Spiderwick Chronicles provides lots of thrills and chills -- so much so that it may be too scary for younger viewers -- but it works best when it implies instead of showing.
Comment
05/01/08
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
79
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:138
Fresh:109
Rotten:29
Average Rating:6.7/10
Consensus: The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.
Theatrical Release:Feb 14, 2008 Wide
Box Office: $71,148,699
Synopsis: Based on the bestselling series of children's fantasy novels of the same name by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES follows the adventures of the Grace family, newly... [More]
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright
Director: Mark Waters
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for The Spiderwick Chronicles
It has plentiful whimsy, a big enough heart and Joan Plowright in one fine scene, burbling magnificently. It treats its archetypes with all due seriousness: Good must engage evil in a final stand. And fatherless children must try to save the world.
02/14/08
that perfect nexus of childlike wonder and the terrors of the id. In other words, the perfect fairy tale that is about much more than the magical creatures
02/13/08
Meticulously rendered CGI creatures spike this dark adventure, shot marvelously by Caleb Deschanel.
02/15/08
This movie didn't really blow me away, but it was mildly enjoyable and should keep all of the fantasy fans happy
07/22/08
Waters does ground his film in the real world, and more importantly he creates a real sense of the family dynamics before Jared opens the door to the world of goblins and woodland creatures.
02/17/08
It's always a pleasure to watch Highmore, one of the best child actors working today, and this time that pleasure is doubled because he plays a dual role.
02/24/08
Spiderwick Chronicles, thanks to its fine craftsmanship, is very much more than the same old bedtime stories, digitally gussied up for profit if not fun.
02/14/08
An enjoyable adventure fantasy sure to cast a spell over its audiences. But just as importantly, it weaves a story that resonates with spiritual truth.
02/14/08
Brevity works in the film's favor, turning a potential franchise headache into a delightful winter diversion brimming with revolting creatures, magical spells, and entertaining acts of mass goblin death.
02/13/08
Seen through the eyes of a child, this adaptation my lack originality but is fast paced, contains enough fantasy to balance the family drama and is, at times, very scary.
07/19/08
The degree of talent attached to Spiderwick Chronicles is exceptional. It's an unlikely assembly of people for a studio fantasy film, and perhaps that's what makes the picture so fresh.
02/14/08
The director does a nice job of juggling and blending the movie's tricky tones and storylines, which could have gone badly wrong at any juncture.
02/14/08
Top CriticThis adventure of preteens encountering a mythical realm lacks the scope of the other entries in the Harry Potter sweepstakes, but it still manages to provide scares and action for the under-12 set.
02/14/08
Director Mark Waters keeps Spiderwick moving like crazy, which frees it from the overblown quality that bogs down some of these fantasy epics.
02/13/08
Just because The Spiderwick Chronicles isn't an insta-classic doesn't mean it's not a fine time at the movies.
02/14/08
The story generates surprising emotional power.
02/14/08
...just the sort of 'fantastical' adventure we've needed at the movies after the Oscar onslaught and ensuing winter doldrums.
02/14/08
At its heart is a sly imagination that fascinates and thrills.
02/28/08
The Spiderwick Chronicles may not be in the same fantasy league as the tales of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling. Yet the family flick based on the books of Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black is an all-around class act.
02/13/08
Top CriticLatest News for The Spiderwick Chronicles
September 08, 2008:
Spiderwick Producers Are Spanking Shakespeare for Paramount 
Paramount has forged an agreement with the producers of "The Spiderwick Chronicles" to assemble an adaptation of Jake Wizner's hit young adult novel, "Spanking Shakespeare." More...
June 23, 2008:
RT on DVD: A Killer Sopranos Set; WALL-E Gets a Friend
You thought the Sex and the City DVD collection was expensive? Start saving up for the ultimate Sopranos box set, coming this fall. Also look for a DVD spin-off from last... More...
April 23, 2008:
UK Box Office Breakdown: Craig's Fool Has Disasterous Opening
Daniel Craig's new film - Flashbacks of a Fool - suffers a disastrous opening weekend, coming in at only 11th in the charts. Fool's Gold and Happy Go Lucky are the big successes More...
April 09, 2008:
UK Box Office Breakdown: Son of Rambow Highest New Entry
In a piece of news almost as heartwarming as the film itself, Son of Rambow came in at second place in the UK box office this week, with the British indie nabbing almost... More...
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
History of Disney Animation
MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.
90 Years of Screen Vampires
TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.
Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones
Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.
Recent Headlines as TV Movies
AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.
The Death of Original Thought
Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds