Main PS/SS CoS GoF OotP HBP DH1 DH2
Thirteen-year-old Harry Potter 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, 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, has escaped Askaban prison and is believed to be searching for Harry. Legend has it that Black was responsible for leading Lord Voldemort to Harry’s parents and ultimately to their subsequent deaths; it is also believed that he is determined to kill Harry too.
– Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD synopsis
- Alfonso Cuarón Reflects on “Prisoner of Azkaban” 20 Years Later - We could all use a friend like Guillermo del Toro.
- Gary Oldman Clarifies Comments About “Mediocre” Portrayal of Sirius Black - Stating he is “hypercritical” of his acting, Gary Oldman has addressed his previous comments that he would have played Sirius differently had he known his fate.
- “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” Returns to UK Theaters for 20th Anniversary - Cinemas across the UK are celebrating the release of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" with special anniversary screenings.
Africa
Egypt – June 3, 2004
South Africa – June 11, 2004
Asia
Bahrain – June 9, 3004
China – September 10, 2004
Hong Kong – July 8, 2004
India – June 4, 2004
Indonesia – June 16, 2004
Israel – June 17, 2004
Japan – June 26, 2004
Kazakhstan – June 4, 2004
Kuwait – June 16, 2004
Malaysia – June 3, 2004
Philippines – June 2, 2004
Singapore – June 4, 2004
South Korea – July 16, 2004
Taiwan – June 4, 2004
Thailand – June 2, 2004
Turkey – June 4, 2004
United Arab Emirates – June 9, 2004
Europe
Austria – June 4, 2004
Belgium – June 2, 2004
Bulgaria – June 18, 2004
Czech Republic – June 10, 2004
Denmark – June 11, 2004
Estonia – June 11, 2004
Finland – August 4, 2004
France – June 2, 2004
Germany – June 3, 2004
Greece – September 8, 2004
Hungary – June 10, 2004
Iceland – June 4, 2004
Ireland – May 31, 2004
Italy – June 4, 2004
Lithuania – June 1, 2004
Netherlands – June 2, 2004
Norway – June 11, 2004
Poland – June 4, 2004
Portugal – July 29, 2004
Romania – June 18, 2004
Russia – June 4, 2004
Slovakia – June 17, 2004
Slovenia – June 17, 2004
Spain – June 18, 2004
Sweden – June 9, 2004
Switzerland (French) – June 2, 2004
Switzerland (German) – June 3, 2004
Switzerland (Italian) – June 4, 2004
Ukraine – June 4, 2004
United Kingdom – May 31, 2004
North America
Canada – June 4, 2004
Mexico – June 4, 2004
Panama – July 23, 2004
United States (New York World Premiere) – May 23, 2004
United States – June 4, 2004
Oceania
Australia – June 10, 2004
New Zealand – June 10, 2004
South America
Argentina – June 3, 2004
Brazil – June 4, 2004
Colombia – June 11, 2004
Peru – June 3, 2004
Uruguay – June 11, 2004
"HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN review" - Ain't It Cool News | May 23, 2004
"Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)" - By Nev Pierce | BBC | June 3, 2004
"Dark Magic" - By Wesley Morris | The Boston Globe | June 4, 2004
"HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN" - By Roger Ebert | Chicago Sun-Times | June 3, 2004
"The trouble with Harry" - By Joshua Tyler | Cinema Blend
"Review: 'Azkaban' top of the Potters" - By Paul Clinton | CNN | June 4, 2004
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By Scott Chitwood | ComingSoon.net | June 1, 2004
"Review: “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”" - By Garth Franklin | Dark Horizons | June 4, 2004
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Review" - By Colin Kennedy | Empire
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By Peter Bradshaw | The Guardian | May 28, 2004
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By Amy Biancolli | Houston Chronicle | June 4, 2004
"HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN" - By Andrea Chase | Killer Movie
"FILM REVIEW; An Adolescent Wizard Meets A Grown-Up Moviemaker" - By A.O. Scott | The New York Times | June 3, 2004
"Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - NY Movie Reviews
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By Peter Travers | Rolling Stone | May 27, 2004
"HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN" - By Ross Anthony | Ross Anthony's Hollywood Report Card
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By Stephanie Zacharek | Salon | June 3, 2004
"It had to happen. Harry Potter's growing up. His magic is maturing. His third film is darker, more complex, rooted in character." - By Mick LaSalle | San Francisco Chronicle | June 4, 2004
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - By David Gritten | The Telegraph | May 2004
"When Harry Met Sirius" - By Richard Corliss | TIME | May 30, 2004
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" - Time Out
"'Azkaban' wizard Cuaron casts an artful spell" - By Claudia Puig | USA Today | June 3, 2004
"Dirty Harry" - By Michael Atkinson | The Village Voice | May 25, 2004
"Cuaron's Magic Touch" - By Nicole Arthur | The Washington Post | June 4, 2004
"Harry-Raising Adventure" - By Ann Homaday | The Washington Post | June 4, 2004
"This my friends, is what a Harry Potter film is supposed to look like." - Wolfpack Productions | May 23, 2004
Awards Won
AFI Awards
Special Award
Won along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
Art Directors Guild
Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award
David Heyman, David Barron, David Yates, Chris Columbus, Mike Newell, Alfonso Cuarón, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, Michael Goldenberg, Stuart Craig, Neil Lamont, Stephenie McMillan
Won along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Visual Effects - 2nd Place
British Academy Children's Awards
Best Feature Film
David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Alfonso Cuarón
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards
Film of the Year - Audience Award
Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema
Won along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
BMI Film & TV Awards
BMI Film Music Award
John Williams
Empire Awards
Special Award - The "Harry Potter" films for outstanding contribution to British cinema
Won along with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Golden Trailer Awards
Best Animation/Family
(For "Teaser #2")
Hollywood Film Awards
Production Designer of the Year
Stuart Craig
National Board of Review Awards, USA
Special Achievement in Filmmaking
David Heyman (For "The Harry Potter Franchise - A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film")
Won along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
NRJ Ciné Awards
Top of the Box Office
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
Best Live Action Family Film
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Movie - Drama/Action Adventure
Visual Effects Society Awards
Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live Action Motion Picture
Mike Eames, David Lomax, Felix Balbas, Pablo Grillo (For "Hippogriff Character")
Outstanding Visual Effects in an Effects Driven Motion Picture
Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, Theresa Corrao, Emma Norton
World Soundtrack Awards
Public Choice Award
John Williams
Nominations
Academy Awards
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
John Williams
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Tim Burke, Roger Guyett, Bill George, John Richardson
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
Best Costumes
Jany Temime
Best Director
Alfonso Cuarón
Best Fantasy Film
Best Make-Up
Nick Dudman, Amanda Knight
Best Music
John Williams
Best Performance by a Younger Actor
Daniel Radcliffe
Best Special Effects
Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, Bill George, John Richardson
Best Supporting Actor
Gary Oldman
Best Writer
Steve Kloves
Amanda Awards
Best Foreign Feature Film
Alfonso Cuarón
British Academy Children's Awards
Kids' Vote
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards
Alexander Korda Award for the Outstanding British Film of the Year
David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Alfonso Cuarón
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects
John Richardson, Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, Bill George, Karl Mooney
Best Make-Up and Hair
Amanda Knight, Eithne Fennel, Nick Dudman
Best Production Design
Stuart Craig
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Best Family Film (Live Action)
Best Young Actor
Daniel Radcliffe
Best Young Actress
Emma Watson
Favorite Film Franchise
Nominated along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
Golden Trailer Awards
Best Music
Warner Bros., Mojo (For "Dark")
Best of Show
Warner Bros., Mojo
Summer 2004 Blockbuster
Grammy Awards
Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
John Williams
Hugo Awards
Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form
Alfonso Cuarón (director), Steve Kloves (written by), J.K. Rowling (based on the novel by)
International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Awards
Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction Film
John Williams
Italian Online Movie Awards (IOMA)
Best Visual Effects
Motion Picture Sound Editors
Best Sound Editing in Foreign Features
David Evans (supervising sound editor), Richard Beggs (sound designer), Derek Trigg (supervising foley editor), Andy Kennedy (sound effects editor), Jon Olive (sound effects editor), Bjorn Ole Schroeder (sound effects editor), Sam Southwick (sound effects editor), Stefan Henrix (dialogue editor), Tony Currie (adr editor), Nick Lowe (adr editor), Stuart Morton (foley editor)
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
Favorite Movie
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Best Official Film Website
Best Visual Effects
Tim Burke, Roger Guyett, Bill George, John Richardson
Best Youth Performance
Emma Watson
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Movie Fan Following
Nominated along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
Favorite Movie Villain
Sirius Black (Gary Oldman)
Favorite Sequel
Satellite Awards
Best DVD Extras
(For "Harry Potter Years 1-4")
Nominated along withHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Best Youth DVD
(For "Harry Potter: The Complete 8 Film Collection")
Nominated along with the rest of the Harry Potter films.
Teen Choice Awards
Choice Movie of the Summer
Visual Effects Society Awards
Best Single Visual Effect of the Year
Bill George, David Andrews, Sandra Scott, Dorne Huebler (For "Dementor Train")
Outstanding Compositing in a Motion Picture
Dorne Huebler, Jay Cooper, Patrick Brennan, Anthony Shafer (For "Azkaban Guards Attack")
Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Motion Picture
José Granell, Nigel Stone
World Soundtrack Awards
Best Original Soundtrack of the Year
John Williams
Soundtrack Composer of the Year
John Williams
- Steven Spielberg was rumoured to be directing this movie.
- Director Chris Columbus opted out of directing the third installment, citing that he missed his family and wanted to spend more time with them. He says he is very open to the idea of directing the fourth Potter film.
- Other directors reportedly considered for this installment of the Harry Potter series included Callie Khouri and Kenneth Branagh.
- After the death of Richard Harris, many actors were considered for the vacant role of Albus Dumbledore. Christopher Lee was in the frame for a while, and there was a rumour (reported in many newspapers) that Sir Ian McKellen was also considered. Sir Michael Gambon finally got the role.
- Filming was halted in December 2002 following a huge fire on the set.
- Ewan McGregor was considered for the role of Professor Lupin.
- The effects team spent six months creating the Dementors.
- Honeydukes "is floor-to-ceiling psychedelia" and includes Mexican skulls made of sugar. The cast was told that the Honeydukes candy was lacquer-coated, when in fact it wasn't, to prevent candy from disappearing between takes.
- Illusionist Paul Kieve served as a consultant. He taught magic to several members of the cast including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson (Harry and Hermione) and worked extensively to create physical magical effects. He is the first illusionist to have worked on any of the series of films. He is also to make a cameo appearance in the film in a scene in the Three Broomsticks pub.
- During filming, the Hogwarts Express was vandalized (graffiti) which halted filming.
- The set for Honeydukes was previously been used for Ollivander's Wand Shop in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001).
- The film was offered to director Guillermo del Toro but he opted to do Hellboy (2004) instead.
- Emma Thompson accepted the role of Professor Trelawney to impress her four year old daughter, Gaia.
Information courtesy of IMDb.
