Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Play trailer 2:09 Poster for Journey to the Center of the Earth PG 2008 1h 33m Kids & Family Adventure Action Fantasy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
59% Tomatometer 158 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
During an expedition to Iceland, professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) and their guide, Hannah (Anita Briem), get trapped in a cavern. As they follow their only escape route deeper and deeper below the Earth's surface, they pass through strange places and encounter incredible creatures, including dinosaurs. But as volcanic activity around them increases, they realize they must find their way out -- soon.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Journey to the Center of the Earth

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Modern visuals and an old fasioned storyline make this family adventure/comedy a fast-paced, kitschy ride.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald 10/03/2008
The movie proves the perfect showcase for 3D. I can't say that it does the same for Fraser. Go to Full Review
Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 09/26/2008
2.5/5
Brevig does a barely competent job of imitating the Indiana Jones movies, and seems more hindered than helped by his chosen format... Go to Full Review
Anthony Lane The New Yorker 07/21/2008
Most of the movie, directed by Eric Brevig, is as daft, outlandish, and speedy as it needs to be, and, for all its newfangled effects, touchingly old-fashioned in its reverence for the Jules Verne novel that inspired it. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/18/2023
1.5/4
Journey to the Center of the Earth makes a mess of Verne’s text, losing every sense of imagination and wonder that the writer is famous for. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/28/2020
4/10
Often feels like an excuse to exploit a famous title rather than present a sincere adaptation. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/13/2020
2.5/4.0
Fraser has very much become a go to actor for lighthearted family fare. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Teddy W Nov 23 this is verry bad movie when i in science class teacher is stop movie and we have to write and people have been talking the entire time pls make this stop tell them of for being loud pls See more Blu B Nov 12 You know as good as the 1959 classic is, I can see 100% it being improved upon in a remake with the right direction behind it. It's not one of those films that truly a remake is not warranted. However, this isn't it. It takes the scientific wonder and trades it for more along the lines of Indiana Jones/Uncharted type thrills instead. In effect diluting the quality of the material signifcantly. It has a popcorn family movie feel to it. The soundtrack is great and I actually like it better than the 59' one. It's used quite well and it's the one thing I can say that is better here. It cuts down on the runtime by over 40 minutes from the other and it does move fast throughout. But it sacrifices substance and wonder for amusement park thrills instead. Editing is solid though and it does flow quite well. Cinematogrpahy and acting isn't bad either. The major strike though is the horrifically bad CGI special effects. I mean my god everytime they come up they are so laughably horrific and the 3D also just makes it worse that it completely takes you out of the expierence completely. Man while the original effects are dated it looks worlds and I mean worlds better than this. The dinosaur scenes are just....I can't believe I'm saying it but the lizards with spine fans glued on looked way better. Granted lots of these scenes in either version are very hard to do practically in any sort which gives me a lot of respect for the 59' version and what they did. Fraiser isn't bad in this and reminds me of his performance in The Mummy. He's got decent chemistry with Hutchinson. The love interest is so forgettable though and no Duck here. As simple as the characters in the original were, they were better. Frasier here feels more unintentionally goofy than Mason who nailed the balance ofsmart but also child like wonder much better. If someone hadn't seen the 59' one I'd say they'd think this is entertaining and I can see a kid liking this also. But I think for most people I'd say watch the 59' one if you want a better family movie adventure. And there are much better popcorn movies out there. See more Koi P @hopep Sep 30 Fun adventure with suspense and well written and executed characters. See more Hayleigh P. @haytay.shows22 Sep 29 Really good movie. Uo I See more TheMovieSearch R @TheMovieSearch Aug 17 Starring Brendan Fraser, Journey to the Center of the Earth is exactly what you’d expect—a lighthearted family adventure that sparks kids’ imaginations, even if it struggles to fully engage adults. On the positive side, it’s a creative film that delivers the thrills and spectacle children are looking for. The sense of wonder, discovery, and possibility works well, and director Eric Brevig succeeds in pulling the audience into a colorful world where anything feels possible beneath the Earth’s surface. Watching it with kids, you can see how easily they become absorbed in the excitement, and that’s where the movie truly shines. That said, for adults, it’s a little harder to overlook the flaws. The CGI hasn’t aged well—at times it feels clunky and distracts from the adventure. The humor and dialogue lean heavily into the childish side, which can make the film drag for anyone outside of its intended younger audience. Brendan Fraser does a solid job as the lead, bringing charm and energy to the role. Knowing what we do about his career ups and downs—especially with his recent Oscar win—it’s nice to revisit him in a film like this, where his charisma really carries much of the story. Still, the romantic subplot between Fraser and the younger female character feels awkward and miscast, as she seemed like a better match for his nephew rather than him. It’s a distracting choice that undercuts some of the believability. Final Verdict: Journey to the Center of the Earth is entertaining for kids, and worth watching as a fun family night movie with some ice cream. But on its own, it doesn’t offer enough depth or polish to make it a film adults will revisit often. A creative adventure, yes—but ultimately one best enjoyed through the eyes of a child. See more Aug 8 What a colossal waste of time. I’d rather watch Cocomelon at 1.5x speed. Corny isn’t harsh enough. Was this rated G? I’m not kidding… See more Read all reviews
Journey to the Center of the Earth

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Thunderbirds 18% 37% Thunderbirds Watchlist Race to Witch Mountain 41% 44% Race to Witch Mountain Watchlist TRAILER for Race to Witch Mountain Zathura 77% 52% Zathura Watchlist Inkheart 38% 45% Inkheart Watchlist Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer 38% 51% Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Watchlist TRAILER for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis During an expedition to Iceland, professor Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser), his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) and their guide, Hannah (Anita Briem), get trapped in a cavern. As they follow their only escape route deeper and deeper below the Earth's surface, they pass through strange places and encounter incredible creatures, including dinosaurs. But as volcanic activity around them increases, they realize they must find their way out -- soon.
Director
Eric Brevig
Producer
Charlotte Huggins, Beau Flynn
Screenwriter
Michael D. Weiss, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Production Co
New Line Cinema, Walden Media
Rating
PG (Intense Adventure Action|Some Scary Moments)
Genre
Kids & Family, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$101.7M
Runtime
1h 33m
Most Popular at Home Now