Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban sees the franchise start to take a darker turn. This is often a very underrated film within the series, however, it is one of the strongest movies of the lot and it is jam-packed with hidden details and Easter Eggs that many fans end up missing.
The film is full of amazing moments, from Lupin’s first appearance and the teases beginning for Lord Voldemorts official return, there’s a lot going on. Because of that, it is very easy to see why many of these moments have slipped through the cracks.
Whether it be fun hidden details or accidental moments that weren’t meant to be shown, the film is full of secrets. Within this list, we will Accio the hidden details that you didn’t know about the third installment into the Harry Potter world.
Professor Trelawney’s Prediction
Professor Trelawney is one of the Hogwarts teachers that rarely appears in the movies. However, when she does the movies showcase her to be slightly crazy and someone who isn’t great at nailing her predictions. Yet, during Prisoner Of Azkaban, she gets one absolutely spot on.
In the film, she tells Harry that the dark lord (Voldemort) will rise again and while it takes another movie to happen, she’s correct. She also says that a servant who has been changed for 12 years will help, which turns out to be right as well. Peter Pettigrew has been Ron’s rat for that length of time, and he plays a key role in making Voldemort rise once more.
The Punch
One of the most epic, non-magical moments from Prisoner Of Azkaban comes when Hermione Granger ends up nailing Draco Malfoy straight in the face with a mean punch. The moment looks incredibly realistic, and that’s because it was!
This was originally meant to be a slap in the face, but director, Alfonso Cuaron decided to change it to a punch and didn’t let Tom Felton know. In the end, Hermione smashed Draco in the face, legitimately. While it was likely an accident on her part, it still was a real punch in the face, which is likely why this moment looks so great.
Fat Suit
Something else that many people aren’t aware of from Prisoner Of Azkaban is that Harry Melling, who played Dudley Dursley had to wear a fat suit. Throughout the filming of his scenes, he had to add the suit underneath his costume in order to make sure he looked the part.
Melling had actually lost a lot of weight in between the second a third movie, which meant that the makeup team had to work hard in order to make things seem consistent. Facial prosthetics and a fat suit ensured that he looked as consistent as possible in comparison to the previous movies.
The Chocolate
Throughout Prisoner Of Azkaban, Professor Lupin can be seen munching on some chocolate. He gives it to Harry Potter in their first meeting after he is attacked by a dementor as a way of calming him down. He does this again later in the film and seemingly always has some on his person.
This is because Lupin is addicted to chocolate and this was done to show him doing everything to stop the werewolf coming out to play. The reason for this is that chocolate is toxic to dogs and therefore constantly eating it was his hope to make sure that he didn’t turn as often.
Honoring J.K. Rowling’s Family
A memorable scene from Prisoner Of Azkaban is, of course, the Knight bus. The scene is a tremendous one that has some terrific CGI, but what a lot of people don’t know is why the driver and conductor are named Ernest and Stanley.
Well, these aren’t just random names plucked out of a hat. Instead, they pay homage to J.K. Rowling’s family, with the names being Rowling’s maternal and paternal grandfathers, Ernie Rowling and Stanley Volant. It’s a subtle nod that many people won’t have known, but it is a nice way for Rowling to give back to her family and honor them.
Stephen Hawking
This is a two-for-one, as this one scene features not just one, but two hidden details that many people have missed. Taking place inside the Leaky Cauldron, you can see a wizard mixing his drink while reading a book. It is a quick scene that cuts past him, seemingly unimportant.
However, take a look at the book being read. It is actually a book by none other than Stephen Hawking! On top of that, the person who is playing the wizard is a hidden detail as well. The man acting is known as Ian Brown, who is the lead singer of the rock band, Stone Roses.
Microphone Mistakes
While no film is perfect, mistakes such as the microphone packs being visible are not often spotted in major franchises like Harry Potter. However, in this movie that is exactly what happens with Hermione and Harry when they use the Time Turner to go back and save Buckbeak.
It is something most people, thankfully, miss. But the packs are visible as they bulge out the back of their shirts, which is especially noticeable when they are creeping around the pumpkin patch in Hagrid’s garden trying to untie the creature.
Buckbeak Poo
Buckbeak plays a major role within this movie, but there are still things about the CGI creature that fans have missed. One of those is the fact that the Hippogriff actually takes a poo during the movie, something that they actively added to the film.
The moment happens just before Buckbeak heads towards Harry during the lesson and because most people are watching for what might go down between them, they miss it. The reason for this was simply because the writers wanted to make Buckbeak feel as realistic as possible, and this is the way they achieved it.
End Credits Scene
While this isn’t exactly an MCU level of end credits scene, it is a cheeky moment that most fans will have missed. After all, when the credits begin to roll, most people head out of the cinema and don’t see the details that are often added into the final moments of the film.
In Prisoner Of Azkaban, the movies end credits utilize the Marauders Map, following footsteps of different people to reveal who was in the film. However, one cheeky moment sees two sets of footprints very close together in a hidden corner… with this being a wink to the adults watching about what might be happening.
Newt Scamander
Speaking of the Marauders Map, the cheeky end credits scene isn’t the only hidden detail fans missed from the movie. Earlier in the film when Harry Potter opens up the map lots of different people can be seen roaming around Hogwarts.
While he focuses on an interesting name that he thought was dead, there is another name that should catch Potterheads eyes. That is Newt Scamander, who appears to be in Hogwarts. Of course, now Fantastic Beasts has been made, fans are aware of who he is more and the fact he is friends with Albus Dumbledore, but it is fun that they put him in during the original series.
