Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

2004, Kids & family/Adventure, 1h 47m

162 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

Although it softens the nasty edges of its source material, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a gothic visual treat, and it features a hilariously manic turn from Jim Carrey as the evil Count Olaf. Read critic reviews

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Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Videos

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Trailer 1

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Official Clip - The Baudelaire Children

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Official Clip - Hurricane Herman

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Official Clip - We're Too Late

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Official Clip - Aunt Josephine

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: Official Clip - The Letter That Never Came

View All Videos (6)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events Photos

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

Jim Carrey as Count Olaf in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."

(Left to right) Jim Carrey as Count Olaf, Liam Aiken as Klaus, Kara/Shelby Hoffman as Sunny and Emily Browning as Violet in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events."

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY.

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

A scene from the Film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events starring JIM CARREY

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Movie Info

After the three young Baudelaire siblings are left orphaned by a fire in their mansion, they are carted off to live with their distant relative, Count Olaf (Jim Carrey). Unfortunately, Olaf is a cruel, scheming man only after the inheritance that the eldest Baudelaire, Violet (Emily Browning), is set to receive. The children escape and find shelter with their quirky Uncle Monty (Billy Connolly) and, subsequently, their phobic Aunt Josephine (Meryl Streep), but Olaf is never far behind.

Rating:

PG (Scary Situations|Brief Language|Thematic Elements)
Genre:

Kids & family, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Brad Silberling
Producer:

Albie Hecht, Laurie MacDonald, Walter F. Parkes
Writer:

Robert Gordon, Daniel Handler
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 17, 2004 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Apr 26, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA):

$118.6M
Runtime:

1h 47m
Distributor:

DreamWorks SKG
Sound Mix:

Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.37:1)

Cast & Crew

Jim Carrey
Count Olaf

Liam Aiken
Klaus Baudelaire

Emily Browning
Violet Baudelaire

Kara Hoffman
Sunny

Shelby Hoffman
Sunny

Jude Law
Lemony Snicket
Voice

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

All Critics (162) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (46)

Full Review… Hank Sartin Chicago Reader

Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media

Full Review… Derek Adams Time Out

Full Review… Caroline Westbrook Empire Magazine

Full Review… Nathan Rabin AV Club

Full Review… Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness

Full Review… Kevin Carr Fat Guys at the Movies

Full Review… Garth Franklin Dark Horizons

Full Review… Devin Faraci CHUD

Full Review… Kit Bowen Hollywood.com

Full Review… Joseph Proimakis Movies for the Masses

Full Review… Peter T. Chattaway Christianity Today

View All Critic Reviews (162)

Audience Reviews for Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Jun 14, 2019

A Series of Unfortunate Events highlights the bizarre lore of Lemony Snicket's encapsulating vision by utilizing a plethora of stars including Meryl Streep and ever-iconic, multi-layered Jim Carrey. The charming adolescent/toddler trio and perilous, yet quirky plot is just enough satisfaction and entertainment to wonder what could have been for this potentially-developing franchise. 3.75/5

Eugene B Super Reviewer
Nov 19, 2016

I decided to see this since Netflix is turning it into a TV series next year. A great performance from Jim Carrey and an engaging plot, set up for sequels that did not happen, doesn't do the book series justice. Very entertaining and funny.

Ian W Super Reviewer
Aug 04, 2013

Nowhere near the brilliance of Lemony Snicket's series, the film is a disappointment as far as adaptations go. It is aesthetically pleasing, however, with wonderful visuals. While there is some humor, most of the film is quite lifeless with wooden acting. If only the makers had spent as much time on the script as they did on the aesthetics, the film may feel a little less empty than it does. Ultimately, the film is pretty to look at, but nothing more. Its main failure not only comes from awkward pacing and a bland script, but an attempt to mix in secrets revealed in the last books of the series with the first three installations. Frankly, it doesn't work.

Matthew Samuel M Super Reviewer
Aug 05, 2012

Was quite different to the books, but offered some new elements and yet worked. The costumes were fantastic, acting was charming. It only the film can receive a Harry Potter treatment then it would be much better.

Sylvester K Super Reviewer

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