Alfre Woodard, Brenda Blethyn, Brock Peters

World-traveling documentary filmmakers Nigel and Marianne Thornberry have come to Africa with their family--precocious Eliza, rebellious Debbie and adopted wild child Donnie--to record a miraculous ev...( read more  read more... )ent. Once every few hundred years, as the moon obscures the sun, native legend has it that thousands of elephants emerge from the safety of the forest to watch the solar eclipse. But this time, as they stand exposed in this wide-open Congo valley, they will be in grave danger. Evil poachers Sloan and Bree Blackburn plan to ambush the elephants for their rare ivory tusks. One day, Eliza and her chimpanzee friend Darwin meet a mysterious shaman who grants her the power to talk to animals. But there's one catch--if she reveals her gift she will lose it forever. When Eliza discovers that the poachers are planning to attack the elephant herd, she and Darwin must devise a plan to stop them. But what can one freckle-faced 12-year-old with pigtails and braces do against this type of evil? How will Eliza be able to warn the elephants if she loses her gift of communicating with animals?

Flixster Users

44% liked it

4,612 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

85 critics

PG, 1 hr. 26 min.

Directed by: Cathy Malkasian, Jeff McGrath

Release Date: December 20, 2002

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DVD Release Date: April 1, 2003

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Stats: 363 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (363)


  • August 13, 2007
    Was a good family film, enjoyable and funny!
  • August 26, 2006
    Just an overlong episode really. Contains nothing at all new accept a few of the voice cameos and a bigger budget. Some nice humour and family friendly action scenes though.
  • May 19, 2006
    It is a successful adaptation of the entertaining series on Nickelodeon. It is, however, a little cheesy at points.
  • March 3, 2009
    Wow. This is such a good family movie, I've only seen a little bit of the show but the movie stands on its own.
  • April 25, 2008
    pretty weird, not too bad,
  • October 22, 2009
    Wow this is from when I was a kid. I liked this movie.
  • October 15, 2009
    Another show i loved growing up and still see re-runs of! Loved the film it was as good as the show.
  • July 12, 2009
    Good movie for kids.
  • June 24, 2009
    Cute family movie...kids will love and some grown-ups too
  • June 22, 2009
    The only thing I didn't like was that you had to see the movie to be completely filled in with the next season of the TV show.

Critic Reviews


December 20, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The animated redhead is the gutsiest young female heroine to hit the big screen since the live-action ladies in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. full review

December 20, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

With its familiar Lion King setting, feminist-environmental message and cute animals, the movie should keep children amused, while remaining bearable to adult gamekeepers. full review

December 20, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Wild Thornberrys Movie is a jolly surprise. full review

December 20, 2002
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Fans of the animated wildlife adventure show will be in warthog heaven; others need not necessarily apply. full review

View more The Wild Thornberrys Movie reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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The Wild Thornberrys Movie Trivia


  • What rockstar has roles in the chase, psycho (1998), the big lebowski and the wild thornberrys movie?  Answer »
  • This actor voices Nigel Thornberry in the 2002 Wild Thornberry's Movie.  Answer »
  • Which one of these actresses voices a character in the Wild Thornberry's Movie (2002).  Answer »
  • 2002: Marisa Tomei and Alfre Woodard. The main characters have to stop poachers from killing an elephant herd with an electrified fence. Rupert Everett plays the bad guy in the movie.   Answer »

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