The Borrowers (1998)

73% of critics liked it
(26 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(48,611 ratings)

Peter Hewitt (Tom and Huck) directed this $30-million family film, an adaptation of Mary Norton's classic children's novels about a miniature family of wee folk, four inches high, living beneath the floorboards of an English cottage. The Borrowers family, so labeled because they "borrow" from the… More Peter Hewitt (Tom and Huck) directed this $30-million family film, an adaptation of Mary Norton's classic children's novels about a miniature family of wee folk, four inches high, living beneath the floorboards of an English cottage. The Borrowers family, so labeled because they "borrow" from the house's kitchen, consist of Pod Clock (Jim Broadbent), mother Homily (Celia Imre), and children Arrietty (13-year-old Flora Newbigin) and Peagreen (Tom Felton). Their adventure begins when they're almost caught in the kitchen by the Lenders, the tenants of the house, so they run for cover. When lawyer-Realtor Ocious P. Potter (John Goodman) discovers the owner of the house has died, he makes plans to evict the Lenders and demolish the building -- a situation where one would want to "neither a Borrower nor a Lender be." Fortunately, young Pete Lender (Bradley Pierce) has become friends with Arrietty -- an alliance leading toward a method of thwarting Potter. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Peter Hewitt, Peter Hewitt (I)
Written By: John Kamps
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Feb 13, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Aug 19, 1998
Studio: PolyGram

Critic Reviews

Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Charming screen adaptation of cute book.
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International
A cut above most family entertainment.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Shows that courtesy not only keeps civilization humming but benefits all who practice it.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Pod Clock: We're not vermin. We're not creeps. And we're not pests. We're Borrowers. "Little People... Big Adventure" The Borrowers is a terrific and fun family adventure movie. It's a movie I wish I had seen when I was a child. Watching now, it… More
Pod Clock: We're not vermin. We're not creeps. And we're not pests. We're Borrowers. "Little People... Big Adventure" The Borrowers is a terrific and fun family adventure movie. It's a movie I wish I had seen when I was a child. Watching now, it still was a fun and highly entertaining film. I can't even imagine how much I would have loved it when I was a kid, especially with the amount of enjoyment I got out of it now as an adult. The film does have a certain charm about it. It's a feel good story with a big message for children attached. No matter how small you may seem in the grand scheme of things; you can always make a difference and have your voice heard. The Clock family is the perfect example of that. They are a miniature family that dwell beneath the floorboards of the Lenders. The Clock's are known as Borrowers. They live off of things they find around the house; making use of things like batteries, cards, and hooks. The story revolves around the Clock's and the Lender's both losing their home. A corrupt lawyer named Potter has plans of tearing down their house. When a human child finds a Borrower in his room, he befriends it, and soon tries to help the family move along with them. Things go wrong during the move, and the Borrower children are left alone in the world. From there the adventure really takes off and becomes a story of will power on behalf of the human child and all the Clock's. The movie has a lot of slap stick comedy that will keep the kids entertained, much in the vein of movies like Home Alone. Kids should be glued to the screen for nearly an hour and a half. There's just a lot to like here. There's a great cast, including John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, and Hugh Laurie. Harry Potter casters must have loved what they saw from this movie because three of the actors in this film went on to star in the Harry Potter series. A young Malfoy is on display here as well. Plus there is a terrific Hans Zimmer score to bring everything together nicely. The movie looks pretty good as well. It takes advantage of the little people well and puts them in great settings and manages to not make them seem too out of place. There's really nothing to complain about here. It's solid family entertainment. I watched this without children present and loved it. So that shows that it's either just a well made movie period, or that I have a lot of growing up to do still. Probably both now that I look at it.
AJ V

The whole story about these tiny people may appeal to kids for a second or two, but overall it's not that interesting.
Michael E

great effects, and a great and interesting plot
Jennifer D

Cutest film ever. Tom Felton is in it too.
Wahida K

Little People. Big Trouble. Lots of fun.
Candy R

This is a bit like 'Mousehunt' and 'Stuart Little'. Big versus small. Tiny people live in the floorboards of ordinary people's houses. Lots of fun adventure. Ever wondered what happens to your batteries or dental floss or when your roller skate goes missing.… More
This is a bit like 'Mousehunt' and 'Stuart Little'. Big versus small. Tiny people live in the floorboards of ordinary people's houses. Lots of fun adventure. Ever wondered what happens to your batteries or dental floss or when your roller skate goes missing. Ask the borrowers. Stars John Goodman.
Film C

everyone loves the borrowers
Rachel F

So cute.
Dillon L

Annoying, cheesy, dumb.
Steven V

Good family movie. This movie has lots of cool fx and imagination galore. It reminds me of some old polish film adout small people living somewhere in library room.
Angela A

Fun kids movie with plenty to like. And guess what? That little tiny borrower boy is Malfoy!?! Hah!
Sarah B

A cute and inventive superbly realised family film of the Mary Stewart book.
Leo L

Funny!