The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

PG-13

Released Aug 21, 2013

2h 10m

Fantasy

Action

Adventure

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13%

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126 Reviews

58%

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50,000+ Ratings

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray (Lily Collins) learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother (Lena Headey) 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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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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Perri Nemiroff

Shockya.com

'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' might reduce plans for the sequel to ashes.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 24, 2013

Full Review

Louis Black

Austin Chronicle

Not only have we seen this all before, but we were probably hoping to not see it again.

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 23, 2013

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is such a pathetic mess you end up feeling a little sorry for the poor mite.

Rated: 1/5

Aug 23, 2013

Full Review

Amanda the Jedi

Amanda the Jedi (Youtube)

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

Jul 4, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

This is one incredibly mixed-up, poorly planned, annoyingly-plotted mess.

Rated: 2/10

Dec 3, 2020

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Screenwriter Jessica Postigo serves up a script that feels like a working draft.

Rated: 1.5/4.0

Sep 17, 2020

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Audience Member

the villain tells a guy he’s his son by taking off his family ring with a W and making it an M.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

Full Review

Julian Rex M

Rendered schlocky by the shockingly relentless ineptitude of its performances, direction, and writing, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is not only a fanfare of poor world-building and weary pacing, but also an all-fire testament to the inability of the fantasy genre to spin a compelling dramatic narrative.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

CaptainBoulder T

One of the worst movies I've ever seen, this movie is a painful watch. The action is mediocre, the acting is mediocre, and the plot is absolutely abysmal, and the romance is between siblings.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/16/25

Full Review

Liam D

While not the worst YA adaptation thanks to it’s talented cast but a mediocre script that feels like it picked ideas from multiple films and flat direction by Harald Zwart (The Pink Panther 2, Hamilton) makes this franchise starter not even go past the first page

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

Beata K

Najlepszy film i obsada

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

Full Review

Dark V

This world is so amazing and complex, I love it! Jason and Clary have off the charts chemistry! It's a shame we never got to see the rest of it, but I've rewatched this movie half a dozen times at the very least.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/25

Full Review

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Harald Zwart

Director

Lily Collins

Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower

Jace Wayland

Robert Sheehan

Simon Lewis

Kevin Zegers

Alec Lightwood

Lena Headey

Jocelyn Fray

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - You Aren't My Dad

2:50

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demonic Psychic

2:38

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Fighting for the Card

1:28

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - I'm In Love With You

2:46

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Flamethrower vs. Demons

1:57

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Anti-Demon Rune

3:07

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Vampire Attack

3:52

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - A Kiss in the Rain

3:25

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Jace's Secret

2:17

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demon Dog

2:23

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Synopsis

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray (Lily Collins) learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother (Lena Headey) 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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