Zathura: A Space Adventure
Two quarrelling brothers must survive a magically activated space board game that transforms their home into a cosmic battlefield.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- playful
- wondrous
- breezy
- family movie night
- weekend afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a visually dazzling and well-crafted family space adventure with appealing performances and enough humor for adults, though its emotional and thematic territory was familiar.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Budwing house is launched into outer space, making household rooms and corridors the stage for robots, aliens, meteors, and survival challenges.
Each move in the Zathura board game produces a new cosmic threat or challenge that determines the boys' next predicament.
Walter's resentment and disregard for Danny gradually give way to cooperation as their survival depends on trust and mutual loyalty.
The film juxtaposes a recognizable suburban home with outer-space travel, interstellar debris, giant creatures, and hostile machines.
Films like Zathura: A Space Adventure, and why
Jumanji
shared magical-game premise, family adventure, escalating supernatural peril, and accessible humor
The NeverEnding Story
shared child-centered fantasy, imaginative world-building, practical spectacle, and sibling-oriented emotional stakes
The Last Starfighter
shared family-friendly science fiction adventure, young protagonists, extraterrestrial danger, and playful wonder
Movie Details
- Director
- Jon Favreau
- Release Date
- 2005-11-06
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (3724)
Cast
- Josh Hutcherson
- Jonah Bobo
- Dax Shepard
- Kristen Stewart
- Tim Robbins
- Frank Oz
- John Alexander
- Derek Mears
- Douglas Tait
- Joe Bucaro III
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
- 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 Zathura: A Space Adventure about?
- Two quarrelling brothers must survive a magically activated space board game that transforms their home into a cosmic battlefield.
- What is Zathura: A Space Adventure like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Zathura: A Space Adventure as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Zathura: A Space Adventure violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Zathura: A Space Adventure as mild.
- What did critics think of Zathura: A Space Adventure?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a visually dazzling and well-crafted family space adventure with appealing performances and enough humor for adults, though its emotional and thematic territory was familiar.
- Which films are like Zathura: A Space Adventure?
- Films with a similar feel include Jumanji, The NeverEnding Story, and The Last Starfighter.
- How long is Zathura: A Space Adventure?
- Zathura: A Space Adventure runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Zathura: A Space Adventure?
- In United States, Zathura: A Space Adventure streams on Netflix.
