The Spiderwick Chronicles

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2:23

The Spiderwick Chronicles

PG,

2008,

1h 37m,

Kids & Family/

Fantasy/

Adventure/

Drama/

Action

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Griffin's Flight

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - A Father and Son Moment

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Escape

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Under Attack

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Field Guide

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Tunnels

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81%

149 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

149 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Of the three Grace children, Jared has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory, twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

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Critics Consensus

The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 18, 2008

2/5

A run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure.

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Sarah Bryan Miller

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Oct 18, 2008

The result is effective, if too intense for younger children.

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Tom Charity

CNN.com

Oct 18, 2008

The storytelling is economical and brisk. In some ways, Waters approaches it more as a pre-teen horror movie.

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Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

Apr 23, 2024

3.5/5

Highmore does well playing twins (though one admittedly doesn't do much) but it's the improvements on Mallory's character from the books, Bolger's realistic fencing technique, and the surprisingly fun (albeit not realistic) CGI that work best

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 28, 2020

8/10

Tremendously entertaining and, thankfully, self-contained and resolute.

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Marcos Rebollo

Cinemanía (Spain)

Nov 5, 2020

3/5

Above the miscellaneous Harrys, Narnias or Eragones. [Full review in Spanish]

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Finn R

Mar 11, 2019

Surprisingly a pretty good movie. I feel that some things should have been explored more but I guess thats all in the book and its aimed towards kids so I guess I am over analyzing. This movie is not a waste of time but not something I would buy and re-watch a lot.

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Draco W

Feb 22, 2019

While some material was sadly cut for time, Spiderwick Chronicles manages to adapt a dark children's fantasy with creativity, action, and genuinely intense moments.

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Harry M

Sep 5, 2018

The Spiderwick Chronicles is forgettable and doesn't have the same sense of magic and wonder that Harry Potter and the first two Narnia movies have. Freddie Highmore's performance is also a revolving door between decent and bland, though dual roles always make for great visual tricks. The design of a little Martin Short creature called brownie just looks like a tiny Shrek when he's angry and is there any reason why Ron Perlman goblin's design is based off of a pirate? Though with its good visual effects, decent performances from the rest of the cast and some semblance of imagination, The Spiderwick Chronicles isn't a complete waste of time.

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Luke S

Jul 28, 2018

A STRONG sense of IMAGINATION and creativity. good all rounder for anyone to watch.

Ron L

Feb 11, 2018

Great movie!!! We loved it

Albus S

Dec 9, 2017

Charming adaption of the series of children's books, with a marvelous cast and wonderful specials effects. Enjoyable for the whole family.

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Mark Waters

Director

Freddie Highmore

Jared

Sarah Bolger

Mallory Grace

Mary-Louise Parker

Helen Grace

David Strathairn

Arthur Spiderwick

Nick Nolte

Mulgarath

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Griffin's Flight

2:05

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Hogsqueal to the Rescue

2:04

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - A Father and Son Moment

2:13

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Oven Bomb

1:12

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Escape

2:12

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Under Attack

2:05

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Field Guide

2:13

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Tunnels

1:52

Now Playing

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Hogsqueal

2:09

Now Playing

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

Of the three Grace children, Jared has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory, twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

Director: Mark Waters
Producer: Karey Kirkpatrick, Mark Canton, Larry J. Franco, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Nickelodeon Movies
Rating: PG (Scary Creature Action|Peril|Some Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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