Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Family, Witches, Wizards & Magic, Coming Of Age, School / Campus, Werewolf, Betrayal, Ghosts, Time Travel, Fantasy, Prison
Tagline: Something wicked this way comes.
Plot: Thirteen year-old Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) has reluctantly spent yet another summer with the Dursleys, his dismal relatives, “behaving himself” and not practicing any magic. That is, until Uncle Vernon’s bullying sister, Aunt Marge (PAM FERRIS), comes to visit. Aunt Marge has always been particularly horrible to Harry and this time pushes him so far that he “accidentally” causes her to inflate like a monstrous balloon and drift away!Fearing punishment from his Aunt and Uncle (and repercussions from Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, which strictly forbids students from using magic in the non-magic world), Harry escapes into the night. He is promptly picked up by the Knight Bus, a fantastic triple-decker purple vehicle that whisks him off to the Leaky Cauldron pub. Upon arrival, Harry is met by the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, who inexplicably doesn’t punish the teenager for his errant wizardry and instead insists that he spend the night at the Leaky Cauldron before heading back to Hogwarts for his third year of study. It quickly transpires that a dangerous and enigmatic wizard, Sirius Black (GARY OLDMAN), has escaped Azkaban prison and is believed to be searching for Harry. Legend has it that Black was responsible for leading Lord Voldemort to Harry’s parents
More Plot Descriptions
 |
Related Movies:
|
 |
Behind the Scenes:
Read more about the production
| | Download Movie Script
For entertainment and informational purposes only. |
 Discussion forum for this movie
|
| |
 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban proves that a new director with a different perspective can freshen a series that could otherwise resort to stale repetition.  --James Berardinelli (ReelViews)
Hippogriffs, Dementors and Harry, oh my! Director Alfonso Cuaron finally decants the essence of J.K. Rowling's work and brings us one of the greatest fantasy films of all time.--Stephanie Zacharek (Salon)
Is "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" as good as the first two films? Not quite. It doesn't have that sense of joyously leaping through a clockwork plot, and it needs to explain more than it should. But the world of Harry Potter remains delightful, amusing and sophisticated; the challenge in the films ahead will be to protect its fragile innocence and not descend into the world of conventional teen thrillers.  --Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times)
Alfonso Cuaron proves he has a knack for dark storytelling, shifting the previously lighthearted tone while still keeping with the humor and fun of the series. B--Craig Younkin (Lee's Movie Info)
Director Alfonso Curan keeps the franchise moving along and stays true to the vision that Chris Columbus started while imprinting his own unique style. A---Gareth Von Kallenbach (Lee's Movie Info)
Almost wall-to-wall exposition with no breathing room for Muggles, "Azkaban" is missing the wonder and excitement that Chris Columbus brought to the first two installments. It's still filled with witchcraft and wizard delights, but new director Alfonso Cuaron doesn't quite have a grip on the material, and the sheer weight of the tale overwhelms him. B--Brian Orndorf (FilmJerk.com)
Overall, 'Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban' succeeds at being one of the more enjoyable experiences of the season.  --Joseph Kastner (Movie-Gurus.com)
There are nice twists to the story and everything moves at a brisk enough pace so that no one really gets bored and before you know it, the 140-minute running time has blown past. The stylistic changes breathe fresh air into the series, but a slightly longer running time would have cleared up some plot points that seemed rushed. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful installment and definitely recommended. 8/10--Nate Anderson (Movie-Vault.com)
I was a prisoner of The Prisoner of Azkaban, and after the 2 hour and 20 minute sentence, I am quite glad to finally be released.  --Vince Leo (Qwipster.net)
Potter looks older, Dumbledore looks younger...well, he is younger, technically, and while this is visually beautiful and a fairly entertaining movie, it doesn't quite conjur the same magic as the first two movies.  --Brian Gallagher (MovieWeb)
A film based on a book will rarely be able to compete with the source material but this remains one of the better conversions.  --Carl Lazarevic (MovieWeb)
Overall, Azkaban succeeds in being both suspenseful and cheerful, dark yet wonderfully bright – a delightful film – the best book in the series and, for the moment, the best film in the lot. --Christopher Monfette (MovieWeb)
It’s great. I guess. I don’t know. I didn’t see the (word that makes Webmaster B.’s eyes cross even when it’s spelled with asterisks; it starts with the letter F, ending in u-c-k-i-n-g) thing. --B. Alan Orange (MovieWeb)
|
| Directed by |
Alfonso Cuarón
And Your Mother Too, Great Expectations, A Little Princess |
|
| Written by |
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | Steven Kloves
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
|
| Cast |
Daniel Radcliffe
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
 | Richard Griffiths
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Sleepy Hollow |
 | |
 | |
 | Rupert Grint
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
 | Emma Watson
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire |
 | | |
[more] |
|
| Music By |
John Williams
Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Schindler's List |
|
In a summer of overwrought special effects films, Harry Potter offers just the right balance for children and grown-ups who’ve forgotten what being a child is like.  --Blake Snyder (MovieWeb)
There is no doubt that this film is extremely deserving, and well worth your hard-earned buck, though. Watching it is like being transported into a world of joyful sensation for two and a half hours, and there is truly nothing better than partaking in anexperience of such a sort. This is a pure motion picture, fully absorbing in every way possible. --Danny Baldwin (BucketReviews.com)
Funny, thrilling and, yes, somewhat enchanting, Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban is widely regarded as the best book of JK Rowling's phenomenally successful series. It is certainly the best film. --Nev Pierce (BBC Films)
The film is never boring and always involving and where it does not capture the entire vast world of Harry Potter it catches near all it needs to for the film. So, see the first two, see the third and enjoy them all. The third just may be the best yet. A---Samuel Tolliver (MovieJustice)
There hasn't been a truly great "Harry Potter" movie yet, but this is a step in the right direction. --Kevin N. Laforest (Montreal Film Journal)
The third Harry Potter movie is the best yet, seemingly less dependent than its predecessors on cinematic gadgetry, and stronger in conveying its characters and story. 84/100--Brian Webster (Apollo Guide)
As a laymen who has not read any of the Harry Potter novels, as someone who didn't particularly care for either of the two previous movies, I can safely say that the third part of this children's series is certainly the most accomplished in terms of its look and atmosphere, but also the lamest in terms of its story, development and conclusion. 5/10--'JoBlo' (JoBlo.com)
|
|
Movie Database
In Theaters
