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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events PG 2004 1h 47m Kids & Family Comedy Fantasy Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 158 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
After the three young Baudelaire siblings are left orphaned by a fire in their mansion, they are carted off to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Unfortunately, Olaf is a cruel, scheming man only after the inheritance that the eldest Baudelaire, Violet (Emily Browning), is set to receive. The children escape and find shelter with their quirky Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly) and, subsequently, their phobic Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep), but Olaf is never far behind.
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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

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Critics Consensus

Although it softens the nasty edges of its source material, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a gothic visual treat, and it features a hilariously manic turn from Jim Carrey as the evil Count Olaf.

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Critics Reviews

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Hank Sartin Chicago Reader 11/15/2011
Episodic but entertaining. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/25/2010
3/5
Book's fans will enjoy, but too creepy for some. Go to Full Review
Derek Adams Time Out 06/24/2006
It's all a bit superficial, but highly entertaining, wickedly funny, and alluring enough to make you want to start reading the books. Go to Full Review
Joe Lipsett Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast 10/15/2024
3/5
Carrey is just playing Carrey (which is great if you like him and obnoxious if you don't), but the child actors are solid, and the costumes, make-up and art direction are outstanding Go to Full Review
Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies 01/17/2016
4/5
This film is endlessly dark and gloomy for a kids story. But somehow, it works. Go to Full Review
Garth Franklin Dark Horizons 07/06/2010
Whilst the direction and script seem off, the rest of the production work is excellent. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Keira H @Keira314 2d It generally follows the story, but there are numerous inconsistencies. Its a good movie, but with no sequel, but the story is told weirdly and not how I imagined. For people who aren't already fans, it is great, but for the hardcore fans who are invested in the lore, I wouldn't really recommend it. See more Leaburn O 3d Sometimes I come across a film I somehow bypassed but which proves to be brilliantly original and entertaining. This darker than dark children’s tale is beautifully photographed and even the credits are a creative joy to watch. The plot and characters are zany but compelling. The cast are excellent and the whole thing was an unexpected delight. Brilliant. Watched on Amazon Prime. See more Joel H Nov 3 A Series of Unfortunate Events does a great job of creating an atmosphere and setting a tone. Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Count Olaf is, of course, highly entertaining to watch, but I was particularly impressed by the convincing performances of Liam Aiken and Emily Browning. However, the filmmakers tried to cram three books into one movie that’s under two hours long, barely skimming along the surface. There’s also the unfulfilled potential of a film that thinks it’s going to be part of a series. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is good, but it leaves a lot of loose threads hanging. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 30 Funny in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Scary Situations, Brief Language and Thematic Elements!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Released by DreamWorks SKG, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Aug 30 A fun yet incredibly creepy film that feels like something that would be at home in Tim Burtons filmography, Jim Carrey makes this film even better with his over the top performance. Definitely worth a watch, although it may be too scary for some children. See more Kat S Aug 28 I absolutely love this movie, and have loved it ever since I was a kid! See more Read all reviews
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

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Movie Info

Synopsis After the three young Baudelaire siblings are left orphaned by a fire in their mansion, they are carted off to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Unfortunately, Olaf is a cruel, scheming man only after the inheritance that the eldest Baudelaire, Violet (Emily Browning), is set to receive. The children escape and find shelter with their quirky Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly) and, subsequently, their phobic Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep), but Olaf is never far behind.
Director
Brad Silberling
Producer
Albie Hecht, Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes
Screenwriter
Robert Gordon, Daniel Handler
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
Scott Rudin Productions, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, DreamWorks SKG
Rating
PG (Scary Situations|Brief Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 17, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$118.6M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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