Overview
A whimsical adventure unfolds as a boy raised by quirky creatures fights for his family.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- witty
- eerie
- family movie night
- halloween viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film visually inventive, offbeat, and entertaining for all ages, while considering it less compelling than LAIKA’s strongest work.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
LAIKA’s production combines stop-motion puppets, elaborate miniature environments, and highly textured practical sets.
Cheesebridge’s ruling class supports exterminating the Boxtrolls while pursuing elite status and access to its cheese-tasting culture.
Eggs is a human orphan raised by underground Boxtrolls and must navigate the hostile world above ground without abandoning his family.
Archibald Snatcher presents the Boxtrolls as a threat while manipulating the town to obtain elite recognition and a white hat.
Films like The Boxtrolls, and why
Coraline
shared stop-motion craftsmanship, eccentric fantasy world-building, darkly whimsical humor, and child-centered peril
ParaNorman
shared Laika stop-motion aesthetic, offbeat gothic comedy, outsider protagonists, and themes of courage against social cruelty
The Nightmare Before Christmas
shared handcrafted stop-motion animation, mischievous creatures, comic adventure, and warm family themes
How to Train Your Dragon
shared animated fantasy adventure, unlikely friendship, class prejudice, and a young outsider challenging an oppressive community
Movie Details
- Directors
- Graham Annable, Anthony Stacchi
- Release Date
- 2014-09-10
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1865)
Cast
- Ben Kingsley
- Isaac Hempstead Wright
- Elle Fanning
- Dee Bradley Baker
- Toni Collette
- Jared Harris
- Nick Frost
- Richard Ayoade
- Tracy Morgan
- Simon Pegg
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Boxtrolls about?
- A human boy raised by underground box-wearing creatures confronts a fearmongering exterminator to protect the only family he knows.
- What is The Boxtrolls like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Boxtrolls as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Boxtrolls violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Boxtrolls as mild.
- What did critics think of The Boxtrolls?
- Critics generally found the film visually inventive, offbeat, and entertaining for all ages, while considering it less compelling than LAIKA’s strongest work.
- Which films are like The Boxtrolls?
- Films with a similar feel include Coraline, ParaNorman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and How to Train Your Dragon.
- How long is The Boxtrolls?
- The Boxtrolls runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Boxtrolls?
- In United States, The Boxtrolls streams on Hulu.
