Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Josh L

  
  By far the most artfully realized and beautiful vision of the Potter universe of the entire series (with Half-Blood Prince a close second place). Even if I don't consider it the best movie of the series, it is easily the most appreciated film just because of the directions it… More
  By far the most artfully realized and beautiful vision of the Potter universe of the entire series (with Half-Blood Prince a close second place). Even if I don't consider it the best movie of the series, it is easily the most appreciated film just because of the directions it took the series and how it allowed the future directions to build off of. Ironically its the lowest grossing film of the series because it's the least mainstream.

• Scott G

  
  A mater film with a strong potent smell of good action, a strong performance from the magic trio and a brilliant adventure.

• Alexander D

  
  Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón takes over as director for HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, the third film in its series. I have always appreciated this entry much more than the previous two, because it brings out what it was foreshadowed that Harry Potter would be all… More
  Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón takes over as director for HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, the third film in its series. I have always appreciated this entry much more than the previous two, because it brings out what it was foreshadowed that Harry Potter would be all along: dark and grim, yet often light-hearted. Now, instead of a supporter of his parents' murderer, or a self-absorbed celebrity, Harry's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is more enjoyable. (Though even he has a dark side, too.) If there's one thing that disappoints with this ambitious third entry, it's that one of the main cast members is replaced. Now that Richard Harris's life has come to an end, Dumbledore needed to be replaced. And the only similarity is the costume. This is the point where Harry Potter had started taking a trip out of family film zone. It's dark, creepy, but still irresistible.

• Louis R

  
  At the end of it all, this is the best one. Cuaron's got style. It's probably the best stand alone story of the series, which helps, but it is filmed with some individual style, wit and slickness- staying faithful but not sycophantic like the first two. Yeah, it is darker,… More
  At the end of it all, this is the best one. Cuaron's got style. It's probably the best stand alone story of the series, which helps, but it is filmed with some individual style, wit and slickness- staying faithful but not sycophantic like the first two. Yeah, it is darker, but darker with conviction and purpose, not for the sake of it, or to try and be taken seriously. Fantastic performances from Gary Oldman and David Thewlis top it all off, and Michael Gambon has a remarkably assured and faithful go at Dumbledore- and is a lot better than in the next couple of films. The production design, visual effects and editing work brilliantly together, creating a new, chilly, steampunky world that makes the story both more relevant and cinematic. Well done, everyone.

• Jacob E

  
  And here it is. The review I've always been afraid to write. I have several friends who absolutely love the books that hate, HATE, this film. Yet, even though I've read the book and know this film deviates quite a bit from the book, I still enjoy this film more than almost… More
  And here it is. The review I've always been afraid to write. I have several friends who absolutely love the books that hate, HATE, this film. Yet, even though I've read the book and know this film deviates quite a bit from the book, I still enjoy this film more than almost any film in the entire series. Why? Because in my opinion, this was the first film in the series to actually try and make a warped world of fantasy. As accurate as Christopher Colombus' versions of the first 2 films were, he never actually managed to make it anything beyond generic fantasy. It's one thing to transcribe every word of dialogue into a screenplay, it's another to capture the spirit of the book while extracting the parts that make it good (ala "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" or the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy). Whenever I read the Potter books, I always imagined a world that was extremely warped, but slightly recognizable. "Prisoner of Azkaban" captures that spirit, but at the price of deviating from the source material, causing it to be one of the most hated films in the franchise. In terms of cinematography, style, and direction, this is arguably the best film in the series. It introduces the characters of Sirius Black and Remus Lupin very well. One thing that this film does mess up is introducing the new actor for Dumbledore. He does a great job, but the director could have done a better job of introducing him subtly instead of scarring fans. The final (and biggest screw up, in my opinion) is Lupin's wolf form. The transformation is more hilarious than scary, and the final form isn't that much better. I always felt that this film was a good segue into the darkness that would emerge very quickly in The Goblet of Fire, so I have always loved it. But now that the saga is complete, I can say with a lot of confidence that the best in the series is easily The Deathly Hallows (both parts combined). Now, let's see how long it takes for Potter fans to murder me.

• Eric A

  
  Best HP movie up to this point, and easily one of the best out of all 8.

• Tim S

  
  ...and now we come to what I feel to be the best entry of the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This time around, backstory is thrown out the window, mystery lag is left mostly in the dirt, character-driven plot & action reign supreme and the pacing has finally… More
  ...and now we come to what I feel to be the best entry of the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This time around, backstory is thrown out the window, mystery lag is left mostly in the dirt, character-driven plot & action reign supreme and the pacing has finally been nailed down - losing the extraneous details. As I've stated to many people, I'm not a die hard fan of this series, but if I was to recommend one film from the entire run, it would be this one. This not only has some of the series' best acting and filmmaking on display, but it's also a bit more accessible to a wider range of people due to it's moodier atmosphere. This makes it much more adult than the previous entries without overdoing it, which is one of the reasons why I love it. Complaints have been made that it isn't quite as faithful to the book as Chris Columbus' previous efforts, but I believe that's an improvement. It takes more serious chances and comes off a much better film with a stronger narrative as a result.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  I may be a little biased, since I'm an Alfonso Cuarón fanboy, but this is probably the best "Harry Potter" film. The editing's improved, as well. Part Three is where the franchise really started to go darker and more mature. The themes and the cinematography… More
  I may be a little biased, since I'm an Alfonso Cuarón fanboy, but this is probably the best "Harry Potter" film. The editing's improved, as well. Part Three is where the franchise really started to go darker and more mature. The themes and the cinematography reflect that. Emma Thompson joins the cast as Sybil Trelawney and Gary Oldman does as Sirius Black. Both amazing.

• Melvin W

  
  Professor Snape: Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight, are we? "Have You Seen This Wizard?" With Prisoner of Azkaban, Alfonso Caurón contributes is only film to the Harry Potter franchise. He got one shot at it, and he didn't miss. Many… More
  Professor Snape: Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight, are we? "Have You Seen This Wizard?" With Prisoner of Azkaban, Alfonso Caurón contributes is only film to the Harry Potter franchise. He got one shot at it, and he didn't miss. Many considered this the best film in the franchise(I believe that has changed for most). I still do like two or three movies in the series more than this one. There's a lot to like here. Harry, Ron and Hermoine finally lose that innocent feel they had in the first two. They are growing up and as they up the tones of the movies begin to feel darker and darker. My favorite thing about this one is the fact that Gary Oldman is involved. He plays Sirious Black and although he doesn't have any screen time until the last part; he is still very good and has a powerful presence. Sirius Blacks presence overshadows the entire movie though; even though he is not onscreen. Sirius has broken out of Azkaban Prison and is now on the hunt. We learn how Sirius is connected to Harry and his parents. Also, we learn a lot about Ron's pet rat, "Scabbers." The way the scenes where Harry and Hermoine go back in time were handled great. It's kind of funny seeing all those things that I thought were just coincidence. This movie starts the progression into darkness that will occur in the rest of the movies. That innocence from Sorcerer's Stone is now completely gone. Caurón really deserves great for his excellent contribution to the franchise.

• Matt G

  
  Prisoner of Azkaban is one of the best written, and best made of the Potter series. What it also is, is quite boring and tends to prolong it's scenes when it should be faster paced. I can understand that it was based off of the book, and that's fine, but I was still bored.… More
  Prisoner of Azkaban is one of the best written, and best made of the Potter series. What it also is, is quite boring and tends to prolong it's scenes when it should be faster paced. I can understand that it was based off of the book, and that's fine, but I was still bored. What makes the film great is the fantastic performance from Gary Oldman, who is brilliant as Sirius Black. Recommended.

• Drake T

  
  HP has always been an emotional series but the first few acts (and closing scenes) are directed with such reverence you finally get a real feel of character's inner conflicts. Unfortunately... once you hit the half mark this movie turns into a mosaic of incoherent events that… More
  HP has always been an emotional series but the first few acts (and closing scenes) are directed with such reverence you finally get a real feel of character's inner conflicts. Unfortunately... once you hit the half mark this movie turns into a mosaic of incoherent events that unfold clumsily like a series of scenes from a High School Play. (like Black & Lupin confronting Pettigrew? So stupidly staged. Or them conveniently stumbling into 30 dementors?) And the whole time traveling thing... Uh, overpowered magic much? Why wasn't/isn't it abused in future and past movies when they needed to get out of tough situations? Why the hell did a teacher give such a device to a student?! It's all so very, very stupid. Y'know what's also stupid? A Werewolf PROFESSOR who fails to check the calendar to make sure there's no full moon out that particular night. All these plotholes really kill the "complex story" experience as the events all finally come together and "make sense" in the final acts of the film.

• Jennifer X

  
  I don't get why everybody says this one is so great. Just because Alfonso Cuaron was responsible for this one doesn't mean it's not as frightfully boring as the other two. There's a frigid - almost documentary style - air to Prisoner of Azkaban, which sometimes… More
  I don't get why everybody says this one is so great. Just because Alfonso Cuaron was responsible for this one doesn't mean it's not as frightfully boring as the other two. There's a frigid - almost documentary style - air to Prisoner of Azkaban, which sometimes works for it but most of time doesn't. Yeah, it's loads better than anything Chris Columbus could dream up, but that's not really saying much considering the comparison.

• Conner R

  
  What Alfonso Cuaron did with Harry Potter is incredibly bold. He completely switched up the entire atmosphere of the first two movies and made something unique. The Harry Potter world got a whole lot weirder and zany, but in a way that fits. The characters and story got a lot darker… More
  What Alfonso Cuaron did with Harry Potter is incredibly bold. He completely switched up the entire atmosphere of the first two movies and made something unique. The Harry Potter world got a whole lot weirder and zany, but in a way that fits. The characters and story got a lot darker and the whole idea of these being goofy kids was forgotten. From a visual standpoint, it's probably still the most interesting. While the pacing may be off at times, I think it's due to the fact that the whole book takes place over the course of a year rather than moving with the plot. I always wondered why it basically takes Harry, Ron and Hermione a school year to figure out some kind of mystery. Now I never really cared before, but this movie does have some corny moments that wouldn't be all that obvious if they weren't so intent on making it be so serious.

• E.J. B

  
  Yes! It took three tries, but Harry Potter has finally carved a name for itself in the cannon of great fantasy films; the books are already one of the most beloved works in all of fantasy literature, but the movie versions have yet to stand on their own. That changes with Harry Potter… More
  Yes! It took three tries, but Harry Potter has finally carved a name for itself in the cannon of great fantasy films; the books are already one of the most beloved works in all of fantasy literature, but the movie versions have yet to stand on their own. That changes with Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. The best addition is director Alfonso Cuaron. A renowned Spanish filmmaker, who's previous film Y Tu Mama Tambien was a masterpiece, Cuaron injects a lot of visual flair into the shots. Take for instance how he accounts for the passage of time. He uses the image of the weeping willow and its reactions to the changes in season. Most directors would have just established scenes with a shot over Hogwarts, but Cuaron creates beautifully edited sequences. Also, he doesn't just use shot/reverse shot techniques when filming actors. He stages the action so the camera can linger and move with the characters, framing them in conjunction with their surroundings. Hogwarts is as much of a character as anyone else. Instead of adapting the book page for page, this screenplay is extremely focused. Only scenes that move the plot forward are included, presenting themes and issues that involve the audience. The kids are growing up and so are the films. There is a lot of dark material that this film covers. The magical world of wizards and witches is just that, but it's also a dangerous one, and the misuse of magic, as well as the intentions behind it, can and do have serious consequences. This is a great film and I can't wait to see what the next one has in store. Harry Potter is here to stay!

• Zach B

  
  There will always be a debate among fans of a franchise over which is the best. For potter, it will be over the tones of the films. Which one do people like more: The lighter films (parts I - IV) or the darker films (V-VII). For me, I have to say that the best made and my personal… More
  There will always be a debate among fans of a franchise over which is the best. For potter, it will be over the tones of the films. Which one do people like more: The lighter films (parts I - IV) or the darker films (V-VII). For me, I have to say that the best made and my personal favorite of them all is the only film that actually creates the best balance of this. While watching The Prisoner of Azkaban, I had the same feeling I had when I first, at the time, I saw the original Star Wars (AKA: Part Four for all of you idiots). That feeling was that they finally got everything right in this film. That is mostly it. With the direction of Alfonso Cuaron, this film created a deeper, darker tale then the previous films, we see more into the reasons behind why the story is how it is, and to top it all off, I think we finally start to see the true horror of the wizard world. Well, I can say that it did leave me rethinking about if I would love to be in that world at that time. Next we have the acting. I think I speak for everyone that, while the three main kids still give great performances, the real stars of this film (and who should of gotten top billing in my opinion) were Gary Oldman (Dracula in Bram Stroker's Dracula) and David Thewlis (Dragon Heart). Out of everyone, those three actors stole the show and made the film just how good it became. Now, I will give props to the others for creating the tone and tension that this film had, but just the dread that those two created shaped this entire film. Next we have the script. Personally, I think Steve Kloves has finally gotten it right. There are some, rather different changes from the novel to the film, but I think it all works beyond well and to the film's benefit. Mostly I like how the ending was different in one sense from the novel. Just, it made it feel a little bit warm shall we say. Finally the score to the film. Out of all eight of these movies, this is the one that has the score right. Mostly it has to be two pieces: the first being the harpsichord rift that is played through out this film. Just, it did help with the tone and that I must say, is a plus. Lastly the song Something Wicked This Way Comes (Double Trouble). If any of you know anything about Shakespeare, then you will be aware that this piece came from the play of Hamlet and it is beyond fitting that it is included in this film. If you know Hamlet, then you will be aware of why it fits in this film. Overall, this is basically the best of the series by far.

• Brad W

  
  This movie takes the tension of the Potter franchise to new heights, it was great. Harry is in his third year, and now a killer named Sirius Black has escaped from prison to get Harry, after he helped Voldemort years ago kill Harrys parents. Dark being called Dementors are searching… More
  This movie takes the tension of the Potter franchise to new heights, it was great. Harry is in his third year, and now a killer named Sirius Black has escaped from prison to get Harry, after he helped Voldemort years ago kill Harrys parents. Dark being called Dementors are searching for Black, they are able too suck the soul of people, and with Harrys strong emotions hes a large target. This year he must learn to defend himself from them, not be caught by Black, save his friend from death, and travel back in time. At the time this was considered the best Potter film, the 1st was still my favorite but I still love this film. The plot is a mixture of everything people love, and the maturity makes the series more and more interesting. The effects are the better than the first 2, very amazing. Cast is amazing, music was new and great, snd all thanks to anew director. I enjoy the great darker movies of the Potter films and this started them.

• Jeff "

  
  Of all the Harry Potter films, I thought Prisoner of Azkaban was one of the weakest. I'm not saying that the film is bad, quite on the contrary, it's a terrific film with all the usual elements which makes a Harry Potter film good. But I preferred the book. Harry enters his… More
  Of all the Harry Potter films, I thought Prisoner of Azkaban was one of the weakest. I'm not saying that the film is bad, quite on the contrary, it's a terrific film with all the usual elements which makes a Harry Potter film good. But I preferred the book. Harry enters his third year at Hogwarts and the wizarding world is on alert as Sirius Black is on the run after escaping from Azkaban prison. Gary Oldman plays the role of Sirius Black, and as usual, he delivers a solid performance. However compared to the first two films, Prisoner Of Azkaban is a still a solid entry, and considering this is a third film, a really well done third film. But I felt that Prisoner Of Azkaban was a less solid film than Chambers Of Secrets. For me, Chambers Of Secrets is one of my personal favorite Harry Potter films, and of course I expected Azkaban to outdo this. But it took a step back. But thats not saying that in a bad way, I just think that this film is a stepping stone and almost a breather considering the darker chapters that lies ahead in the Harry Potter franchise. This film lets fans of the first two films take a slight break from the ever mounting tension in Harry's life. Yes, the film is great, but to tell a story like that of Harry Potter you need one book and film that is a bridge between the happy years of Harry's life and the more serious times in Harry's life. That book and film is Prisoner Of Azkaban, a fun, entertaining but laid back film, and by what Potter fans know whats coming in other installments, Azkaban is a fine breather for a story considering the situations that the characters face in future films.

• Bethany M

  
  Really enjoyed this Harry Potter film. Undoubtebly the best one there is.

• Raymond W

  
  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban undergoes a lot of changes from it's predecessor: Firstly, the characters are maturing, there is a new actor playing Dumbledore and there is a new director Alfonso Cuaron. In the third movie, we get much more background on Harry and his… More
  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban undergoes a lot of changes from it's predecessor: Firstly, the characters are maturing, there is a new actor playing Dumbledore and there is a new director Alfonso Cuaron. In the third movie, we get much more background on Harry and his parents which ads a lot of emotional depth, but we are also still treated to the filmmakers skill with computer generated images as they continue to develop and practice their magic just as the pupils of Hogwarts. Consensus: The third Potter movie has much more emotional depth than the last two and also delves swiftly, deeper into the story and comes out relatively unscathed.

• Nikhil N

  
  Adds depth to the story-line but can't help but feel as if it diverges from the story a bit. Although the least impacting of the Potter films, its the best acting the three have done to date. Fun filled, faster paced then the other two, a brilliant movie over all

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