Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

  • 73% of critics liked it
    (248 reviews)

  • 59% of users liked it
    (281,941 ratings)

Visionary director Spike Jonze brings Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book to the big screen with the help of hipster icon Dave Eggers, who teamed with Jonze to pen the adapted screenplay. A mixture of real actors, computer animation, and live puppeteering, Where the Wild Things Are follows the… More

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PG, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By
Spike Jonze
Written By
Dave Eggers, Spike Jonze
Genres
Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Oct 16, 2009 Wide
On DVD
Mar 2, 2010
Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

    [Jonze has] achieved with the cinematic medium what Sendak did with words and pictures: He's grasped something true and terrifying about love at its most unconditional and voracious.

  • Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

    Wild Things, you do not make my heart sing.

  • Tom Long, Detroit News

    Intellectually interesting, visually arresting and filled with invention, there's just one crucial thing Where the Wild Things Are is missing: wildness.

  • Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

    Spike Jonze, we salute you.

  • Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News

    Director Spike Jonze gets that Max's subsequent journey to the far-off island of the wild things is nothing less than an odyssey into his mind.

Read all 24 critic reviews

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

  • Michael M


    It focuses so much on adult interpretations and opinions on childhood that it completely forgets its target audience along the way. Where the Wild Things are has good intentions but ultimately it fails to meet the target demographic and is resultingly depressing. It doesn't help… More

  • Eliza N


    Never been bored to death with movie again so much.Yes, this is for kids,yes, i don't know why people like it and NO i am definitely not recommending it for you or your kids.

  • Brad W


    Where the Wild Things Are isn't a bad movie, but it is for kids and kids will be scared at this movie, these Wild Things are huge assholes, and I don't want to be on that island. It has a great story, production, so why did I think its not really good. The book was for… More

  • Kristijonas F


    A heartfelt children's story that doubles as a raw and uncompromising commentary on a child's emotional complex, Where The Wild Things Are is ultimately an adorable little film that simply reminded me of what it felt like to be a kid. A triumph for Spike Jonze, although it… More

  • Sam B


    Spike Jonze perfectly captures the essence of childhood.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips