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The Spiderwick Chronicles
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Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: David Strathairn, Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger
  • Summary: From the beloved best-selling series of books comes The Spiderwick Chronicles, a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, his sister Mallory, and their mom) leaves New York and moves into the secluded old house owned by their great, great uncle Arthur Spiderwick. Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames Jared. When he, Simon, and Mallory investigate what's really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick estate, as well as the creatures that inhabit it. (Paramount Picture)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    91
    Director Mark Waters does a fine job meshing the fantastical with the quotidian.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    A well-crafted family thriller that is truly scary and doesn't wimp out.
  3. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Matthew Sorrento
    60
    Once "Spiderwick" gets to the fantasy, the story gets going.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 6 out of 27
  1. MonaA.
    10
    This is a great family fun film. Viewers will be engaged in the fast moving plot that offers a slightly different view of the fantastical world from Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. Any one who enjoys fantasy films will enjoy this movie.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Jonny99
    5
    “Spiderwick” would have provided prime fodder for the documentary "This Film Not Yet Rated” which attempted to expose movie rating corruption. At least there must have been a lot of negotiating to get the PG. I throw down that accusation based not only long set pieces of bloody goblin and ogre battles (albeit CGI) but also on other themes found in the script. Our young protagonist has serious problems with controlling a violent temper. His father has abandoned the family and is lying to him about it. His mother has been forced to move the family to an abandoned, isolated house to avoid a NYC homeless shelter. Beyond complaints about the overly generous rating, my chief complaint is not enough time spent fleshing out the background of the magical creatures that menace the family; ultimately we learn little about the contents of Spiderwick’s field guide to magical creatures which supposedly lies at the center of the film. Still, the film deserves a look on cast alone. Although decidedly miscast here as the good-mother-done-wrong, Mary-Louise Parker is always intriguing, Nick Nolte appears all too briefly on screen as the ogre (why the CGI? Nolte is scary enough as-is), David Strathairn and Martin Short also appear too briefly and, yes, even former heart-throb Andrew McCarthy plays the evil father. In short, wait for it on cable and don’t bring the kids.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Steve
    3
    A lot of violence and blood for a kids movie, Also, the father figure is seen as a monster. Not a very friendly movie for kids under 10.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 27 User Reviews

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