Do you want to see ‘The Secret of NIMH’?

The Secret of NIMH (1982)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Reviews Counted: 20
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 1

The Secret of NIMH is a dark, well-told movie that respects its young audience enough to tone down subject matter.

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 1

The Secret of NIMH is a dark, well-told movie that respects its young audience enough to tone down subject matter.

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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 52,781

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Movie Info

Frustrated with the Walt Disney studio's reluctance to produce full-length animated films, Don Bluth and a number of animators left the studio in the early '80s with the intent of creating movies in the style of Disney's classics. The Secret of NIMH is the first film Bluth produced after leaving the studio. Adapted from Robert C. O'Brien's acclaimed children's book Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H., the film is about a widowed mouse whose home is threatened; also, one of her children is

G, 1 hr. 22 min.

Drama, Animation, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Don Bluth

Written By: Don Bluth, Will Finn, Gary Goldman

In Theaters: Jul 2, 1982 Wide

On DVD: Mar 6, 2001

United Artists

The Secret of NIMH Trailer & Photos

Cast

Elizabeth Hartman
Mrs. Brisby
Dom DeLuise
Jeremy
Hermione Baddeley
Auntie Shrew
Arthur Malet
Mr. Ages
Peter Strauss
Justin
Paul Shenar
Jennar
Derek Jacobi
Nicodemus
John Carradine
Great Owl
Shannen Doherty
Teresa
Wil Wheaton
Martin
Jodi Hicks
Cynthia
Ian Fried
Timmy
Tom Hatten
Farmer Fitzgibben
Lucille Bliss
Aldo Ray
Edie McClurg
Miss Right

Critic Reviews for The Secret of NIMH

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (1) | DVD (12)

Not enthralling, but worth seeing for anyone interested in the mechanics of this arcane art.

September 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Every character moves fluidly and imaginatively against an extravaganza of detailed background and dazzling effects, all emboldened by fascinating colored textures.

August 31, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

It is something gorgeous to look at.

August 31, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

It looks good, moves well, and delights our eyes.

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The story manages to be sentimental without being especially moving.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comments (8)

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

Fascinating, but very dark with some creepy imagery.

September 6, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Michael Scheinfeld

Common Sense Media

Fascinating. But sensitive animal-lovers beware.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Michael Scheinfeld

Common Sense Media

The award-winning book had a pretty crackerjack story to begin with, but in some respects, I think Bluth and his co-writers have bettered it.

November 22, 2009 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

| Comment

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A return to the lush, finely detailed animation seen in the best Disney features.

August 31, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

The animation was, as Bluth and company had promised, a spectacular return to old-school craftsmanship.

July 7, 2007 Full Review Source: AV Club

| Comment

Tasha Robinson

AV Club

It's a spectacular return to the shimmering, mesmerising deep-focus animation associated with Disney's classic period...

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Derek Adams

Time Out

Never mind the G rating, this is scary stuff which sent my little one fleeing to another room inside of 10 minutes.

January 19, 2006 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

| Comment

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

It's no secret -- this is one mighty mouse movie!

January 6, 2005 Full Review Source: StaciWilson.com

| Comment

Staci Layne Wilson

StaciWilson.com

Lovers of animation shouldn't have too much trouble getting the kids to take them along.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

Too leaden for kids, too slight for grownups.

November 7, 2002 Full Review Source: Netflix

| Comments (2)

James Rocchi

Netflix

It took years before Disney would match the quality of this first film from expatriate Don Bluth.

July 26, 2002 Comment

Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Secret of NIMH

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though many consider this Don Bluths best film, I still don't think he is the best animation director. The animation is okay, but its not that impressive, not as much "Anastasia." The acting is okay but not fantastic, but the music is very good, and some of it is very good when it comes to its drama, but it doesn't

November 30, 2011

Michael Edwards

Super Reviewer

Don Bluths directorial debut and his best film. The animation is amazing, especially when considering it was done by twelve animators. The story is just as amazing as the audience follows Mrs. Brisbys journey to save her son. Their are many scary and intense scenes in this movie, but Mrs. Brisbys courage and

June 13, 2011

Christopher Heim

Super Reviewer

The Secret of NIMH Quotes

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1. Mrs. Brisby: If you're going to feather a nest, you've got a lot to learn about how to treat a lady.
2. Jeremy: Right. When you're right, you're right, and you're right. None of the girls I meet wanna get serious.
3. Mrs. Brisby: I doubt they'd survive.
– Submitted by Christopher H (9 months ago)
1. Nicodemus: Johnathan could not tell you about us because the injections slowed the aging process. You see, you would have grown old, while he remained young.
– Submitted by Christopher H (9 months ago)
1. Nicodemus: We can no longer live as rats. We know too much.
– Submitted by Christopher H (9 months ago)
1. Nicodemus: Courage of the heart is very rare. The stone has a power when it's there.
– Submitted by Christopher H (9 months ago)
1. Jennar: I learned this much: take what you can, when you can.
2. Justin: Then you have learned nothing.
– Submitted by Christopher H (9 months ago)