Where the Wild Things Are

Name: Where the Wild Things Are
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family
Released: October 16, 2009
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Max Records

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 411 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 411 Ratings

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Where The Wild Things Are

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: October 16, 2009 | PG

Starring: Catherine O'Hara, Forest Whitaker, Max Records

Summary: The film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just asThe film tells the story of Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. Max lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought. (Warner Bros.)… Expand

Director: Spike Jonze

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 101 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Lisa Schwarzbaum

This is one of the year's best. To paraphrase the Wild Thing named KW, I could eat it up, I love it so. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

As wish-fulfillments go, this is a movie lover's dream. Read full review

Josh Modell

Spike Jonze has recently said in interviews that his chief goal ...was to try to capture the feeling of being 9. By that measure--by just about any measure, really--he succeeded wildly. Read full review

Steven Rea

A satisfyingly moody, melancholy, madcap live-action romp. Read full review

Michael Sragow

Jonze lets the magic ebb away in a sorry mesh of strained relationships. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Wild Things isn't overlong, but it is underwhelming. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Jonze's ideas, visual and otherwise, spill out in a faux-philosophical ramble that isn't nearly as deep as he thinks it is; at best, it's a scrambled tone poem. Even the look of the picture becomes tiresome after a while -- it starts to seem depressive and shaggy and tired. Read full review

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User Reviews

KieranM.

Oct 16, 2009

The absolute most meaningful movie I've ever seen. That's maybe because I feel like I can relate to Max. I've felt emotions that I've never felt before. Truly amazing.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

PaulSt.

Oct 21, 2009

Beautiful, complex and moving. It stayed with me all week.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

joe1975

Aug 17, 2012

A stunning, emotional , well acted and written movie. Although im glad many others give it a 10 i would disagree with any that state it not a childrens movie. Its for everyone that is or has ever been a child, and certainly some children ( just like the " adults " hear giving well thoughtA stunning, emotional , well acted and written movie. Although im glad many others give it a 10 i would disagree with any that state it not a childrens movie. Its for everyone that is or has ever been a child, and certainly some children ( just like the " adults " hear giving well thought out 0 reviews ) will find it boring but some will love it. It has a certain look like no other film . Everyone has differnt opinions on everything in life so dont listen to the ( incorrect ) bad review....know what your getting into and just watch it. U could be missing out on one of your new favs :)… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

FilFestuccia

Sep 7, 2013

Slow pacing does not hinder this enchanting movie, a story so innocent and at the same time so dangerous one cannot help but wonder if director Spike Jonze is secretly a ten years old kid. The integration between costumes and CGI looks beautiful the Wild Things show real emotions and areSlow pacing does not hinder this enchanting movie, a story so innocent and at the same time so dangerous one cannot help but wonder if director Spike Jonze is secretly a ten years old kid. The integration between costumes and CGI looks beautiful the Wild Things show real emotions and are never clumsy. At one point the movie starts going nowhere, but its delicate allegories and interesting look keep the attention up. Soundtrack is spot-on.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Oct 20, 2009

This movie is neither trippy nor is it's indie-pop soundtrack "avant-garde". This is Jonze's adaptation of a children's book updated for the pretentious Pitchfork generation. It's not as deep as it thinks it is, isn't very engaging to watch, and doesn't have This movie is neither trippy nor is it's indie-pop soundtrack "avant-garde". This is Jonze's adaptation of a children's book updated for the pretentious Pitchfork generation. It's not as deep as it thinks it is, isn't very engaging to watch, and doesn't have anything very original to say. It sure is pretty looking though.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tony1984

Jul 9, 2018

Depressing and dour. A story about mental illness in the only child of a single mom. He escapes into a fantasy world to cope. Or at least that's what I think it was about. I was bored silly and gave up halfway through.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SawyerC.

Oct 17, 2009

DEPRESSING! DARK! AWFUL!

0 of 2 users found this helpful

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20	#20 Most Discussed Movie of 2009
41	#41 Most Shared Movie of 2009