Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Name: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Family
Released: June 23, 1989
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Matt Frewer, Rick Moranis

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 79 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 79 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: June 23, 1989 | PG

Starring: Matt Frewer, Rick Moranis

Summary: The scientist father of a teenage girl and boy accidentally shrinks his and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father searches for them.

Director: Joe Johnston

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff [Not Credited]

Pic [story by Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Ed Naha] is in the best tradition of Disney and even better than that because it is not so juvenile that adults won’t be thoroughly entertained. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Director Joe Johnston, a veteran of Industrial Light and Magic, brings a wry Rube Goldberg approach to his first-ever feature. The sets are definitely plastic, but that slightly homemade look is refreshing in the hardware movie decade. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is the happiest surprise of this summer so far, a children's film from Walt Disney Productions that effortlessly renews the best tradition of that studio's live-action features. Read full review

Hal Lipper

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids pulls some familiar plot - and emotional strings. It's a tad too predictable. But it's resourceful and well-crafted. It's the type of movie that works on one level for parents and another for kids. Both will be pleased. [23 June 1989, p.12]

Caryn James

The director, Joe Johnston, paces this adventure to suit the film's tone. It is swift and smooth, never wild or raucous. Read full review

Ted Mahar

Shrunk is a sometimes funny, occasionally clever comedy adventure. But the fun stuff consumes only about one-fourth of the film, nowhere near enough for a feature-length movie. [24 June 1989, p.C06]

Roger Ebert

The special effects are all there, nicely in place, and the production values are sound, but the movie is dead in the water. It tells an amazing and preposterous story, and it seems bored by it. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kai82

Jun 10, 2022

The movie is pure childhood nostalgia for me. It is really funny, has great ideas and the characters aka actors deliver a great performance. It is a good Disney movie I would describe as fantasy comedy (or maybe science fiction is more fitting). I hesitate to call it a great “family movie”The movie is pure childhood nostalgia for me. It is really funny, has great ideas and the characters aka actors deliver a great performance. It is a good Disney movie I would describe as fantasy comedy (or maybe science fiction is more fitting). I hesitate to call it a great “family movie” as the phrase is tainted for others. Firstly I must admit the title is already a mayor spoiler. It is a story around the Szalinski family. Wayne Szalinski is maybe an arc type for the nice but quirky and brilliant scientist. He has developed at his family home a machine that can shrink objects but does need some improvements to work properly. Things escalate when his children activate the machine by accident while he and his wife are away. This is the start of a “little” adventure (Sorry could not resist to make this lame joke). Like I said this is a unique adventure and gives a different perspective. Think about what you can do if you are the size of an ant and nobody knows what happened to you. They use this idea for a clever, unique and enjoyable movie. It is no surprise that this became one of the most successful (live action) Disney movies of its time. Also the humour is spot on and I don't remember many misses. The actors improve this. Rick Moranis is a great actor and fully delivers a great performance. I think he is underappreciated in generell outside my generation. As sidenote: When his wife died he quit his successful movie career to care for his children. My full respect for this. Back to the actors. All family members also deliver a truly good performance. I want to praise Marcia Strassman, Amy O’Neil and Robert Oliveri. Their neighbours the Thompsons were entertaining too and with Kristine Sutherland, Matt Frewer, Thomas Wilson Brown and Jared Rushton they again chose fitting actors. A really good overall cast. The special effects were amazing back then. Everything was so believable that I never question anything. I think the combination of a great story, actors, humour and effects make this so compelling. Overall I truly liked this movie and give a 10/10. Be warned like I said I am influenced by childhood nostalgia but I also don't know many people who do not like this movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lukechristiansc

Oct 20, 2014

disney best picture yet.......................................................................................................................................................

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Whizzy_Elephant

Feb 13, 2019

A rather impressive film, taking itself seriously and trying to convey a very surreal and accurate side of miniature life.

Filled with real emotions of happiness and sadness, the honesty and genius behind the screenplay and direction is evident, and by avoiding making the comedy cartoony,A rather impressive film, taking itself seriously and trying to convey a very surreal and accurate side of miniature life.

Filled with real emotions of happiness and sadness, the honesty and genius behind the screenplay and direction is evident, and by avoiding making the comedy cartoony, it avoided being cheesy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Feb 9, 2016

The true adventure starts after the accidental shrinking begins. It makes me feel like I'm in the movie and I'm about to interfere myself with the movie's enemies.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Compi24

Jun 19, 2019

What finer way for Joe Johnston to debut his crowd-pleasing, effects-driven, high-concept-friendly directorial expertise than with "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids," an imaginative, fun, and refreshingly simple film with basic, yet effective character work, brilliant set design, and a terrificWhat finer way for Joe Johnston to debut his crowd-pleasing, effects-driven, high-concept-friendly directorial expertise than with "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids," an imaginative, fun, and refreshingly simple film with basic, yet effective character work, brilliant set design, and a terrific score from the late, great James Horner. Toss in the eminently likable Rick Moranis in what some would say is his most iconic role, and you get a real solid time.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Jacob

Jul 7, 2015

Joe Johnston’s first film Honey I Shrunk the Kids shows his quality in visuals as well as his lacking in characters and story. The film presents uninteresting characters with cheesy dialogue that feels especially cheesy and dated 26 years later and isn’t helped given that its delivered byJoe Johnston’s first film Honey I Shrunk the Kids shows his quality in visuals as well as his lacking in characters and story. The film presents uninteresting characters with cheesy dialogue that feels especially cheesy and dated 26 years later and isn’t helped given that its delivered by some poor child actors. These flaws reveal the film as more of an effects/visual spectacle than a film, which makes sense given how that was what Johnston did a lot of before the film. Thankfully, the visuals are mostly strange and creative from the inventions to the design of the backyard although it never reaches the imagination promised in the intro. The film isn’t terrible but nothing worth recommending. Its true place is on TV to watch when there is nothing on or on a plane ride. Thankfully, this wouldn’t be the norm with Johnston eventually going on to make good movies.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

beingryanjude

Sep 3, 2014

One of Disney's more well-known live action attempts. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is definitely interesting. But, gosh, I find myself bored almost every time.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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