Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a 2004 fantasy film[1] directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the third instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by Chris Columbus, David Heyman and Mark Radcliffe. The story follows Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts as he is informed that a prisoner named Sirius Black has escaped from Azkabanand wants to murder him. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and is followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

The film was released on 31 May 2004 in the United Kingdom and on 4 June 2004 in North America, as the first Harry Potter film released into IMAXtheatres and to be using IMAX Technology. It is also the last Harry Potter film to be released on VHS as well as the last film until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to be rated PG in North America. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards—Original Music Score and Visual Effects—at the 77th Academy Awards in 2005.

While Prisoner of Azkaban grossed a total of $796.6 million worldwide,[1] its performance at the box office ranks as the lowest amongst the eight films. Nonetheless, it currently stands as the 36th highest-grossing film of all-time.

Cast

• Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter
• Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend.
• Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend and the brains of the trio.

• Julie Christie as Madam Rosmerta, the landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub in the village of Hogsmeade.
• Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper and the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher.
• Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Headmaster. Gambon assumed the role after Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the previous two films, died on 25 October 2002.[2] Despite his illness, Harris was determined to film his part, telling a visiting David Heyman not to recast the role.[3] Four months after Harris's death, Cuarón chose Gambon as his replacement.[3][4] Gambon was unconcerned with bettering or copying Harris, instead giving his own interpretation, putting on a slight Irish accent for the role,[5] as well as completing his scenes in three weeks.[6] Rumours of Ian McKellen being offered the role started to spread, but when confronted, he turned the rumours down, stating that he has played a similar character inGandalf of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He also stated it would have been inappropriate to take Harris' role, as the late actor had called McKellen a "dreadful" actor.[7][8] Harris's family had expressed an interest in seeing Harris's close friend Peter O'Toole being chosen as his replacement.[9]
• Richard Griffiths as Vernon Dursley, Harry's Muggle uncle.
• Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, an escapee from the Wizarding prison Azkaban and Harry's godfather. Oldman accepted the part because he needed the money, as he had not taken on any major work in several years as he had decided to spend more time with his children.[10] He drew inspiration from Cuarón, whom he described as having "such enthusiasm and a joy for life,"[11]and compared Sirius to John Lennon.[10] He was "surprised by how difficult it was to pull off", comparing the role to Shakespearean dialogue.[11] Oldman suggested Sirius's hairstyle, while Cuarón designed his tattoos.[11] He had read the first book, and his children were fans of the series. The part made Oldman a hero with his children and their schoolmates.[5]
• Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, the Potions master at Hogwarts.
• Fiona Shaw as Petunia Dursley, Harry's Muggle aunt.
• Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts.
• Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew, a friend of Harry's parents said to have been killed by Sirius Black.
• David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. Thewlis, who had previously auditioned for the role of Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was Cuarón's first choice for the role of Lupin. He accepted the role on advice from Ian Hart, the man who was cast as Quirrell, who told him that Lupin was "the best part in the book."[12] Cuarón told Thewlis that he thought Lupin was gay, pitching him as a "gay junkie", although his idea turned out to be incorrect.[13] Thewlis had seen the first two films and had only read part of the first book, although after taking the role he read the third. He was excited about the prospect of making a children's film, and thoroughly enjoyed filming.[5]
• Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, the Divination teacher at Hogwarts.
• Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, the Weasley matriarch and a mother figure to Harry.