A prisoner has escaped from Azkaban — and the wizarding world is convinced he is coming for Harry. Dementors guard every entrance to Hogwarts. A new professor arrives with an unconventional approach to fear and defence. And somewhere beneath the panic about Sirius Black is a truth far more complicated than anyone is letting on.
Releases
Original Release | Jun 4, 2004
2018 Re-release | Sep 2, 2018
2025 Re-release (Fathom Entertainment) | Feb 15, 2025
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a 2004 British-American fantasy film directed by Alfonso Cuarón and written by Steve Kloves, based on J.K. Rowling's 1999 novel of the same name. Daniel Radcliffe returns as Harry Potter for his third year at Hogwarts, alongside Emma Watson as Hermione Granger and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley. Gary Oldman plays Sirius Black, the escaped prisoner whose relationship to Harry becomes the film's central revelation. David Thewlis plays Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor whose connection to Harry's history runs deeper than any student initially understands. Michael Gambon steps into the role of Dumbledore for the first time, with Alan Rickman returning as Snape and Emma Thompson joining as the eccentric Professor Trelawney.Cuarón's approach marked a significant tonal shift for the series — darker, more textured, and less conventionally lit than the first two films, with the Scottish Highlands backdrop made stranger and more threatening. The film is widely regarded as the franchise's creative turning point. It was produced by Warner Bros. with a budget of approximately $130 million and grossed approximately $796 million worldwide. Rated PG and running 2h 22m. Essential viewing for anyone following the series, and frequently cited as its finest entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in the film?
Who directed and wrote the movie?
What is the movie about?
When was it released?
How did the film perform commercially?
Has the film received awards or recognition?
What themes does the film explore?
Fun Facts
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) follows Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) in his third year at Hogwarts, where escaped prisoner Sirius Black (Gary Oldman)—believed to be Voldemort's loyal follower—breaks out of Azkaban to hunt him down.
Harry contends with soul-sucking Dementors, learns Patronus charms from Professor Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), and uncovers family secrets involving his godfather and the traitor Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) via a time-turner twist.
Alfonso Cuarón directs the 142-minute PG fantasy adventure, praised for its darker tone, visual style, and John Williams score, with Rupert Grint (Ron), Emma Watson (Hermione), Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), and Alan Rickman (Snape).