Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Mexican director Alfonso Cuarön (who went on to win Oscars for Gravity and Roma) brings a darker feel to this third instalment in the series, which has boy wizard Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) contending not only with notorious criminal Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), who has escaped from the high-security wizarding prison, Azkaban, but also the difficulties involved with becoming a teenager.

As usual, the film commences with Harry’s enforced confinement during the school holidays in the home of his unfortunate relatives. But before long, he is back at Hogwarts and reunited with friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), and up to their old wizardly tricks.

This time around, however, soul-sucking entities called Dementors – the ghastly prison guards of Azkaban – are stationed around Hogwarts to guard the school, but their presence profoundly affects Harry, forcing him to undergo anti-Dementor training with the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Remus Lupin (David Thewlis).

Using the magical Marauder’s Map and a Time-Turner, Harry and Hermione uncover shocking secrets regarding the night Harry’s parents died, the true nature of Ron’s pet rat Scabbers, and the innocence of Sirius Black.

But there’s still plenty of fun to be had, with ghosts, ghouls and gizmos galore, the most striking being a shape-shifting triple-decker bus.

Emma Thompson and Timothy Spall join the list of cameo stars, while the young leads are all growing into their roles. Michael Gambon steps in to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore for the first time, following the death of original actor Richard Harris.

The film was a massive commercial success, grossing $796.7 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2004 behind Shrek 2. Ironically, despite its incredibly high critical acclaim and lasting legacy as a fan favourite, it remains the lowest-grossing film in the entire Harry Potter franchise.

Harry Potter
Daniel Radcliffe
Ron Weasley
Rupert Grint
Hermione Granger
Emma Watson
Albus Dumbledore
Michael Gambon
Professor Severus Snape
Alan Rickman
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Maggie Smith
Rubeus Hagrid
Robbie Coltrane
Sirius Black
Gary Oldman
Professor Lupin
David Thewlis
Draco Malfoy
Tom Felton
Uncle Vernon
Richard Griffiths
Aunt Marge
Pam Ferris
Aunt Petunia
Fiona Shaw
Dudley Dursley
Harry Melling
James Potter
Adrian Rawlins
Lily Potter
Geraldine Somerville
Peter Pettigrew
Timothy Spall
Stan Shunpike
Lee Ingleby
Professor Sybil Trelawney
Emma Thompson
Cornelius Fudge
Robert Hardy
George Weasley
Oliver Phelps
Fred Weasley
James Phelps
Percy Weasley
Chris Rankin
Mrs Molly Weasley
Julie Walters
Ginny Weasley
Bonnie Wright
Mr Arthur Weasley
Mark Williams
Seamus Finnegan
Devon Murray
Argus Filch
David Bradley
Neville Longbottom
Matthew Lewis
Parvati Patel
Sitara Shah
Lavender Brown
Jennifer Smith
Gregory Goyle
Josh Herdman
Pansy Parkinson
Genevieve Gaunt
Dean Thomas
Alfred Enoch
Sir Cadogan
Paul Whitehouse
Vincent Crabbe
Jamie Waylett
Angelina Johnson
Danielle Tabor
Madame Rosmerta
Julie Christie
Wizard
Warwick Davis
Executioner
Peter Best
Shrunken Head
Lenny Henry
Ernie the Bus Driver
Jimmy Gardner
Tom the Innkeeper
Jim Tavaré

Director
Alfonso Cuarón

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