The Boxtrolls

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The Boxtrolls

PG,

2014,

1h 36m,

Kids & Family/

Adventure/

Comedy/

Fantasy/

Animation

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78%

173 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

173 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge. When villainous Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) hatches a plan to get rid of the pretty harmless beings, Eggs decides to go above ground, where he meets and befriends feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, Eggs and Winnifred devise a daring plan to save the Boxtrolls from extermination.

Critics Consensus

While it's far from Laika's best offering, The Boxtrolls is still packed with enough offbeat wit and visual splendor to offer a healthy dose of all-ages entertainment.

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David Ehrlich

Complex

Sep 27, 2014

4/5

The antidote to the modern animated movie.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Sep 26, 2014

3.5/5

This kind of stop-motion animation (wittily demonstrated during the end credits) results in wonderfully detailed characters and action.

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Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Sep 26, 2014

There are many more delighted 'Ewwws' than too-easy 'Awws' in this charming, if a tad cynical, feature from the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

B+

Though still in the shadow of that artistic behemoth, 'Boxtrolls' is one of the finest animated films of the past few years.

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Feb 28, 2023

4/5

This Laika Studios/Shout! Factory collaboration delivers a well-crafted product that exceeds expectations.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Jul 18, 2022

3.5/4

The Boxtrolls contains so much charm in its squalor, so much joy in its decrepitude, that the black humor and beautiful animation cannot help but leave an audience delighted.

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Mar 18, 2019

This was one of the most boring experiences in my life. The whole plot of this movie makes absolutely no sense and I felt like I was watching a first grader make a film. I would give it zero stars.

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Abraham M

Feb 12, 2019

Boxtrolls is my kind of family film. Beautifully animated, creative, creepy and dark, and very funny.

Albus S

Oct 11, 2018

This movie did a very good job at entertaining kids with a heartbreaking and funny storyline. However, it could've done better with the climax.

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Leia P

Sep 26, 2018

I'm not a fan of animation and to impress me, it has to offer something I haven't seen in an animated film. This played it too safe.

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Theodore S

Jun 6, 2018

It scared me. Come at me but i cried HARD in the theater. and i was like 10

May 26, 2018

Very entertaining for both children and adults!

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Anthony Stacchi

Director

Graham Annable

Director

Isaac Hempstead-Wright

Eggs

Elle Fanning

Winnie

Ben Kingsley

Archibald Snatcher

Toni Collette

Lady Portley-Rind

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The Boxtrolls: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge. When villainous Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) hatches a plan to get rid of the pretty harmless beings, Eggs decides to go above ground, where he meets and befriends feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, Eggs and Winnifred devise a daring plan to save the Boxtrolls from extermination.

Director: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable
Producer: David Bleiman Ichioka, Travis Knight
Screenwriter: Irena Brignull, Adam Pava
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Laika
Rating: PG (Mild Rude Humor|Action|Some Peril)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.8M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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