Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- unsentimental
- family movie night
- rainy afternoon
What critics said
Critics generally found Michelle Trachtenberg and Rosie O'Donnell effective, while viewing the adaptation as slow, technically uneven, and less substantial than its source novel.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Harriet's notebook drives the central reversal after her friends read her private observations.
Harriet uses binoculars, spying routines, and covert observation to understand adults and classmates.
The film emphasizes peer betrayal, offhand cruelty, and Harriet's morally uncomfortable self-discovery.
Harriet's spying and notebook writing connect curiosity, social judgment, and her emerging creative voice.
Films like Harriet the Spy, and why
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Both are darkly comic coming-of-age stories about socially difficult children navigating peer cruelty and adult consciousness.
The Secret Garden
Both are witty, introspective children's stories centered on an observant outsider whose private imagination clashes with social expectations.
Matilda
Both combine family drama, childhood independence, and a young protagonist's emotionally turbulent path toward self-understanding.
Movie Details
- Director
- Bronwen Hughes
- Release Date
- 1996-07-10
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (207)
Cast
- Michelle Trachtenberg
- Gregory Smith
- Vanessa Lee Chester
- Rosie O'Donnell
- J. Smith-Cameron
- Robert Joy
- Eartha Kitt
- Charlotte Sullivan
- Teisha Kim
- Cecilley Carroll
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Harriet the Spy about?
- A fiercely observant New York schoolgirl turns her secret spy notebook into an unlikely test of friendship, creativity, and growing self-awareness.
- What is Harriet the Spy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Harriet the Spy as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Harriet the Spy violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Harriet the Spy.
- What did critics think of Harriet the Spy?
- Critics generally found Michelle Trachtenberg and Rosie O'Donnell effective, while viewing the adaptation as slow, technically uneven, and less substantial than its source novel.
- Which films are like Harriet the Spy?
- Films with a similar feel include Welcome to the Dollhouse, The Secret Garden, and Matilda.
- How long is Harriet the Spy?
- Harriet the Spy runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Harriet the Spy?
- In United States, Harriet the Spy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
