Bookworm

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2:16

Bookworm

Released Oct 18, 2024

1h 43m

Adventure

Comedy

Kids & Family

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

12-year-old Mildred's life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

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Critics Consensus

Recapturing the magic of vintage adventure yarns, Bookworm is an imaginative gem with a wholesome heart.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

This is a shameless heartstring plucker. But it’s charming and sometimes very funny.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 6, 2024

Full Review

Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (LAist)

This is a movie where the quirk is cranked up to an eleven.

Oct 24, 2024

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

It sustains an innocent storybook tone throughout, thanks mainly to strong performances from its lead actors, Elijah Wood and Nell Fisher, and lush images of the New Zealand countryside.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 18, 2024

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Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

A surprisingly touching and zany Kiwi adventure, Bookworm explores the magic of father-daughter bonding in the wilderness.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2024

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

Surprisingly impish, it’s an adventure comedy with more good moments than missteps.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 9, 2024

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Whang Yee Ling

The Straits Times (Singapore)

This father-daughter excursion is 2024’s most charming family picture. Mothers will be envious.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 2, 2024

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Shawn N

Why are children so cocky and lippy to adults these days? Because of movies like this where smart-ass kids are far more intelligent than their adult counterparts and get unbelievable worldly knowledge from nowhere. Manners and respect out the window, and just pure arrogance by the lead here. Not recommended by any means nor should be mistaken for quality entertainment. Thumbs down to Elijah Wood for taking such a part, times mut be tough.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

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José G B

The main character is probably the most obnoxious, arrogant, and unpleasant little s**t you will ever come across in a movie. She had never gone camping before but somehow could do absolutely everything in the outdoors, while her adult father is a complete idiot in every aspect. Simply ridiculous! I watched 2/3 of the movie at speed just to see how bad the story was going to be, and I wasn't disappointed. Don't waste your time!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

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Brian B

Beautiful, heartfelt, old school adventure

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

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Audience Member

This is probably a children's movie with how bad the writing and acting is I didn't get into this movie I'm glad I saved my money and didn't go see this in cinemas

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Jess M

Touching film that has a deeper message than what's seen on the surface. At first glance it's just a fun adventure film, but look closer and it's the study of a broken relationship between an absentee father and his precocious daughter. Is she precocious as a defense mechanism? Watch to find out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/05/24

Full Review

Les N

Entertaining. there was a panther in NZ?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

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Ant Timpson

Director

Elijah Wood

Strawn Wise

Nell Fisher

Mildred

Michael Smiley

Actor

Morgana O'Reilly

Zo

Nikki Siulepa

Dotty

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Bookworm: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

12-year-old Mildred's life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood), comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

Director: Ant Timpson
Producer: Roxi Bull, Victoria Dabbs, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Emma Slade, Laura Tunstall
Screenwriter: Toby Harvard
Distributor: Vertical
Production Co: Firefly Films
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Kids & Family
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 43m

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