Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Prisoner of Azkaban skips the backstory of who made the Marauder’s Map, so anyone who never read the book is left squinting at the screen when it suddenly matters. That’s the only real gap in the best movie of the series. Alfonso Cuarón walks in, lets the kids wear normal clothes, and suddenly Hogwarts looks like a real place with real weather. The Dementors drain the color out of every scene they float through. Gary Oldman screams from a moving wanted poster like he’s mad at the printer. Hermione punches Draco, which might be the most satisfying moment of a whole generation’s childhood. And it’s the lowest grossing Potter movie at $811.6 million worldwide, which is the funniest fact in the franchise. The movie.guru score is a 9.0, Elite tier, and I’m matching it. A 9.0 because it’s where the series grew up without losing the fun. $268 says you whisper I solemnly swear at your locked phone before typing the passcode.

What works: Cuarón’s moody, lived-in Hogwarts, the Dementors, the time-travel finale, and the best supporting cast the series ever had.

What doesn’t: It cuts the story of who made the map and why that matters, so the big reveal leans on homework only book readers did.

Who it’s for: Anyone who thinks the Potter movies are just for kids, and fans who want the most rewatchable one.