The Spiderwick Chronicles

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The Spiderwick Chronicles

PG

2008

1h 37m

Kids & Family

Fantasy

Adventure

Drama

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

148 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Of the three Grace children, Jared has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory, twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

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Critics Consensus

The Spiderwick Chronicles is an entertaining children's adventure, with heart and imagination to spare.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Oct 18, 2008

2/5

A run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure.

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Tom Charity

CNN.com

Oct 18, 2008

The storytelling is economical and brisk. In some ways, Waters approaches it more as a pre-teen horror movie.

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Sarah Bryan Miller

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Oct 18, 2008

The result is effective, if too intense for younger children.

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Joe Lipsett

Hazel & Katniss & Harry & Starr Podcast

Apr 23, 2024

3.5/5

Highmore does well playing twins (though one admittedly doesn't do much) but it's the improvements on Mallory's character from the books, Bolger's realistic fencing technique, and the surprisingly fun (albeit not realistic) CGI that work best

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 28, 2020

8/10

Tremendously entertaining and, thankfully, self-contained and resolute.

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Marcos Rebollo

Cinemanía (Spain)

Nov 5, 2020

3/5

Above the miscellaneous Harrys, Narnias or Eragones. [Full review in Spanish]

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 24, 2026

This movie is a *3.5* star Movie! Why would anyone give it a *5* star rating???

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Mckenzie B

@RT06659062 Aug 16, 2026

Fav movie of all time

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K G

@KatyG-S Mar 27, 2026

"Goosebumps" took on it & deproved it. One thing I liked about it was Freddie Highmore portraying the twins, Jared & Simon Grace. Never neglect a mysterious book - it may be special. Jared opened the book from an ancestor, where fantasy creatures come out. My viewers would be enthralled of the colourful atmosphere representing fairies, trolls of any other fantasy creature. What also comes with adventures are not so small scary antagonist monsters, who terrorise. These stories are what brought us together: Lucy could reunite with her father & rest in peace. It was not goated for the CGI graphics. Sorry, but I could afford too much attention to make this review, so it is badly made.

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Charlo F

@Charlo Feb 15, 2026

Never underestimate the power of the magic from some books and trusting the things around the magical places

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Jonathan E

@Edvane Feb 3, 2026

I thought this was ok but it didn't really do justice to the field guide and also, the creatures in this tale come from European folklore and I hate to admit it but that simply doesn't feel right being set in the USA, no matter how rustic the setting. Rural Britain or Ireland would have been more authentic. I know its a fantasy but imagine Harry Potter in the States. Doesn't fly. Watch once, forget, sadly

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Pedro Henrique C

@Pedro2005 Jan 11, 2026

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) The film is quite enjoyable and beautiful. The characters are good, the script is also good, it just lacked a bit more adventure and magic.

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Mark Waters

Director

Freddie Highmore

Jared

Sarah Bolger

Mallory Grace

Mary-Louise Parker

Helen Grace

David Strathairn

Arthur Spiderwick

Nick Nolte

Mulgarath

The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Griffin's Flight

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Hogsqueal to the Rescue

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - A Father and Son Moment

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Oven Bomb

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Escape

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - Under Attack

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Field Guide

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The Spiderwick Chronicles: Official Clip - The Tunnels

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Synopsis

Of the three Grace children, Jared has always been thought of as the troublemaker. So when strange things happen after his family's move to a relative's dilapidated estate, sister Mallory, twin brother Simon and their mother assume that Jared is behind it all. However, magical creatures roam the grounds, and they all want a special book that Jared has found: a field guide to fantastic creatures, penned by Arthur Spiderwick.

Director: Mark Waters
Producer: Karey Kirkpatrick, Mark Canton, Larry J. Franco, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
Screenwriter: Karey Kirkpatrick, David Berenbaum, John Sayles
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Nickelodeon Movies
Rating: PG (Scary Creature Action|Peril|Some Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 14, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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