The Spiderwick Chronicles

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2:23

The Spiderwick Chronicles

PG

2008

1h 37m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

149 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Of the three Grace children, Jared (Freddie Highmore) has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger), twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

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Critics Consensus

The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

A run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Sarah Bryan Miller

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The result is effective, if too intense for younger children.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Tom Charity

CNN.com

The storytelling is economical and brisk. In some ways, Waters approaches it more as a pre-teen horror movie.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

Highmore does well playing twins (though one admittedly doesn't do much) but it's the improvements on Mallory's character from the books, Bolger's realistic fencing technique, and the surprisingly fun (albeit not realistic) CGI that work best

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 23, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Tremendously entertaining and, thankfully, self-contained and resolute.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 28, 2020

Full Review

Marcos Rebollo

Cinemanía (Spain)

Above the miscellaneous Harrys, Narnias or Eragones. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

Nov 5, 2020

Full Review

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Stephen C

Rated PG for (Scary Creature Action, Peril, Some Thematic Elements and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Success in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/25

Full Review

Eliana S

I loved this movie especially when I was like 8 I’m 15 now and I still really like it it’s just super interesting and a fun watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

Full Review

I Am F

Visually stunning, perfect balance between drama and fantasy in the script. I feel enjoyed in this entire runtime.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/10/25

Full Review

Wemerson lins da paixão P

Bom, como começar, eu tô assistindo aq agora na Netflix brasil, novamente esse filme de minha infância, tenho só 18 mas aínda continua tão incrível como antes os personagens, e o Freddie higmore como os gêmeos? Nossa aquilo deve ter sido desafiador kkkk, enfim as crônicas de Spiderwick é ótimo, é um filme de fantasia simples, mas que encanta gerações pelo menos me encantou amo esse filme.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

Full Review

Carlos M

Esta película es de las mejores de fantasía que he visto sinceramente muy adelantada a su época sin duda la recomiendo y la podria ver miles de veces 😌

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Hayleigh P.

Watched it once when I was a kid. It still is and always will be a good movie!! The ending was also super cute! I love that she went with him!! P.s I am OBSESSED with that house and I think I need it ;).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

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Mark Waters

Director

Freddie Highmore

Jared

Sarah Bolger

Mallory Grace

Mary-Louise Parker

Helen Grace

David Strathairn

Arthur Spiderwick

Nick Nolte

Mulgarath

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Griffin's Flight

2:05

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Hogsqueal to the Rescue

2:04

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - A Father and Son Moment

2:13

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Oven Bomb

1:12

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Escape

2:12

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Under Attack

2:05

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Field Guide

2:13

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Tunnels

1:52

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Hogsqueal

2:09

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Trailer 1

2:23

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Synopsis

Of the three Grace children, Jared (Freddie Highmore) has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory (Sarah Bolger), twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

Director: Mark Waters
Producer: Karey Kirkpatrick, Mark Canton, Larry J. Franco, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Nickelodeon Movies
Rating: PG (Scary Creature Action|Peril|Some Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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