James and the Giant Peach 1996

James and the Giant Peach

Critics Consensus

The arresting and dynamic visuals, offbeat details and light-as-air storytelling make James and the Giant Peach solid family entertainment.

91%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 74

66%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 257,042

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James and the Giant Peach Photos

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Movie Info

Featuring stop-motion animation and live action, this inventive adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved children's tale follows the adventures of James (Paul Terry), an orphaned young British boy. Forced to live with his cruel aunts (Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes), James finds a way out of his bleak existence when he discovers an enormous enchanted peach. After rolling into the sea inside the buoyant fruit, James, accompanied by a crew of friendly talking insects, sets sail for New York City.

Cast

Joanna Lumley
as Aunt Spiker
Pete Postlethwaite
as Old Man
Paul Terry (II)
as James (voice)
Simon Callow
as Grasshopper
Richard Dreyfuss
as Centipede
Susan Sarandon
as Spider
Vanessa Redgrave
Guy Witcher
Jane Leeves
as Ladybug
Miriam Margolyes
as Aunt Sponge, Glowworm
Steven Culp
as James' Father
Tony Haney
as Reporter #3
David Thewlis
as Earthworm
Al Nalbandian
as Cabby
Mike Starr
as Beat Cop
J. Stephen Coyle
as Reporter
Girocco Dunlap
as Girl With Telescope
Michael Girardin
as Reporter
Katherine Howell
as Woman in Bathrobe
Chae Kirby
as Newsboy
Jeff Mosley
as Hard Hat Man
Susan Turner-Cray
as James' Mother
Mario Yedidia
as Street Kid
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Critic Reviews for James and the Giant Peach

All Critics (74) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (7)

View All Critic Reviews (74)

Audience Reviews for James and the Giant Peach

  • Aug 09, 2014
    It's a serious diversion from Dahl's original book, but it still maintains an appropriate melancholy tone for the most part. The stop-motion animation is fantastic.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Oct 03, 2013
    Just an all around all right film. Honestly, this film is so odd and bizarre it would take a true legend of the art of filmmaking for me to be interested in it. And I guess that legend's name is Henry Selick. While it definitely is not a film I hold in such high regard and it has very many plot holes, the animation is great enough to send me to a new world. Which if you are going to do a weird movie, that's exactly what it should do. Again, definitely not a timeless feature, but for what it is, I can see where a cult following is dignified.
    Jackson W Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2013
    Honestly I've just found this movie to be unnerving and creepy as shit. I felt that way as a kid, and I still do now. Everyone I talk to seem to absolutely love this movie, and I just can't figure out why...it's not particularly good, and the characters aren't memorable or charming like they're intended to be.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 19, 2012
    Really?! This started out as an AWFUL musical, with songs like "I'm James" that seemed like they were put together by a 2 year old. I didn't even know Tim Burton did the animation part, because it seemed to be pretty poor to be honest with you. As the movie goes on, it becomes one of those pandering children's movie. These are hard for me to judge as "family entertainment". While your short attention span little kid might be enthralled by the visuals, songs and wackiness happening one screen, you as an adult (even though you likely enjoyed the book as a kid... it was written in 1961), will want to hang yourself on one of Miss Spider's webs.
    Mace R Super Reviewer
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