Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2004142 minutesPG

5.4

Arcplot Score

📝 Unconventional

Unverified

⭐ 7.9IMDb

🍅 91%Rotten Tomatoes

Ⓜ️ 82/100Metacritic

🎬 8.0TMDb

📊 18.6Popularity

🏆Nominated for 2 Oscars. 17 wins & 56 nominations total

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is having a tough time with his relatives (yet again). He runs away after using magic to inflate Uncle Vernon's (Richard Griffiths') sister Marge (Pam Ferris), who was being offensive towards Harry's parents. Initially scared for using magic outside the school, he is pleasantly surprised that he won't be penalized after all. However, he soon learns that a dangerous criminal and Voldemort's trusted aide Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban Prison and wants to kill Harry to avenge the Dark Lord. To worsen the conditions for Harry, vile creatures called Dementors are appointed to guard the school gates and inexplicably happen to have the most horrible effect on him. Little does Harry know that by the end of this year, many holes in his past (whatever he knows of it) will be filled up and he will have a clearer vision of what the future has in store.

Box Office

Budget:$130.0M

Revenue:$789.8M

Profit:$659.8M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision3.8/10

Emotional Arc Impact7.5/10

Thematic Consistency5/10

Overall Score5.4/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Arcplot

Opening Image

1 min

Theme Stated

12 min

Set-Up

25 min

Catalyst

38 min

Debate

50 min

Break Into Two

65 min

B Story

75 min

Fun and Games

85 min

Midpoint

100 min

Bad Guys Close In

115 min

All Is Lost

128 min

Dark Night of the Soul

135 min

Break Into Three

138 min

Finale

140 min

Final Image

142 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

Opening Image

1 min

Harry at the Dursleys, miserable and fearful; foreboding of new threat.

Theme Stated

12 min

Dementors introduced: fear, past trauma, and courage under pressure theme.

Set-Up

25 min

Return to Hogwarts; classes, new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; Sirius Black escape awareness.

Catalyst

38 min

Harry learns Sirius is after him; heightened tension and danger.

Debate

50 min

Should Harry confront threat or wait? Trust allies or act alone? Moral and strategic dilemma.

Break Into Two

65 min

Hogwarts adventures, clues about Black, time-travel hints, and discovering truth about past events.

B Story

75 min

Friendship with Ron and Hermione grows; emotional stakes deepen. Harry’s empathy and courage tested.

Fun and Games

85 min

Magical escapades: Buckbeak rescue, Quidditch, exploring castle, dealing with magical mischief and intrigue.

Midpoint

100 min

Time-travel sequence reveals truth: Peter Pettigrew alive, Black innocent. Stakes and perspective shift dramatically.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

115 min

Confrontation with Black and Pettigrew; danger and tension peak; lives at risk.

#11

All Is Lost

128 min

Black captured, Harry and friends threatened; seems like failure is inevitable.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

135 min

Harry reflects on past, responsibility, and power of choices; emotional insight deepens.

#13

Break Into Three

138 min

Time-travel intervention resolves imminent threat; allies and cleverness key to solution.

#14

Finale

140 min

Black freed, Pettigrew exposed; friends safe; justice and resolution achieved.

#15

Final Image

142 min

Harry looks out from Hogwarts grounds, stronger, wiser, and more confident; ready for future challenges.