Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
Third Harry Potter film, shifting franchise tone.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban hit theaters in 2004 as the third movie in the Harry Potter series, following *Chamber of Secrets* from two years earlier. Alfonso Cuarón directed it, working from a script by Steve Kloves, and the story came from J. K. Rowling's 1999 novel of the same name. The plot centers on Harry's third year at Hogwarts, where he tries to learn the truth about his past—specifically, how Sirius Black, a prisoner who just escaped from Azkaban, is connected to Harry and his dead parents.
This film marked a shift for the franchise: production stretched to eighteen months instead of the previous shorter cycles. Cuarón got the director job after Warner Bros. considered other candidates like Callie Khouri and Kenneth Branagh. Most of the regular cast returned, but several new actors joined: Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, and Emma Thompson. It was also the first time Michael Gambon played Albus Dumbledore, taking over after Richard Harris passed away in 2002. Filming started in February 2003 at Leavesden Film Studios. Unlike earlier movies, this one made heavy use of real locations, with sets built in Scotland and scenes shot in London. Principal photography wrapped up in November 2003.
The movie came out on May 31, 2004, in the UK and June 4, 2004, in North America, distributed by Warner Bros. It was the first Harry Potter film released in IMAX format. At the box office, it earned about $808 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2004, just behind *Shrek 2*. Critics widely praised it, especially for the cinematography and Cuarón's direction, and many credit it with changing the overall tone of the series. It got two Academy Award nominations at the 77th Oscars: Best Original Music Score and Best Visual Effects. The next installment, *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*, followed in 2005.
**Plot**
Harry's summer with the Dursleys takes a bad turn when Vernon's sister Marge insults his parents. Enraged, Harry accidentally inflates her and sends her floating away. Fearing expulsion for using magic outside school, he runs off, but the Knight Bus picks him up and drops him at the Leaky Cauldron. There, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge tells Harry he won't be punished. When he meets up with Ron and Hermione, he learns that Sirius Black—an alleged supporter of Voldemort—has escaped Azkaban and is su
- release_date
- 31 May 2004 (UK); 4 June 2004 (North America)
- director
- Alfonso Cuarón
- screenplay_by
- Steve Kloves
- based_on
- 1999 novel by J. K. Rowling
- production_company
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- box_office
- $808 million worldwide
- academy_award_nominations
- 2 (Best Original Music Score, Best Visual Effects)
Lore & Background
With this film, the Harry Potter series switched to a longer eighteen-month production cycle. Cuarón was selected as director from a list that included Callie Khouri and Kenneth Branagh. The cast of previous films returned, with additions including Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, and Emma Thompson. It was the first appearance of Michael Gambon as Professor Albus Dumbledore, due to Richard Harris's death in 2002. Principal photography began in February 2003 at Leavesden Film Studios, and it was the first in the series to extensively use real-life locations, with sets built in Scotland and scenes shot in London. Filming wrapped in November 2003.
Reader's Guide
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was the first Harry Potter film to use IMAX Technology and was released in IMAX theaters. It grossed a total of $808 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2004, behind Shrek 2. The film received widespread acclaim from critics, with particular praise for the cinematography and Cuarón's direction; it has been credited with shifting the tone of the franchise. It was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best Original Music Score and Best Visual Effects, at the 77th Academy Awards in 2004. The film was followed by Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005.
Did You Know?
- Michael Gambon replaced Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore after Harris's death in 2002.
- Gary Oldman accepted the role of Sirius Black because he needed the money, having taken no major work for several years.
- The film was the first in the series to use IMAX Technology.
- Principal photography began in February 2003 and wrapped in November 2003.
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