Alec Baldwin, Candace Dean Brown, Dakota Fanning

Today is a special day for Conrad and Sally Walden--even though they don't think it is. It seems that Sally and Conrad, different as black and white, have pushed their single mom, Joan Walden, to the ...( read more  read more... )limit. Conrad's endless rule breaking has his mom seriously considering military school for her son--an idea planted by her just-this-side-of-smarmy neighbor and suitor, Lawrence Quinn. Sally, tightly wound though well-behaved, has bossed away every friend she has, and divides her time between upbraiding her brother and putting new 'To Do' lists in her junior palm pilot. And all the while their mom is just trying to keep domestic peace while balancing a successful career as a real estate agent for her germophobe boss, Mr. Humberfloob. However, on the Saturday that she is to host her company's party, Joan's preparations have fallen prey to Conrad's shenanigans. Thus, she lays down a mom-sized decree: Sally and Conrad are not to leave the house while she is at work; furthermore, they are forbidden from making a mess or misbehaving in any way. The kids are left with little to do besides sit and stare out of the window, while their babysitter, Mrs. Kwan, dozes in the den. Until their unexpected guest--a six-foot-tall talking feline, sporting a red-and-white-striped stovepipe hat--appears. The original party animal himself arrives to turn their world upside down by showing Sally and Conrad that "it's good to have fun--but you have to know how!"

Flixster Users

41% liked it

198,865 ratings

Critics

12% liked it

148 critics

PG, 1 hr. 22 min.

Directed by: Bo Welch

Release Date: November 21, 2003

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DVD Release Date: March 16, 2004

Stats: 6,302 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,302)


  • December 16, 2008
    The two kids were alright. Mike Myers was not the right choice. This was a terrible adaptation of a classic little book, a classic children's character.
  • June 29, 2008
    Not good, wasnt impressed
  • June 16, 2008
    What a minute? Did you hear that sound? Oh, that's just Dr. Seuss rolling over in his grave over the rape of his most beloved character The Cat in the Hat. Mike Myers, the unfunniest funny guy in Hollywood screws the pooch on this deal. Myers, who apparently can only do a Scottis...( read more)h accent that would make Sean Connery punch him in the face. You may want to compare this to How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the only way i can explain the difference is in this way: Jim Carrey becomes The Grinch. The Cat in the Hat becomes Mike Myers. This is on the list of worst films ever personally seen by myself. The only person in this film that was worth a damn is Alec Baldwin. yes, Alec Baldwin is in this. And Paris Hilton. And that gay guy on Will and Grace who is really gay. No, I don't watch Will and Grace, but visited IMDb. Honest.

    Yes, it sucks.
  • June 11, 2008
    I HATED this movie
  • March 25, 2008
    Sally and Conrad Walten are in for a day that they will never forget. Tired of Conrad?s constant rule breaking, his mom is threatening him with military school. Sally and Conrad must stop there mom from marrying the conniving neighbor who wants Sally and Conrad out of the way. Wi...( read more)th the help of a mischievous, magical talking cat, Sally and Conrad must expose the neighbor for the fraud he is and save their mom and most of all their family.
    The Cat In The Hat fails on so many levels. The movie is based off a children?s book by the renowned Dr. Seuss and the screenplay writer manages to butcher a fantastic children?s story by placing sexual innuendos in a really stale script. The acting in the movie could not even save a weak script. Mike Myers who portrays the Cat in the Hat has really hit an awful skid of bad movies since his Austin Powers mega hits. The cast seemed lost, the script was stale, and the direction of the film was almost non-existent. The Cat In The Hat receives one fur ball out of five for being a horrid telling of a children?s classic. Stay away.
  • November 21, 2009
    You would think with all the negative reviews this would be a horrible movie but I found it entertaining and funny. I didn't go into expecting to see an Oscar worthy movie but the kids and I liked it. It had alot of great moments that are quotable.
  • November 9, 2009
    This is actually rather good.
  • October 29, 2009
    !Comercial or Stupid! :|
  • October 4, 2009
    Grinch is alot better :)
  • October 2, 2009
    i cant remember! but i know i saw it!

Critic Reviews


December 1, 2003
Nick Schager, Nitrate Online

The Cat in the Hat isn't so much a movie as an extremely long commercial for Universal's Dr. Seuss-inspired products and tie-ins. full review

November 21, 2003
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The Cat in the Hat is long on visual dazzle but short on warmth, and the humor is excessively raunchy for a family film. full review

November 21, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is a triumph above all of production design. That's partly because the production design is so good, partly because the movie is so disappointing. full review

November 21, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

One of the most repulsive kiddie movies ever made. full review

November 21, 2003
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A semi-intriguing abomination, the movie The Cat in the Hat takes a piece of classic childhood Americana and turns it into something garish, dumb, ugly and senseless. full review

November 20, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

A vulgar, uninspired lump of poisoned eye candy that Universal has the temerity to call Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat. full review

November 20, 2003
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

This adaptation departs from the kiddie classic with freewheeling abandon, but is faithful in the most important way: Wonders never cease. full review

November 20, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Another over-blown Hollywood raid on Dr. Seuss. full review

View more Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • Chowmit
    January 20, 2008
    This movie scared me so badly I almost messed my pants. Alec Baldwin is like a child stalker/fat guy, and the two kids are equally crazy in their own way. Even with Mike Myers as the cat, it still creeps me out. Personally I wouldn't let a seven foot tall cat in MY house.
  • shortybrooklyn
    December 23, 2007
    dakota fanning did a awesome job in the cat in the hat

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat Trivia


  • Mike Meyers as a cat in a red & white striped hat?  Answer »
  • In which movie did "Mike Myers" act with two kids?  Answer »
  • What film did Spencer Breslin and Mike Myers both star in together?  Answer »
  • The star of "Little Miss Sunshine's" brother starred in what movie with Mike Myers and Dakota Fanning?  Answer »

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