One of the highest-rated Harry Potter films is making a big return to UK cinemas to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Can you believe it’s been two whole decades since Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released to the world?
Well, whether it’s something you can wrap your head around it or not, the beloved film – which is the third instalment in the Harry Potter franchise, which is arguably, one of the most famous film franchises of all time – officially hit cinemas on 23 May 2004… and then, from that date onwards, the rest is history, as they say.
Starring Daniel Radcliffe as the title character, alongside Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, as well as a hugely-star-studded wider supporting cast, the movie went on to gross a whopping $804 million worldwide, and has not only earned its place in fans’, but was also widely-praised by critics at the time.
One of the highest-rated Harry Potter films is returning to UK cinemas for its 20th anniversary / Credit: Warners Bros.
In fact, according to critic websites such as Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and Metacritic, it’s actually one of the best-rated films in the franchise.
ADVERTISEMENT
And now, to celebrate this impressive 20-year milestone, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is making a return to UK cinemas from the end of this month, and this means you’ll be able to rally together your fellow Potterheads and head to your nearest screen to immersive yourself in all the nostalgia.
A synopsis for the beloved blockbuster – which is based on the 1999 novel of the same name, and was directed by acclaimed director, Alfonso Cuaron – explains: “Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of 13, particularly since he has survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion.
ADVERTISEMENT
“But, his hopes for a quiet school term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison.
“It’s assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be.. but is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark? And should he be taking Professor Trelawney’s ghoulish predictions seriously?”
The beloved film will hit cinemas nationwide from the end of this month / Credit: Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
Several cinema chains will be showing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban at a whole host of sites across Greater Manchester from the 31 May onwards.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vue, Odeon, Cineworld, and Everyman Cinemas are just a few of the participating companies.
Fancy it then? If you’re a big Harry Potter fan and are keen to reminisce on an important film from your younger years, then tickets to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in UK cinemas are now on sale.
You can book tickets to a screening online from your chosen participating cinema.
Featured Image – Warner Bros.
Trending
Jet2 launches new ‘once in a lifetime’ winter package holidays to Iceland from Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Jet2 has just unveiled details of its new “once in a lifetime” trips to Iceland direct from Manchester next winter.
It’s no secret that Iceland is a country which commonly features on bucket list, and now, with holidaymakers already flocking in their thousands to book flights to this stunning Nordic destination for next winter, the UK’s largest operator of city breaks to Europe has just launched its biggest-ever Iceland programme.
Jet2 says this new Winter 2025/26 programme offers customers and independent travel agents an “unrivalled choice of departure points”, as it covers all 12 of its UK airport bases – including Manchester Airport.
More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UK between October 2025 and April 2026, and there’ll be whopping 34,000 tickets to grab.
Jet2 has launched new ‘once in a lifetime’ winter package holidays to Iceland direct from Manchester / Credit: Nicolas J Leclrercq | Tom Podmore (via Unsplash)
The programme’s run dates means trips are available at several key periods during winter 2025 and 2026, including over the October and February half terms, the Easter holidays, and even in the exciting countdown to Christmas too.
Scheduled Monday and Thursday services operating from Manchester Airport throughout the season will run from 2 October to 8 December 2025, and 29 January to 27 April 2026.
As well as providing customers with “plenty of flexibility” when it comes to which month or period they want to travel, Jet2 says the flights are also “perfectly timed” for those are keen to get a chance at witnessing the spectacular Northern Lights in all their glory.
More than 170 outbound flights will run across the UK between October 2025 and April 2026 / Credit: Suhyeon Choi (via Unsplash)
Customers can pick from flight-only or package holiday options within Jet2’s newly-launched Winter 2025/26 programme.
Package options with Jet2CityBreaks direct from Manchester to Keflavík International Airport, near Reykjavik, include a guided Northern Lights Tour, flights with Jet2.com, 22kg hold luggage, transfers to and from the airport, and a choice of 3 and 4-star hotels in central Reykjavik, all for a deposit as little as £60 per person.
On top of this, you can also add a choice of excursions to the South Shore, Golden Circle, and Blue Lagoon to your package.
First trailer released for gritty new BBC thriller series set in Lancashire
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a gritty new BBC thriller series set in Lancashire has been released ahead of its airing later this month.
The North West is set to be the star of the TV screen once again in a couple of weeks time, as the BBC has now released the first trailer for a brand-new – and very highly-anticipated – crime drama series called The Jetty, after already unveiling the first-look image and teasing some details of the premise earlier this year.
Set in a Lancashire seaside town, and starring local actress Jenna Coleman, The Jetty is described as being as much of a coming-of-age story as it is a detective thriller, and is set to ask the big questions “in the places that Me Too left behind”.
There’ll be questions about sexual morality, identity, and memory.
What if finding out the truth will destroy your life?
The first trailer for #TheJetty – starring Jenna Coleman as Detective Ember Manning – is here!
A synopsis for the four-part series on the BBC website reads: “A fire tears through a holiday home in a scenic Lancashire lake town, and Detective Ember Manning must work out how it connects to a podcast journalist investigating a missing persons cold case, and an illicit ‘love’ triangle between a man in his twenties and two underage girls.
“But as Ember gets close to the truth, it threatens to destroy her life and forces her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her past, present, and the town she’s always called home.”
The first trailer has been released for a gritty new BBC thriller series set in Lancashire / Credit: BBC / Ben Blackall
Blackpool-born actress Coleman stars as rookie detective Ember Manning, alongside Archie Renaux, Tom Glynn-Carney, Laura Marcus, Bo Bragason, Amelia Bullmore, Ruby Stokes, Weruche Opia, Matthew McNulty, Ralph Ineson, and more, all in supporting roles.
Speaking ahead of the new show airing in a couple of weeks time, the 38-year-old actress, who is probably best-known for her roles in Doctor Who, Victoria, Waterloo Road, commented: “Working with the BBC and Firebird Pictures on bringing the complex and enigmatic character of Ember Manning to life has been an incredible experience.
“I can’t wait for everyone to meet this new heroine, and to find out what’s lurking beneath the surface of The Jetty.”
Emily Sergeant -
28th May 2024 
