The Pagemaster

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The Pagemaster

G

Released Nov 23, 1994

1h 15m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

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Popcornmeter

19%

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21 Reviews

49%

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50,000+ Ratings

A storm forces frightened Richard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) inside a nearby library for shelter. Mr. Dewey (Christopher Lloyd), the librarian, sees that Richard needs an adventure and tries to give the boy a book, but all Richard wants is a phone. Before he can call his parents (Ed Begley Jr., Mel Harris), Richard slips on the floor, hits his head and passes out. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a fantasy land populated by famous literary characters.

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Barbara Creed

The Age (Australia)

As the cartoon characters took over, the storyline slid predictably into place as we watched Richie battle dragons and learn a lesson about the "meaning of life."

Feb 10, 2024

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Christy Lemire

ChristyLemire.com

The Pagemaster is the kind of movie first-grade teachers would have popped into the VCR in the 1990s to kill time on a rainy afternoon.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 15, 2018

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Brian Lowry

Variety

Built on a wispy premise better suited to the realm of TV, The Pagemaster plays like a slickly produced afternoon special.

Dec 4, 2007

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Tom Ryan

The Sunday Age

The perfunctory prologue and epilogue, the unimaginative use of the literary sources, the mushy songs which Disney appears to have made obligatory and the lacklustre animation left me with little to do but bemoan missed opportunities.

Rated: 1/4

Feb 12, 2024

Full Review

Sergio Benítez

Espinof

Narrated with a rhythm that prevents that one can get bored, the moral of 'The Pagemaster', which invokes the power of books and reading. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 23, 2019

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Alex Orner

Common Sense Media

Weak Macaulay Culkin fantasy with some cartoon violence.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 1, 2011

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Manuela V

Movie is pretty good y’all did not get it

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

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Christopher D

This is one of way too many examples to show how dissociated these "critics" are on here. Surely no one pays these "people" to just tell us how dumb they are.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

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Shawn J

The fact that there are people on here giving this movie, a bad Reputation because of the graphics is comical. What do you guys not understand that it was made in the 90’s. This movie is beyond good and should be way higher on the audience side of ratings

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/25

Full Review

M C

Honestly I think the reviewers here must have seen a different film because this movie was a massive part of my childhood and spurred my love of books. I was the intended audience for this movie when it was released and can honestly say it left a lasting impression. It's references, the imagination, the score, the animation , the horror! Everything combined to make an epic children's movie. I've even shared this with kids now and they love it too. Only negative is at the end he doesn't wear a helmet because he's "brave" now but apart from that this is one of the best children's movies ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/25

Full Review

Skibidi O

It was awesome So spectacular

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

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Til S

Weird movie that I somewhat enjoyed with some likable characters and a fairly predictable plot

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

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Maurice Hunt

Director

Joe Johnston

Director

Macaulay Culkin

Richard Tyler

Christopher Lloyd

Mr. Dewey and The Pagemaster

Ed Begley Jr.

Alan Tyler

Mel Harris

Claire Tyler

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Synopsis

A storm forces frightened Richard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin) inside a nearby library for shelter. Mr. Dewey (Christopher Lloyd), the librarian, sees that Richard needs an adventure and tries to give the boy a book, but all Richard wants is a phone. Before he can call his parents (Ed Begley Jr., Mel Harris), Richard slips on the floor, hits his head and passes out. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a fantasy land populated by famous literary characters.

Director: Maurice Hunt, Joe Johnston
Producer: Paul Gertz, David Kirschner
Screenwriter: David Kirschner, David Casci, Ernie Contreras
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Turner Pictures, 20th Century Fox
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.0M
Runtime: 1h 15m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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