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

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Even popular movies like ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ have small mistakes that viewers sometimes notice. These can be things like objects changing position or slight differences in costumes. Once you’re familiar with the film, these continuity errors become more obvious when you watch it again. Here are ten on-screen mistakes that fans have pointed out in the third Harry Potter movie.

The chocolate bar that keeps changing size

Following the frightening encounter with the Dementor on the train, Lupin gives Harry a chocolate bar. If you watch closely, you’ll notice a continuity error: the chocolate bar seems to change size between shots. Sometimes it looks almost full, and then suddenly much shorter, as if someone took a bite. The wrapper also shifts position. Keen viewers can spot the prop being reset to a larger piece several times during the scene.

Hermione’s hair toggles between takes

Throughout the movie, Hermione’s hair seems to change on its own. Sometimes it’s neatly behind her ear, and then suddenly it’s falling forward over her shoulder. This happens in scenes like classroom shots and when Harry, Ron, and Hermione leave Hagrid’s hut, and there’s no clear reason for the shifts in how it’s styled.

Ties and sweaters swap in class

As a huge fan, I’ve noticed something funny when the characters are inside Hogwarts. Their outfits aren’t always consistent from shot to shot! Like, Harry might be wearing a tie in one moment, but then a sweater seems to magically appear over it the next. And it’s not just the sweaters – the way their collars look and even the size of their tie knots seem to change between lines. You can *really* spot it during the Defense Against the Dark Arts scenes – it’s pretty noticeable!

Hagrid’s hut window breaks twice

Okay, so there’s this really subtle detail during the scene where they’re about to execute Buckbeak. It centers around the window in Hagrid’s hut. The filmmakers show the scene twice, and I noticed something odd. The first time you see it, everything’s normal – a jar is on the windowsill, the glass is whole. But when the scene replays after the stone is thrown, it’s not *quite* the same. The broken glass and even little things on the table are moved around slightly *before* the stone even hits. It’s a small thing, but it really struck me as a clever way to show the timeline being altered – it’s not a perfect reset, and those tiny shifts are a visual clue.

Buckbeak’s collar and chain position move

When Buckbeak is chained up near the pumpkins, the way the chain and collar are fastened isn’t consistent. From far away, it looks secure, but in closer shots, it appears loose and connected differently. The leather strap also seems to shift position on his neck, almost as if it’s been moved around during editing.

The pumpkin levels around the hut jump

While the three characters are hiding near the pumpkins, the arrangement keeps changing. A big pumpkin disappears from one shot to the next, and a smaller one seems to move closer to the path. Even the direction of the pumpkin stems isn’t consistent – they change after each camera angle. It’s like the pumpkins are being subtly reset between shots.

The invisibility cloak reveals and hides at random

The invisibility cloak doesn’t always work perfectly in Hogsmeade. Sometimes you can briefly see a hand or shoulder of Harry or Hermione, and then in the next shot, they’re completely hidden. The cloak’s edges also appear to change length between different camera angles. These inconsistencies make their attempts at hiding seem a little shaky.

The Marauder’s Map folds itself

As Harry looks at the Marauder’s Map, its appearance subtly shifts and changes. Folds appear and disappear, and parts that were bent now straighten out. The map seems to reshape itself on its own, even though Harry isn’t touching it.

Wand positions switch mid conversation

As a fan, I’ve noticed something a little odd in some scenes – especially when characters are walking or just hanging out. It’s about their wands! Sometimes a character will be holding a wand in their right hand, but after the camera cuts away and then back, it’s suddenly in their left hand, or even completely gone! It’s pretty clear the props team was resetting things between shots, and the editing just makes it obvious. It’s a small thing, but I’ve definitely spotted it happening a few times.

Footprints and distance at the lake do not match

During the final battle at the lake, the distances between Harry, the trees, and the water seem to change constantly. As the camera angle shifts, footprints in the snow appear, disappear, or move slightly. The landscape itself doesn’t stay consistent – it seems to compress and expand in ways that don’t quite make sense.

If you noticed any errors in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,’ please share them in the comments so we can all discuss them!

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2025-10-18 09:48