David Strathairn, Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries ...( read more  read more... )and other creatures.

Flixster Users

67% liked it

71,853 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

137 critics

PG, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Mark Waters (VIII)

Release Date: January 31, 2008

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DVD Release Date: June 24, 2008

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Stats: 16,054 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,054)


  • August 11, 2009
    I had a hard time getting into this one in the beginning. But once I sat myself down and watched it, it was great. Very cool!
  • March 22, 2009
    My son and I absolutely loved this film. We didn't really know anything about it when we rented it so we were really pleasantly surprised. There were places where we laughed, others where we almost jumped out of our skin but all in all it was a really really fun film.
  • January 11, 2009
    A great little enchanting, magical film with some great characters and creatures in it. The kids all act very well and it's good the film is set in modern times with typical everyday kids in a common situation. If you're under 16 this would probably get 5 stars, but it's enjoyabl...( read more)e for big kids too.
  • January 8, 2009
    It looked pretty on my new tv, but I was at the table working and didn't mind missing some of it.
  • December 14, 2008
    "Their World Is Closer Than You Think"

    Mark S. Waters's adaptation of the popular fantasy novels The Spiderwick Chronicles tells the tale of the Graces, a family who must adapt to their new strange surroundings. As the story begins, twin brothers Jared and Simon, along ...( read more)with their sister Mallory and their mother, move away from the big city to a mansion owned by their uncle. When a series of strange happenings suggest that Jared may be causing a number of disturbances, the siblings band together to figure out what is going on. Soon they discover the magical history of the property.

    Review
    Despite a couple of setbacks, Spiderwick Chronicles comes out strong mixing a good amount of family fun and delicious CG effects. For every big hit success like The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter there's always the not-so-big and barely unnoticed The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (bet you haven't heard of it) and Bridge to Terabithia. Personally, I think Spiderwick Chronicles belongs with Harry Potter and LotR. It was a commercial success and most critics loved it. They incorporated all key elements in all five books and made it compact and neat in such a short amount of time. Whereas Harry Potter's saga is still on-going, Spiderwick Chronicles got the job done in a 90+ minute motion picture. The storyline is well done, the acting is quite good. From Freddie Highmore's dual roles to Sarah Bolger and Mary-Louise Parker, they gave very convincing acts. Nick Nolte is a bad guy, Martin Short is a rat (I think) and Seth Rogen is a bird eating hog. All is well in Spiderwick land and I had a good time watching it. If you need your daily dose of some fantasy treat, this movie is highly recommended.
  • October 31, 2009
    Freddie Highmore is my reason why i saw it. After i saw August Rush, i really admired with his performance. August Rush is the best movie i've ever seen.
    And... i knew, this Spiderwick Chronicles is some kind of adventure movie, full animations and many shape of creatures, fairy...( read more), just like in the same kind of imagination movie. I felt so interesting, the story was great. And i'm still wondering, how Freddie could have two characters in it, i'm still admire of him! You have to see this, guys :)
  • October 29, 2009
    !Comercial or Stupid! :|
  • October 26, 2009
    It was a really fun film, a magical film with some great characters and creatures in it..nice
  • October 25, 2009
    I really love this film. It has a great story and is a great film to watch with family and friends.
  • October 23, 2009
    my favoret movie and it always will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Critic Reviews


February 14, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A well-crafted family thriller that is truly scary and doesn't wimp out. full review

February 14, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The movie, based on the best-selling series by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, tells parallel tales of fathers who abandon their children, but it glosses over the trauma of those sagas in favor of sp... full review

February 14, 2008
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

As kids' movies go, this is no Harry Potter, but it's an enjoyable enough adventure -- with just enough scariness. full review

February 14, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Sloppy, secondhand pander.

February 14, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

The characters lack shadings -- Nolte's ogre is loud but uninteresting -- and the tone of the fantasy world isn't witty, like Harry Potter's, or satirical, like Lemony Snicket's. It's all just silly. full review

February 14, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

The story generates surprising emotional power. full review

February 14, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It has plentiful whimsy, a big enough heart and Joan Plowright in one fine scene, burbling magnificently. It treats its archetypes with all due seriousness: Good must engage evil in a final stand. And... full review

February 14, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Passably entertaining if derivative. full review

February 11, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

There's nothing wrong with it that passion and personality couldn't fix. full review

View more The Spiderwick Chronicles reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • tavare5
    August 12, 2009
    Good movie.
  • lizBLSF19
    June 24, 2008
    Esta pelicula es realmente interesante, las criaturas magicas son hermosas y misteriosas a la vez. es impresionante..
  • andreasallemann
    March 30, 2008
    This movie was a bit boring, but not really bad, just average
  • lazygin
    March 28, 2008
    this movie was good, I really liked it:)
  • jim222001us
    February 23, 2008
    You'd be missing out on a good movie if you listen to Richard Roeper's review from the show, same goes for the review of his friend. They both don't know what they are talking about.
  • RaptrosDragon
    February 22, 2008
    Very good child's movie. So happy and cute!
  • gyvette
    February 19, 2008
    very good movie. they changed a lot from what is in the books, but if you do not take the books into account then the movie was really great!
  • crystalzip2002
    February 18, 2008
    I admit it was good but it is not like the books. It has some stuff from the books but its all twisted and different and they added stuff. I wish they would just have stuck to the books and not changed it so much.
  • SkandarKeynesLover108
    February 16, 2008
    love love love love love it soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Em0ishness
    February 12, 2008
    i really wanna see this movie
    so
    so
    so
    so
    so
    so
    bad!!!
    hopefully
    my mom will let me see
    it!!!!!!!!!
    :D

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Spiderwick Chronicles Trivia


  • This "Weeds" actress has a starring role in the upcoming film adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles.  Answer »
  • In which movie does Freddie Highmore play a role as Twins?  Answer »
  • What February 2008 release has the following tag line? Their World Is Closer Than You Think  Answer »
  • What is the name of the character played by Nick Nolte in the Spiderwick Chronicles ?  Answer »

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