Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- dreamy
- adventurous
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually lavish and suitable for children but hindered by a sluggish, predictable narrative and underdeveloped script.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Maria Merryweather is identified as the only person capable of banishing Moonacre's ancient curse.
The film places its magical kingdom in Victorian England while using elaborate costumes, lush colors, and medieval-inspired, dreamlike sets.
Maria investigates the Merryweather family legacy and the secrets surrounding the curse and Moonacre kingdom.
The curse is tied to the fractured history of the Merryweather and De Noir families and their unresolved relationships.
Films like The Secret of Moonacre, and why
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
children's fantasy adventure with a young heroine, magical curses, ornate production design, and family-friendly peril
The Spiderwick Chronicles
storybook fantasy centered on an orphaned child, enchanted landscapes, family conflict, and themes of courage and belonging
Stardust
youth-oriented fantasy adventure featuring magical kingdoms, elaborate costumes, romance, and a quest to break an ancient curse
The Golden Compass
family fantasy with a young protagonist, whimsical visual world, inherited secrets, and a redemptive magical conflict
Movie Details
- Director
- Gábor Csupó
- Release Date
- 2009-02-06
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (514)
Cast
- Dakota Blue Richards
- Ioan Gruffudd
- Tim Curry
- Augustus Prew
- Natascha McElhone
- Juliet Stevenson
- Tamás Tóth
- György Szathmári
- George Mendel
- Michael Webber
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 Secret of Moonacre about?
- An orphaned girl enters a dreamlike Victorian kingdom where family secrets and a centuries-old curse make her its reluctant savior.
- What is The Secret of Moonacre like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Secret of Moonacre as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Secret of Moonacre violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Secret of Moonacre as mild.
- What did critics think of The Secret of Moonacre?
- Critics broadly found the film visually lavish and suitable for children but hindered by a sluggish, predictable narrative and underdeveloped script.
- Which films are like The Secret of Moonacre?
- Films with a similar feel include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust, and The Golden Compass.
- How long is The Secret of Moonacre?
- The Secret of Moonacre runs 103 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Secret of Moonacre?
- In United States, The Secret of Moonacre streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
