‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ Mistakes You’ll Never Be Able to Unsee

Even a well loved film like ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ has little slip ups that sharp eyes can catch. From shifting props to wardrobe quirks, a handful of scenes do not line up perfectly when you look closely. These are the kinds of continuity errors that pop out on rewatches once you know where to look. Here are ten on screen goofs that fans often point out during the third trip to Hogwarts.

The chocolate bar that keeps changing size

After the dementor encounter on the train, Lupin hands Harry a chocolate bar. In one shot the bar looks long and almost whole, then in the next it appears shorter as if more has been eaten. The wrapper also sits differently between cuts. Watch the quick exchanges and you can see the prop reset to a larger piece more than once.

Hermione’s hair toggles between takes

Hermione’s hair shifts noticeably within the same scenes. One moment it looks tightly tucked behind her ear and a beat later it falls forward over her shoulder again. You can see this during classroom shots and when the trio leave Hagrid’s hut. The placement changes without any action that would explain it.

Ties and sweaters swap in class

During interior scenes at Hogwarts, the trio’s uniforms do not stay consistent. A character wears a tie in one angle, then a sweater covers the tie in the next. The collar positions and knot sizes also jump around between lines of dialogue. These quick continuity resets are most visible in the Defense Against the Dark Arts moments.

Hagrid’s hut window breaks twice

During the countdown to Buckbeak’s execution, the window at Hagrid’s hut becomes a focal point. In the first timeline you see a jar and panes intact, then later a thrown stone shatters glass as the scene repeats. The arrangement of the objects and shards does not perfectly match between the two passes. Small items on the table shift places even before the stone lands.

Buckbeak’s collar and chain position move

When Buckbeak is restrained near the pumpkin patch, the collar and chain do not stay put. In wide shots the chain looks taut and fastened at one angle, then in closer cuts it hangs looser and connects in a slightly different spot. The leather strap sits higher on the neck in some frames. The hardware seems to relocate between edits.

The pumpkin levels around the hut jump

As the trio hides by the pumpkins, the number and placement of gourds change across shots. A large pumpkin near the steps vanishes in a later angle, while a smaller one appears closer to the path. You can also see stems pointing in different directions after a cut. The set dressing resets as the camera moves.

The invisibility cloak reveals and hides at random

In Hogsmeade, the invisibility cloak coverage is not always consistent. One shot shows Harry’s or Hermione’s hand or shoulder peeking into view, then the very next angle has them fully concealed again. The edges of the cloak fall to different lengths between cuts. These quick toggles make the hiding act look a bit uneven.

The Marauder’s Map folds itself

When Harry studies the Marauder’s Map, the paper changes configuration between angles. A fold sits near the center in one shot, then the same section lies flat in the next. Corners that were tucked under suddenly stick out and the crease pattern alters slightly. The map seems to rearrange without Harry touching it.

Wand positions switch mid conversation

During corridor and common room scenes, wand placement does not stay steady. A character holds a wand in the right hand, and after a cut it rests in the left or disappears into a pocket. When the camera returns, the wand is back in the original hand. The props team clearly reset between takes and the edits reveal it.

Footprints and distance at the lake do not match

At the lakeside Patronus climax, distances shift from shot to shot. The spacing between Harry, the tree line, and the water edge changes as the camera flips angles. Footprints in the snow appear and vanish or sit in slightly different paths when the scene cuts back. The geography compresses and expands in ways that do not track perfectly.

Share the mistakes you spotted in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ in the comments so everyone can compare notes.