Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004
PG
2h 22m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

713K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

270

Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe, and Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video

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Sword & Sorcery Teen Adventure Teen Fantasy Adventure Family Fantasy Mystery

Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses... Read allHarry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.Harry Potter, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

713K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

270

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 17 wins & 56 nominations total

Trivia
In order to acquaint himself with his three lead actors and actress, director Alfonso Cuarón had each of them write an essay about their characters, from a first-person point of view. Emma Watson, in true Hermione fashion, went a little overboard and wrote a sixteen-page essay. Daniel Radcliffe, like Harry, wrote a simple one-page summary, and Rupert Grint, like Ron, never even turned his in.

Goofs
The Marauder's Map clearly reads "Mooney" rather than the correct spelling which is, as J.K. Rowling spells it "Moony." This was done deliberately as an in joke, as the film's visual effects supervisor is named Karl Mooney.

Quotes
Ron: [sitting bolt upright in bed] Spiders... the spiders... they want me to tap-dance. And I don't want to tap-dance!
Harry: You tell those spiders, Ron.
Ron: Yeah, tell them... I'll tell them...
[falls straight back asleep]

Crazy credits
During the credits you can see one of the footprints change from a human footprint to an animal's (naming Sirius) footprint

Alternate versions
DVD includes the following deleted scenes:
A scene cut from the Knight Bus sequence in which the bus turns around several times on the spot in the middle of the street.
An extended version of the scene where the bird flies through the courtyard, across the bridge, and in the direction of Hagrid's hut. We see Hagrid attempt to catch the bird, but instead it ends up being crushed by the Whomping Willow.
A scene in the Great Hall, where Ron and Hermione tell Harry about their visit to Hogsmeade.
A scene where the Gryffindors meet Sir Cadogan.
A scene in the Gryffindor Common Room, where all the students are gathered as Ron tells Professor McGonagall that Sirius Black had gotten into the dormitory. Professor McGonagall then asks Sir Cadogan if he let anyone into the common room. Ron then tells Hermione that Crookshanks ate Scabbers. Upset, Hermione sits down on the couch next to Harry, who says that he could have killed Sirius Black.

Connections
Edited into The Nostalgia Critic: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Launch (2007)

Soundtracks
Double Trouble
(uncredited)
Lyrics by William Shakespeare
Conducted, Composed, and Produced by John Williams
Performed by 'The London Oratory School Schola'

User reviews1.7K

Review

Featured review

10/10

Abstract and dark themes abound; still the most mature HP entry

Alfonso Cuarón's masterful adaptation does the source material immeasurable justice by exploring its underlying concepts in an intelligent manner. Of course, it certainly helps that the aesthetics of the film are incredible, the acting remains stellar (and the trio of young actors handle their roles admirably), and John Williams offers an amazing (and eclectic) score. Character development is superb - Steve Kloves penned a great script.

First-time and young viewers will likely enjoy the film for its merits based on plot and 'adventure' alone, but it takes multiple viewings and a critical eye to enjoy the abstract ideas and nuances. Cuarón himself credited the source material as being laden with real-world issues: oppression, racism, loneliness, power, friendship, justice and so forth.

This is the Harry Potter film that stands on its own and as a tremendous cinematic achievement. It challenges viewers and yet doesn't patronize them or attempt to offer answers to all of the questions presented. For instance, the ending is bittersweet at best and retains a healthy amount of ambiguity.

If you've never read the books or understood the acclaim of the series as a whole, watch Cuarón's 'Prisoner of Azkaban' and you'll understand why this entry is clearly the zenith of the seven.