The Boxtrolls

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2:25

The Boxtrolls

PG

2014

1h 36m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Animation

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

172 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge. When villainous Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) hatches a plan to get rid of the pretty harmless beings, Eggs decides to go above ground, where he meets and befriends feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, Eggs and Winnifred devise a daring plan to save the Boxtrolls from extermination.

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Critics Consensus

While it's far from Laika's best offering, The Boxtrolls is still packed with enough offbeat wit and visual splendor to offer a healthy dose of all-ages entertainment.

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David Ehrlich

Complex

The antidote to the modern animated movie.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 27, 2014

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

This kind of stop-motion animation (wittily demonstrated during the end credits) results in wonderfully detailed characters and action.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 26, 2014

Full Review

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

There are many more delighted 'Ewwws' than too-easy 'Awws' in this charming, if a tad cynical, feature from the creators of Coraline and ParaNorman.

Sep 26, 2014

Full Review

Allison Rose

FlickDirect

This Laika Studios/Shout! Factory collaboration delivers a well-crafted product that exceeds expectations.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 28, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The Boxtrolls contains so much charm in its squalor, so much joy in its decrepitude, that the black humor and beautiful animation cannot help but leave an audience delighted.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 18, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The final bit that seeps into the end credits is a marvelously meta moment.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 3, 2021

Full Review

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Gabe F.

Good and great and amazing

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/25

Full Review

Madison B

Can’t say it was horrible I mean Ive seen worse but for Laika studios I feel like this was their least favorable.. I found this movie to be quite bland, & tbh a lil disgusting literally had to like skip a few parts suggest not to watch this while eating.. overall the characters were not memorable mostly one dimensional which is disappointing..regardless I still always will enjoy the stop motion aspect of the film Id say its still worth a watch u might like it..very much an Acquired like

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

Full Review

TROYS S

"The Boxtrolls" is a beautiful example of the potential in LAIKA's stop-motion approach, and the images onscreen are tactile and layered.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

Lluvia A

The cheese related death was actually f’ed up!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Victor A

I love cheese now!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Kate S.

Very good, Makes you want cheese

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/25

Full Review

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Anthony Stacchi

Director

Graham Annable

Director

Isaac Hempstead-Wright

Eggs

Elle Fanning

Winnie

Ben Kingsley

Archibald Snatcher

Toni Collette

Lady Portley-Rind

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The Boxtrolls: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

Eggs (Isaac Hempstead-Wright), an orphan, lives with the Boxtrolls -- a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who inhabit a cavern beneath the city of Cheesebridge. When villainous Archibald Snatcher (Ben Kingsley) hatches a plan to get rid of the pretty harmless beings, Eggs decides to go above ground, where he meets and befriends feisty Winnifred (Elle Fanning). Together, Eggs and Winnifred devise a daring plan to save the Boxtrolls from extermination.

Director: Anthony Stacchi, Graham Annable
Producer: David Bleiman Ichioka, Travis Knight
Screenwriter: Irena Brignull, Adam Pava
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Laika
Rating: PG (Mild Rude Humor|Action|Some Peril)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.8M
Runtime: 1h 36m

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