Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Name: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy, Family
Released: June 4, 2004
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 82
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint

2004

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Universal acclaim based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1094 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1094 Ratings

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Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: June 4, 2004 | PG

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint

Summary: In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repelIn Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron and Hermione, now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts, where they are forced to face escaped prisoner, Sirius Black, who poses a great threat to Harry. Harry and his friends spend their third year learning how to handle a half-horse half-eagle Hippogriff, repel shape-shifting Boggarts and master the art of Divination. They also visit the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack, which is considered the most haunted building in Britain. In addition to these new experiences, Harry must overcome the threats of the soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a dangerous werewolf and finally deal with the truth about Sirius Black and his relationship to Harry and his parents. With his best friends, Harry masters advanced magic, crosses the barriers of time and changes the course of more than one life. [Warner Bros.]… Expand

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Genre(s): Adventure, Mystery, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 141 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

A different kind of Harry Potter movie, a better kind... It's where this fantasy series has wanted to go all along. Read full review

William Arnold

Potter 3 is, in its heart of hearts, a teenage angst movie...Cuaron has done a masterful job of bringing off this shift in the Potter paradigm without disrupting any disruption in the established style of the series and without any pandering concessions to the teen-movie genre. Read full review

Peter Travers

Not only is this dazzler by far the best and most thrilling of the three Harry Potter movies to date, it's a film that can stand on its own even if you never heard of author J.K. Rowling and her young wizard hero. Read full review

Dana Stevens

This film may disappoint some dogmatic Old Hogwartsians: a few plot points have been sacrificed, and Mr. Cuarón does not seem to care much for Quidditch. But it more than compensates for these lapses with its emotional force and visual panache. Read full review

Sean Smith

The result is a film that's really moving--and really moves. Read full review

Steven Rea

In the end, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban offers what neither of its predecessors, for all their wand-waving and witch-brooms, had: real magic. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Put delicately, this is one long sit, made all the more so by a turgid story, a dour visual palette and uninspiring action. Read full review

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User Reviews

AVCITY

Jul 12, 2011

Magical. By making Harry's inner struggles the center of the film, Alfonso Cuaron has made a visual masterpiece with rich emotional depth. The film doesn't linger on the sets and classes for too long, a liberty well taken after two previous ventures in the same setting. Instead he enhancesMagical. By making Harry's inner struggles the center of the film, Alfonso Cuaron has made a visual masterpiece with rich emotional depth. The film doesn't linger on the sets and classes for too long, a liberty well taken after two previous ventures in the same setting. Instead he enhances the world through Harry's point of view. The film is emotionally darker and much more engaging. The visuals are superb, the score the best of the series so far and the cinematography outstanding. And as always the cast is top notch. This is not just a good movie for Harry Potter, it's a great film period.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

manningn15

Dec 28, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is my 3rd favorite Harry Potter movie and one of my favorite movies of all time. The direction that this movie took the series into a darker tone was fantastic. The performances from Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman, Rupert Grint, Emma Thompson, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, and Maggie Smith stupendous. The visual effects were spectacular especially the Dementor's, the Whomping Willow, Buckbeak the hippogriff, the Knight Bus, and The Monster Book of Monsters. The writing, story and screenplay were amazing. The movies film score was great just like the others have been. The scenery and set continue to be very nice and cool. The costumes were great in the movie. A+.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

nboley08

Aug 16, 2010

Might be the best of the series. It's certainly the most impressive visually, as Hogwarts, which sometimes felt as thrilling as a funeral home during Columbus' films, comes vividly alive in the third film. Sirius Black is such an intoxicating and great character, he really ties the movieMight be the best of the series. It's certainly the most impressive visually, as Hogwarts, which sometimes felt as thrilling as a funeral home during Columbus' films, comes vividly alive in the third film. Sirius Black is such an intoxicating and great character, he really ties the movie together greatly. This was arguably Rowling's peak in the series.… Expand

22 of 26 users found this helpful224

TheQuietGamer

Mar 19, 2011

Another fantastic Harry Potter movie, fans of the previous movies will enjoy, fans of the books should enjoy I personally don't know if you will as I did not read any of the books but I don't see why you wouldn't, one of the best in the series.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Aaron_Wasserman

May 31, 2016

My favorite Potter film. It is so rewatchable and it never bores me. It is suspenseful and a much darker and mature addition to the Potter franchise than the previous two installments.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

filmtrashreview

Jul 6, 2011

So the third film takes a much darker route then the first two. I don't mind the darkness and acclaimed best Potter film but this is the shortest and yet it feels like the longest of the films. This film was dumbed down to Hollywood standard and honestly I don't feel that this director savedSo the third film takes a much darker route then the first two. I don't mind the darkness and acclaimed best Potter film but this is the shortest and yet it feels like the longest of the films. This film was dumbed down to Hollywood standard and honestly I don't feel that this director saved the series at all. The twists in this film are a lot better then "The Chamber of Secrets" and the new look of Harry Potter is visually stunning but I still feel that the filmmakers thought audience members were stupid. They included a pointless segment of the Willow Tree just to show the changing of season. We dealt without this in the first two films, why do we need it now? The only reason that I can think of is the fact that the art direction was completely lacking in this film. We couldn't tell the changing of seasons without those pointless Willow Tree shots and on top of that every character seems to now be wearing fashionable clothing. When watching the behind-the-scenes of this film I found out that the actors were allowed to choose what they wanted to wear. I feel in doing this, Alfonso and his crew wanted to make a summer blockbuster more then the wanted to make a good fantasy film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RitaS.

Sep 22, 2007

Seriously, it needs to be redone. Professional reviewers, most of whom have no idea what the book is about, give it a good review because of what? The special effects? The "dark"ness? Did they read the book? Did the !@^%$#!&! director even read the book!?!?! Or did someone just give him a 2 Seriously, it needs to be redone. Professional reviewers, most of whom have no idea what the book is about, give it a good review because of what? The special effects? The "dark"ness? Did they read the book? Did the !@^%$#!&! director even read the book!?!?! Or did someone just give him a 2 minute summary of it and he made the movie out of what he could remember from it? How did JKR agree to this? Did she even? I can only imagine her feelings of horror as she watched her book getting murdered. It seems these questions will go unanswered. Feels like scenes were mixed up and a lot of stuff has been horribly changed and a lot has been left out. Good thing the director didn't stick around for the fourth part. Good riddance.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful

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23	#23 Best Movie of 2004
3	#3 Most Discussed Movie of 2004
26	#26 Most Shared Movie of 2004