Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.

Director:

Alfonso Cuarón

Writers:

J.K. Rowling (novel), Steve Kloves (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Radcliffe, Richard Griffiths, Rupert Grint

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Radcliffe	...	Harry Potter
Richard Griffiths	...	Uncle Vernon
Pam Ferris	...	Aunt Marge
Fiona Shaw	...	Aunt Petunia
Harry Melling	...	Dudley Dursley
Adrian Rawlins	...	James Potter
Geraldine Somerville	...	Lily Potter
Lee Ingleby	...	Stan Shunpike
Lenny Henry	...	Shrunken Head
Jimmy Gardner	...	Ernie the Bus Driver
Gary Oldman	...	Sirius Black
Jim Tavaré	...	Tom the Innkeeper
Robert Hardy	...	Cornelius Fudge
Abby Ford	...	Young Witch Maid
Rupert Grint	...	Ron Weasley

Storyline

Harry Potter is having a tough time with his relatives (yet again). He runs away after using magic to inflate Uncle Vernon's sister Marge who was being offensive towards Harry's parents. Initially scared for using magic outside the school, he is pleasantly surprised that he won't be penalized after all. However, he soon learns that a dangerous criminal and Voldemort's trusted aide Sirius Black has escaped from the Azkaban prison and wants to kill Harry to avenge the Dark Lord. To worsen the conditions for Harry, vile creatures called Dementors are appointed to guard the school gates and inexplicably happen to have the most horrible effect on him. Little does Harry know that by the end of this year, many holes in his past (whatever he knows of it) will be filled up and he will have a clearer vision of what the future has in store...

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Plot Keywords:

magic | wizard | dark | muggle | serial killer | 

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Taglines:

Cast Your Spell In IMAX

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for frightening moments, creature violence and mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The IMAX Experience

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$130,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$415,248 (Finland) (6 August 2004)

Gross:

$249,358,727 (USA) (29 October 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., 1492 Pictures, Heyday Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Hufflepuff Seeker whom Harry competes against during the Quidditch match is Cedric Diggory. Diggory is his rival again a year later during the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

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Goofs

When the Whomping Willow hits Harry and Hermione, they land on the grass hard. However, as Hermione gets up, she pushes down on the grass they are on, and you can tell that it is separate from the rest of the grass around them. They obviously landed on a softened mat rather than the regular ground.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Harry: Lumos Maxima!
[five times]

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Crazy Credits

The credits appear as a version of the Marauder's Map, moving all over the surface, accompanied by little footprints which react and change appropriately.

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Connections

Referenced in Parks and Recreation: Smallest Park (2011)

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Soundtracks

"La Cumparsita"
Written by Gerardo Matos Rodríguez
Performed by Alfred House Orchestra
Courtesy of Laserlight
By Arrangement with Source/Q

User Reviews

My Favorite Of The Harry Potter Films

I thought this was excellent....better than the first two Harry Potter movies combined and better than what has followed.. That's my feeling, and I'm still sticking to it.

This was just great fun, right from the opening. In fact, the early bus scene is the best in the film. Overall, the movie didn't have as mean an edge to it as the others, although it has a number of scary moments (which might have warranted a PG-13 rating). That was fine with me. I got tired of the dark, nasty and/or annoying characters of the first two films, and especially the irritating blonde wise-guy kid. I give this major points for cutting his role down. Even Alan Rickman's character softens.

In other words, there is no despicable villain to hate throughout the film, which I thought was refreshing. Instead, we just go through one adventure after another until the final surprise ending.

Along the way are a lot of fun special effects and scenery, some humor (Emma Thompson is a hoot as an eccentric tea-leaf reader) and some fantastic 5.1 surround sound. I wish all the Harry Potter films were like this one.