5 Children and It

2004

5 Children and It

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

63%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 8

42%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 12,718
User image

5 Children and It Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

Five brothers and sisters find their uncle has a big surprise hidden in his estate in this comic fantasy for the whole family. Not long after World War I breaks out, five children -- Cyril (Jonathan Bailey), Robert (Freddie Highmore), Anthea (Jessica Claridge), Jane (Poppy Rogers), and Lamb -- find themselves in dangerous circumstances when their father is sent off to fight, and their mother volunteers to be a field nurse. Unable to care for themselves, the children are sent to the country, where they stay with their eccentric uncle Albert (Kenneth Branagh) and his ill-tempered son, Horace (Alexander Pownall), in Albert's ramshackle home. Uncle Albert has more than a few rules about what the children can and cannot do, but his strictest edict is that the children must never go into his greenhouse. Of course, the children's curiosity gets the better of them, and they sneak in to discover their uncle's big secret -- the building is home to Psammead (voice of Eddie Izzard), an ugly and often bad-mannered "sand fairy" who has the ability to grant wishes. However, the kids discover that Psammead's wishes only last for 24 hours, and that they have a strange habit of backfiring on their beneficiaries. 5 Children & It was based on the classic book for children by E. Nesbit; Psammead was realized onscreen with a puppet created by Jim Henson's celebrated Creature Shop. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Watch it now

Cast

Kenneth Branagh
as Uncle Albert
Zoë Wanamaker
as Martha
Freddie Highmore
as Robert
Jonathan Bailey
as Cyril
Jessica Claridge
as Anthea
Poppy Rogers
as Jane
Tara Fitzgerald
as Mother
Alex Jennings
as Father
John Sessions
as Peasemarsh
Norman Wisdom
as Nesbitt
Duncan Preston
as Peasemarsh
Eddie Izzard
as Voice of `It'
Alec Muggleton
as Lamb
Zak Muggleton
as Lamb
Alexander Pownall
as Horace
View All

Critic Reviews for 5 Children and It

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (2)

View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for 5 Children and It

  • Sep 08, 2009
    CAST: Kenneth Branagh, Zoë Wanamaker, Freddie Highmore, Eddie Izzard, Jonathan Bailey, Jessica Claridge, Poppy Rogers, Tara Fitzgerald, Alex Jennings, John Sessions, Norman Wisdom, Duncan Preston DIRECTED BY: John Stephenson SUMMARY: While their father is fighting on the front lines, five children find themselves bunking at their uncle's estate, where they befriend a fairy called It (voiced by the hilarious Eddie Izzard), who helps them uncover the mysteries of the large mansion in which they now live. This high-spirited tale finds It bringing joy, laughter and luck to the kids' lives, as the grown-ups contend with the painfully adult challenges of living in a time of war. MY THOUGHTS: "This is a movie for the kids. My niece's and nephew liked it a lot, I on the other hand thought it was a bit boring. But it had it's moments of humor. Had a some what sad story, and had a good lesson about not being selfish. But still much more a film for the kids. Good cast, and a good young cast as well."
    ♥˩ƳИИ & Super Reviewer
  • Dec 28, 2006
    Not as good as I remember the tv series being, but its a fun movie and I'm sure kids would like it.
    ♥ Chani L Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

5 Children and It Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features