Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

What’s it about?

Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts for their third year of study but soon uncover that a dangerous prisoner has escaped Azkaban prison, one who poses a dangerous threat to young Harry.

The facts

• Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
• Starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)
• English, Latin, and Old English languages
• Runtime: 141 minutes
• Film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by J. K. Rowling
• The third film in the series of eight films adapted from the novels

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Scary scenes

This film is the point in the series where it shifts from being child-friendly to a more foreboding and darker series of films more appropriate for older viewers, despite them still having light and humorous moments.

The dementors are flying, cloaked, skeletal spirits with shrieking voices that suck the souls from their victims. Their appearances are frightening and are one of the scariest elements to the Harry Potter series.

A man transforms into a werewolf, showing his backbone protruding, and his feet and face transforming. When the werewolves are fighting their appearances are likely to scary some viewers.

Young wizards must face their greatest fears in a class assignment. We see a giant spider, a clown, and a dementor.

Violence

A boy is dragged down under a spooky tree, and his leg is broken. Later he is worried it will have to be amputated.

We see an execution scene of a kind animal from the perspective of a group of kids on the top of a hill. We do not see the actual killing, but we see the axe swing and birds fly away. Though the scene is sad, it is later revealed that the victim was saved.

The plot of the movie surrounds a supposed serial killer who has escaped prison and is said to be coming after a boy to kill him.

When content stays with you:

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters

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