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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Play trailer Poster for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones PG-13 2013 2h 10m Fantasy Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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13% Tomatometer 126 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.
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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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Critics Consensus

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones borrows ingredients from seemingly every fantasy franchise of the last 30 years -- but can't seem to figure out what to do with them.

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Critics Reviews

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Perri Nemiroff Shockya.com 08/24/2013
2/5
'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' might reduce plans for the sequel to ashes. Go to Full Review
Louis Black Austin Chronicle 08/23/2013
1.5/5
Not only have we seen this all before, but we were probably hoping to not see it again. Go to Full Review
Donald Clarke Irish Times 08/23/2013
1/5
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is such a pathetic mess you end up feeling a little sorry for the poor mite. Go to Full Review
Amanda the Jedi Amanda the Jedi (Youtube) 07/04/2021
The one thing this movie managed to do was capture the visual style I felt the book conveyed but otherwise we were left with something that neither fans, critics or general audiences were particularly impressed by Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 12/03/2020
2/10
This is one incredibly mixed-up, poorly planned, annoyingly-plotted mess. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/17/2020
1.5/4.0
Screenwriter Jessica Postigo serves up a script that feels like a working draft. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Anja T @armadillo114 1d this is the review i wrote after i watched it: the mortal instruments: city of bones 5.5/10 extra half a point because jamie campbell, otherwise the movie was so fucking stupid it made it funny, i kinda dont remember any of the plot besides Jace + Clary so effing hot btw. i was geeked when i watched it and wrote that, which is why i dont remember like anything butttt made it ten times better. i overall wasnt very interest in the plot it is very cliche and overdone i also didnt have a fucking clue what was happening but i loved the chemistry between jamie and lily and the love story. the only reason i watched it was from edits from tiktok and yea, its one of those movies i’ll obsess over for months because i want to be physically in it and experience what the characters did and yearn to be clary. so my personality will is changed from this movie, but would i recommend it, probably not, its mine. See more Alexandra L @AlextheCat Dec 27 This movie a fantasy Dream come true. Like demon hunters and angels and bad guys with funny hair dos! Yes please. May I have seconds? Please lol Like I could do with a sequel or a remake. Or I'll just rewatch this hit over and over again. Cause I doubt I'll get sick of it haha 😂 okay that is all. See more Fox W. @foxygrandpa910 Dec 19 Fun movie and gets way too much hate. The story gets predictable as the movie goes on. However, the characters and eventual ending are well done. See more Madison A @Madi132 Dec 11 Loved this movie, I wish it got a second movie 😭 See more Katie G Dec 3 I liked the idea of the movie but it was vary badly executed. The whole movie was confusing and unclear. There were many unnecessary and weird parts. The villain convinces the 2 love interests they are siblings by turning the boys ring around from W to M then fights them? I do not understand this movie and I had high expectations when beginning it. See more Sadie S @Sadiebby Dec 1 I actually enjoyed the movie very much and was looking forward to a second movie! Not sure why there was so many negative reviews? I felt it was very similar to the books. I really enjoyed all the casting for the characters as well. I would watch again tbh! See more Read all reviews
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - You Aren't My Dad The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - You Aren't My Dad 2:50 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demonic Psychic The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demonic Psychic 2:38 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Fighting for the Card The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Fighting for the Card 1:28 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - I'm In Love With You The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - I'm In Love With You 2:46 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Flamethrower vs. Demons The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Flamethrower vs. Demons 1:57 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Anti-Demon Rune The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Anti-Demon Rune 3:07 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Vampire Attack The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Vampire Attack 3:52 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - A Kiss in the Rain The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - A Kiss in the Rain 3:25 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Jace's Secret The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Jace's Secret 2:17 The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demon Dog The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demon Dog 2:23 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.
Director
Harald Zwart
Producer
Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody
Screenwriter
Jessica Postigo
Distributor
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co
Constantin Film International, Unique Features
Rating
PG-13 (Intense Fantasy Violence|Intense Action|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre
Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.2M
Runtime
2h 10m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
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