Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Release Date and Information

Considered to a fan favourite of the adaptations, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban transforms the young wizard's third year at Hogwarts onto the big screen. Leaving his 'family' behind on Privet Drive to return to his beloved boarding school, Harry Potter's informed that a dangerous wizard Sirius Black has escaped from a wizarding prison and intends to kill him.

Director Chris Columbus of the first two movies handed the reigns over to Alfonso Cuaron and took a behind-the-scenes role as producer. The film marks more changes by including more big name actors into key roles such as Michael Gambon taking over as Dumbledore from the late Richard Harris, and adding David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, Emma Thompson as Sybil Trelawney,  and Gary Oldman as Sirius Black to the cast. Even though the new director had not read the books, Cuaron's sharper and grimmer tone earned critical acclaim as Potter's story in the wizarding world becomes wider and more complicated.

One of the most beloved pieces of trivia for the movie deals with the performances of the leads Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grintm which also received praise from critics. Before filming Cuaron encouraged the leads to write an essay about their characters in a first person point-of-view. Radcliffe turned in a one-page summary, Watson doled out 16 pages, and Grint forgot about the assignment.

Prisoner of Azkaban was released on May 31st, 2004 in the United Kingdom and June 4th, 2004, before going worldwide. It grossed $796.7 million worldwide.

Quotes:

Sirius Black: I expect you're tired of hearing this, but you look so like your father. Except your eyes. You have...
Harry: My mother's eyes.

Dumbledore: For in dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own. Let him swim in the deepest ocean or glide over the highest cloud.

Dumbledore: A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who've forgotten how to listen.

Ron: She's gone mental, Hermione has. I mean, not that she wasn't always mental, but now it's out in the open for everyone to see!

Harry: Expecto Patronum!

Professor Snape: Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight, are we?

Ron: Bloody hell!