Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael E

  
  though many consider this Don Bluths best film, I still don't think he is the best animation director. The animation is okay, but its not that impressive, not as much "Anastasia." The acting is okay but not fantastic, but the music is very good, and some of it is very… More
  though many consider this Don Bluths best film, I still don't think he is the best animation director. The animation is okay, but its not that impressive, not as much "Anastasia." The acting is okay but not fantastic, but the music is very good, and some of it is very good when it comes to its drama, but it doesn't leave you completely satisfied like some other serious animated films do like "Persepolis" but overall it is a decent film, but its not the best film or the best animated film I've seen.

• Christopher H

  
  Don Bluths directorial debut and his best film. The animation is amazing, especially when considering it was done by twelve animators. The story is just as amazing as the audience follows Mrs. Brisbys journey to save her son. Their are many scary and intense scenes in this movie,… More
  Don Bluths directorial debut and his best film. The animation is amazing, especially when considering it was done by twelve animators. The story is just as amazing as the audience follows Mrs. Brisbys journey to save her son. Their are many scary and intense scenes in this movie, but Mrs. Brisbys courage and optimism keeps the tone of the film in balance. Probably the only time Don Bluth succeeded in maintaining that balance. An emotionally powerful film that kids and adults can enjoy.

• AJ V

  
  An interesting animated film, the story is actually pretty grown up for a Disney movie, and I'm not sure that was a good idea, but overall it's a pretty good movie.

• Conner R

  
  A pretty cool kid's movie with a lot of dark themes and parallels to human society. While it's not as emotionally powerful as Watership Down or as funny as some disney movies, it finds a nice middle ground and doesn't show one bit of cheesiness. It has a nice plot,… More
  A pretty cool kid's movie with a lot of dark themes and parallels to human society. While it's not as emotionally powerful as Watership Down or as funny as some disney movies, it finds a nice middle ground and doesn't show one bit of cheesiness. It has a nice plot, characters you like watching and a really great visual touch. The Jerry Goldsmith score sets it over the edge though, making it more of a classic.

• Anthony L

  
  The rats of NIMH were cool, I loved this as a child!

• Ken S

  
  Awesome Don Bluth animation

• Curtis L

  
  Great animation.

• Red L

  
  An interesting story featuring a field mouse, a bumbling crow, a wise scary owl, and super-intelligent rats. Watched it with my kids a few times.

• Mister C

  
  Brillant. Just plain astounding

• Jennifer X

  
  this is SO great! i love this movie! and it sends a message too. i didn't think i would like it (movielens recommended it to me) but i DID!

• Dann M

  
  Director Don Bluth brings The Secret of NIMH to the big screen in an epic fantasy adventure. The story follows Mrs. Brisby as she attempts to save the life of her son by seeking out the mysterious rats of NIMH that have unique powers. The voice acting is incredibly well-done; giving… More
  Director Don Bluth brings The Secret of NIMH to the big screen in an epic fantasy adventure. The story follows Mrs. Brisby as she attempts to save the life of her son by seeking out the mysterious rats of NIMH that have unique powers. The voice acting is incredibly well-done; giving the characters distinct personalities, making them all unique and interesting. And, the animation has a lot of texture and is done in gritty and dark themes that enhance the tone of the film. The Secret of NIMH is a fantastic and thrilling adventure that's fun and exciting.

• Matthew Y

  
  The Secret of NIMH is simply put a masterpiece. Dark toned and smartly/seriously written the film is a shock to the senses for audiences used to the cutesy Disney films of the time. Surprisingly adult themes and character depth add to a story that is never uninteresting no matter… More
  The Secret of NIMH is simply put a masterpiece. Dark toned and smartly/seriously written the film is a shock to the senses for audiences used to the cutesy Disney films of the time. Surprisingly adult themes and character depth add to a story that is never uninteresting no matter the audiences age. The sequences with the wise Owl and the elderly rat are some of the best and most iconic animated sequences ever made. Highly recommended film that is a must watch for even modest animation fans. FYI: Don Bluth and several Disney animators left the studio in the 80's because they loathed the lack of quality and effort the animation studio was producing at the time. While a box-office failure it was a critical success and inspired Steven Spielberg enough to invest in the studios and make follow-up films An American Tail and The Land Before Time.

• Nick C

  
  For a non-Disney animated movie, this one was great, great story, good character development, and the scenes that are supposed to be full of suspence were all fantastic.

• Dannielle A

  
  The book is better.

• Chris B

  
  One of my favorite childhood animation films is still fresh and satisfying with it's dark atmosphere and dark themed characters and plot. I love when films like this aren't dumbed down because it takes a lot of the sense of fear out of them, The Secret of NIMH is dark and… More
  One of my favorite childhood animation films is still fresh and satisfying with it's dark atmosphere and dark themed characters and plot. I love when films like this aren't dumbed down because it takes a lot of the sense of fear out of them, The Secret of NIMH is dark and terrifying, even as an adult. A great film and a classic Don Bluth film and one of his best in my opinion. I Highly Recommend this to anyone, child or adult!

• Alec B

  
  Its pretty standard for American animation in the 80s which on the whole was incredibly dark, terrifying, and had at least one earth shattering death. I'm glad that for a short time, animators thought of kids as being more complex than they do now. I firmly believe that hiding… More
  Its pretty standard for American animation in the 80s which on the whole was incredibly dark, terrifying, and had at least one earth shattering death. I'm glad that for a short time, animators thought of kids as being more complex than they do now. I firmly believe that hiding death from kids leads to emotional problems later in life because if they don't learn to deal with loss now, they won't when they are older. Its one of many reasons I'm glad that I grew up with animated films from this era, because they lead to educating discussions with my parents. The finale is rushed too much, but on the whole its an engaging fantasy film and I'd like to also point out it features a great unsung Jerry Goldsmith score.

• Curt C

  
  An amazing animated film that truly does transport you into a new world. Shockingly deep, NIMH has aged incredibly well and is even more entertaining to watch as an adult.

• Stephen E

  
  For an animated film, "The Secret of NIMH" is darker than I expected, but I think that it works better because it is. It features superb voice acting and clever plotting, and the fact that its creators don't shy away from some of the film's more violent aspects… More
  For an animated film, "The Secret of NIMH" is darker than I expected, but I think that it works better because it is. It features superb voice acting and clever plotting, and the fact that its creators don't shy away from some of the film's more violent aspects makes it feel even more like a fairy tale.

• Sunil J

  
  Based on a kick-ass book that should be remade. I thought it was okay as a kid but wow. The animation was kinda iffy and the story was okay but it brought up all these things and never answered them. She's amazed the rats have electricity and it's never explained how. It… More
  Based on a kick-ass book that should be remade. I thought it was okay as a kid but wow. The animation was kinda iffy and the story was okay but it brought up all these things and never answered them. She's amazed the rats have electricity and it's never explained how. It didn't even mention how they learned to read!!

• Chad R

  
  One of my favorite childhood cartoons. Great voice acting, especially by Dom DeLuise who really cracked me up. Kids still love this movie about super intelligent mice and rats who have become so humanlike, treachery and scheming become part of their natures. Tiny Heroes and… More
  One of my favorite childhood cartoons. Great voice acting, especially by Dom DeLuise who really cracked me up. Kids still love this movie about super intelligent mice and rats who have become so humanlike, treachery and scheming become part of their natures. Tiny Heroes and villians turn the average field, rose bush, and yard into a living, breathing environment. The mixture of intelligence and darkness make this a unique experience, especially in 1982 when it seemed Disney had a monopoly of all cartoon movies. Disney movies are mostly light and fluffy with typical endings. This cartoon has none of that. I remember the dark themes as a youth of 7 or 8 when I first watched it. Some scenes stuck with me. Mrs. Brisby's frantic fight for freedom when trapped, her heroic efforts to save her son Timmy from sickness. Being scared of The Great Owl with his gnarled talons as he finished eating one of Mrs. Brisby's neighbors. Old Nicodemus's apperance and voice. And especially the final scene where the Rats attempt to move Mrs. Brisby's home in a rainstorm and the fight between Jenner and Justin. Hasn't seemed to lose much for me in the past 25 years..

Read all 20 featured audience ratings