James and the Giant Peach

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James and the Giant Peach

PG

1996

1h 20m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Featuring stop-motion animation and live action, this inventive adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale follows the adventures of James (Paul Terry), an orphaned young British boy. Forced to live with his cruel aunts (Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes), James finds a way out of his bleak existence when he discovers an enormous enchanted peach. After rolling into the sea inside the buoyant fruit, James, accompanied by a crew of friendly talking insects, sets sail for New York City.

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Critics Consensus

The arresting and dynamic visuals, offbeat details and light-as-air storytelling make James and the Giant Peach solid family entertainment.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

02/23/2018

Dahl himself thought his book would be impossible to translate into film, and for all the ingenuity that's been thrown at the screen, perhaps he was right. This overgrown peach never ripens.

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Dave Kehr

New York Daily News

11/11/2014

3/4

The film is a technical tour de force, featuring a wealth of inventive design ideas. But James never develops the emotional dimension that Nightmare possessed.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

11/11/2014

A snappy, fun adaptation that entertains young viewers without speaking down to them.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

12/04/2022

3/4

As such, the film is a strong piece for youngsters, but doesn’t quite resonate on other levels.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

11/14/2021

Underrated animated film from director Henry Selick

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Zaki Hasan

Zaki's Corner

04/12/2019

C

...valiantly attempts to convey the amazement and childlike sense-of-wonder so characteristic of the late Dahl's books, and while it does succeed occasionally, more often than not it falls flat.

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Mar 22

James and the Giant Peach is a visually stunning 3-D Disney film that brings Roald Dahl’s story to life with a unique animation style blending stop-motion and CGI, giving it a Tim Burton-esque charm. The giant peach itself is mesmerizing, moving through the story in three dimensions with breathtaking detail. The characters are memorable and fully developed. Miss Glowworm, Miss Spider, Mr. Cricket, Mr. Ladybug, and the rest of the ensemble all contribute to the story’s emotional and comedic moments. The voice acting is exceptional, capturing each personality perfectly and adding depth to the fantastical setting. The film balances whimsy, humor, and heart, keeping viewers invested in James’s journey while marveling at the world around him. Its world-building is remarkable, creating immersive settings that could easily inspire interactive experiences or theme park attractions. Overall, James and the Giant Peach deserves more recognition for its innovative approach

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Unknow U

@RT53265148 Mar 17

Absolute cinema 10/10 5/5

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Dr. A

@Dr_Anonymous92 Feb 22

Every part of this is a joy. I just rewatched this after years and it still holds up even today. Some of the jokes are showing their age, but they still land, some of the animation is a little stiff, but it still works. All of the component pieces of this film are done at such a high bar, it's hard to nitpick for me. The real fun of this movie is getting to know the characters and what they represent. I won't spoil it for you here just go watch it if you havent and if it's been so long you forgot how many bugs are aboard the peach!

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Max T

@MaxwellBerry6790 Dec 7

Amazing movie coming from someone who doesn’t like movies from the 1900s this is pure fantasy and entertainment!

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dede w

@RT37612585 Aug 24

as someone who was born in 2010's, not really much of a fan of 1900's movies, this movie was soooo goodddd, I recommend to watch

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Maddison V

@RT72327594 Aug 18

Really lovely, I love this movie even now as an adult

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Synopsis

Featuring stop-motion animation and live action, this inventive adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale follows the adventures of James (Paul Terry), an orphaned young British boy. Forced to live with his cruel aunts (Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes), James finds a way out of his bleak existence when he discovers an enormous enchanted peach. After rolling into the sea inside the buoyant fruit, James, accompanied by a crew of friendly talking insects, sets sail for New York City.

Director: Henry Selick
Producer: Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi
Screenwriter: Roald Dahl, Karey Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Roberts, Steve Bloom
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, Skellington Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.9M
Runtime: 1h 20m
Sound Mix: Surround

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