Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, widely regarded as a standout entry in the franchise, airs on ITV2 tonight at 7.15pm. The third film in the series, released in 2004, earned nearly £615 million worldwide and received critical acclaim for its darker, more complex tone under director Alfonso Cuarón.
The film marks a turning point for Daniel Radcliffe's character as he enters his third year at Hogwarts, learning that escaped prisoner Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) is allegedly plotting to kill him. Alongside friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Harry embarks on a mission to uncover the truth about his past and his deceased parents.
Notable changes in this installment include Michael Gambon replacing Richard Harris as Professor Albus Dumbledore after Harris's death, and new cast members David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, and Emma Thompson. The film also introduced soul-sucking Dementors and featured real locations in Scotland and London for the first time.
With a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics praised Cuarón's direction for bridging the childlike world of the first two films with the more serious tone of later entries. One critic noted it 'establishes an effective tone' and 'rises to the occasion' as a vital bridge, while another called it 'the best directed film of the series'.
