus's adaptation had satisfied Rowling, she couldn't help but wonder if the film would have been even greater under Gilbert's direction.
But there was no point in dwelling on that now.
The film was already set to face the judgment of the market.
Chris Columbus, who had previously directed Home Alone, had a filmmaking style that leaned towards a more child-friendly approach.
Ironically, that turned out to be a perfect match for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, as the film carried a whimsical, imaginative quality.
For a family-friendly movie like this, the key was attracting children.
And one child could influence two or three, or even more, ticket sales.
The reason was simple—no matter how kid-friendly a movie was, parents wouldn't let their children go to the theater alone.
They would always accompany them.
So, sparking the interest of just one child often meant selling two or three tickets, sometimes even more.
After the premiere, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released simultaneously in both the UK and the US.
Then, it unleashed an incredible force at the box office.
On its opening day, including midnight screenings, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone grossed $32.65 million, making it the second-highest single-day box office in history.
But soon, that record dropped to third place.
Because on Saturday, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone broke another record, earning $35.804 million in a single day, surpassing the record previously set by The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
By Sunday, possibly due to the enthusiasm of fans and book lovers being largely consumed over the previous two days, the film's earnings saw a slight decline, bringing in $25.015 million.
Nevertheless, the film's first-week total reached a staggering $93.469 million, breaking the opening weekend box office record previously set by The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, making it the highest-grossing opening weekend in history.
In the UK, where the film was released simultaneously, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone also achieved remarkable success, earning $27.506 million in its first week, proving to be a massive hit.
With the overwhelming success of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Rowling became the most well-known author in the world during this period—without question.
Although Tolkien's works had also gained global popularity this year, the legendary author had long since passed away, whereas Rowling was still very much present.
Following the first week's box office results, there were some concerns. It was rumored that Gilbert and Rowling had signed a contract covering only three books in the series.
However, Rowling had already stated that Harry Potter would be a longer series, with additional books planned for release.
This news immediately caught the attention of other Hollywood studios. If they could wrestle the rights to the later books away from Gilbert, they could claim this blockbuster film franchise for themselves.
Without hesitation, Universal, Paramount, and even second-tier studios like New Line Cinema, DreamWorks, and Lionsgate began reaching out to Rowling.
At Gilbert's estate, a small private party was being held in Rowling's honor.
"Director Gilbert, as long as the conditions you offer aren't worse than those of other companies, I will prioritize working with you," Rowling assured him during their conversation at the party.
While she admired Gilbert's work, she couldn't ignore better offers just to remain loyal. This was a business world, and Gilbert certainly wasn't naïve.
Even if Rowling were willing to make such a commitment, her agent and family would undoubtedly oppose it and remind her to consider all options.
So, beyond personal goodwill, concessions in business negotiations were inevitable—there was no way around it.
Gilbert nodded in agreement. "That's only natural, Joanne. We've had a great working relationship, and I don't want you to feel shortchanged. A new agreement will be sent to you soon.
Let's leave the business matters to the professionals. Tonight, we're here to have fun."
Reassured by Gilbert's words, Rowling felt much more at ease.
If it weren't absolutely necessary, she wouldn't want to switch partners. While changing partners was a normal part of business, she didn't feel as secure or confident without Gilbert in the picture.
And it wasn't just Rowling who had concerns—the three lead actors were still young now, so their demands weren't an issue yet. But as the series progressed, they would inevitably ask for higher salaries and even a share of the box office and merchandise revenue.
When that time came, unless Gilbert wanted to replace them, he would have to make concessions in these areas.
The most critical issue was merchandising. As ticket sales soared, so did merchandise sales, generating $75 million in the first week alone.
This number had all the investors grinning from ear to ear. The franchise's incredible merchandising potential made many companies envious.
It was clear that Harry Potter was heading toward prolonged negotiations and endless disputes.
Everyone wanted a bigger share, but the total revenue was finite—if one party gained more, another had to lose out. Who would be happy about that?
Gilbert, of course, wouldn't allow his own interests to be compromised and would firmly hold his ground.
Despite these looming challenges, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone continued its triumphant run at the box office, dominating the market and becoming the most talked-about film of the year.
At this pace, barring any unexpected disasters, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was set to become the fifth film in history to surpass $1 billion at the global box office.
Two $1 billion blockbusters in a single year—Hollywood in the new century seemed stronger than ever, truly living up to its reputation as the center of the global film industry.
.....
Hi For access to additional chapters of
Director in Hollywood (20 chpaters)
MV Director (30 chapters)....
Douluo Dalu:Breaking Clan(30 chapters)
Made In Hollywood (50 Chapters)
Pokemon:Bounty Hunter(30 Chapters)
Douluo Dalu: Reincarnated as Yan(30 Chapters)
Join pateron.com/Translaterappu