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 412 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 412 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

AaronL.

Oct 16, 2009

my wife and I are huge fans of the book from growing up and now our 4 year old loves the book. the 3 of us went to the movie today and could not be happier with it. it captures everything we loved about the book and doesn't try to hide anything. our 4 year old girl also enjoyed it, the my wife and I are huge fans of the book from growing up and now our 4 year old loves the book. the 3 of us went to the movie today and could not be happier with it. it captures everything we loved about the book and doesn't try to hide anything. our 4 year old girl also enjoyed it, the things that were to old went over her head, but she was very able to follow along. the more intinse scene's she just held my hand but was fine. want to see it MANY more times and will recommend it to EVERYONE!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LucaT

Oct 20, 2009

Not a kids movie, but a movie for the kid in us all. Every line of dialogue was reminiscent of being a kid, if not word for word interactions I've had in my own past. Never once does it coddle. A true exploration of the ups and downs of our own emotions. Reminds me of what it was like Not a kids movie, but a movie for the kid in us all. Every line of dialogue was reminiscent of being a kid, if not word for word interactions I've had in my own past. Never once does it coddle. A true exploration of the ups and downs of our own emotions. Reminds me of what it was like to be a kid.… Expand

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

grandpajoe6191

Oct 8, 2011

"Where the Wild Things Are" is a movie campier than its original book source, but director Spike Jonze successfully transfers the unbiased, pure perspective of a child (Max) to the audience.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

BrianR

Oct 23, 2009

This is basically a bore. It's nearly two hours of depressed muppets.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

CooterPatooter

Mar 22, 2012

The book is my all-time favorite children's story and still holds up as a wonderful tale well into my adulthood. So forgive me if I take it a little personally when (the normally competent and entertaining) Spike Jonze comes along and turns it into a complete bore. On top of being aThe book is my all-time favorite children's story and still holds up as a wonderful tale well into my adulthood. So forgive me if I take it a little personally when (the normally competent and entertaining) Spike Jonze comes along and turns it into a complete bore. On top of being a snoozer, the world of the Wild Things is as stale and spartan as you can get... the complete opposite of the lush world created by Maurice Sendak. There are also moments of scariness that I don't believe young children should see despite it's questionable PG rating. So yeah, it's a kids' movie that's unsuitable for younger kids. Good call on that one, Spike. Altogether a huge, thudding disappointment that I would like to say would have Mr. Sendak rolling in his grave... except he's still alive... and he has a producer credit in the film. So an unfortunate big thumbs down to one of my literary heroes. :(....… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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