Rupert Grint's Only Rewatched One Harry Potter Film (& It's Not Even the Best One)

While Grint appeared alongside his fellow cast mates in HBO Max's Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, he confessed that he hasn't been able to bring himself to rewatch most of the films. The only one he has been able to watch is the first film in the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (also known as The Philosopher's Stone).

Although the film introduced a generation of fans to the magical world of Harry Potter and is beloved by many, it's widely regarded as one of the weaker of the movies. It is ranked sixth out of all the movies, including the Fantastic Beasts films, on Rotten Tomatoes.

Criticisms include the story being predictable and lacking complexity compared to other parts of the franchise, and the movie being too light-hearted and childish. In addition, some argue that the acting of the main cast is weaker in the first film compared to their later performances, as they were young and inexperienced at the time of filming. However, it is important to note that the child actors in the movie were new to the industry and had to adapt to the demands of a major film franchise.

For Grint, the first Harry Potter film represents much nostalgia and holds fond memories that the series continues to evoke. In fact, he described rewatching the first film as like watching 'a home movie.'

"It was my childhood, after all,' he said. 'I didn’t go to school; I lost touch with a lot of old friends. I missed out on a lot of shared experiences."

Yet even after finishing the Harry Potter series now, he reveals has not been able to separate himself from the iconic franchise completely.

'[These movies are] the way I measure my life in a way. When I’m thinking about when I passed my driver’s test, I know that that was film five. It’s like college or something similar.'

Grint also admitted that the only reason he was able to sit through the first movie was because he felt detached enough from it since it was so long ago.

Grint has a complicated relationship with the Harry Potter movies he starred in. While he is undoubtedly proud of his work and appreciates the experiences it has given him, he also struggles with the emotions of revisiting the films. But, overall, the franchise will always hold a special place in his heart.