Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- nostalgic
- energetic
- whimsical
- family movie night
- fantasy adventure marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film energetic and reasonably entertaining, but considered its digital effects overwhelming and its story bland and impersonal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The familiar Jack and the Beanstalk premise is extended with royal intrigue, a rescue mission, magical mythology, and giant warfare.
Jack begins as a poor farm laborer and becomes central to a royal rescue expedition in a world of kings and giants.
The film's defining set pieces feature enormous giants, a towering beanstalk, and expansive mythic landscapes rendered with prominent digital effects.
The film retains nostalgic fairy-tale elements while emphasizing barbaric giants, royal danger, betrayal, and PG-13 fantasy combat.
Films like Jack the Giant Slayer, and why
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Both are cinematic fairy tales built around a young underdog, magical realms, heroic rescue, and large-scale fantasy adventure.
Jack the Giant Killer
Both combine a classic fairy tale premise with quest adventure, royal characters, comic relief, and digital monster spectacle.
Stardust
Both are family-oriented fantasy adventures featuring a reluctant young hero, a princess in peril, and visually expansive mythic worlds.
Snow White and the Huntsman
Both reinterpret familiar folklore as brisk action-adventure films with romance, magic, and exaggerated fantasy creatures.
Movie Details
- Director
- Bryan Singer
- Release Date
- 2013-02-27
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (5370)
Cast
- Nicholas Hoult
- Eleanor Tomlinson
- Ewan McGregor
- Stanley Tucci
- Ian McShane
- Bill Nighy
- Eddie Marsan
- Ewen Bremner
- Warwick Davis
- Ralph Brown
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 Jack the Giant Slayer about?
- A humble farm boy climbs into a realm of giants to rescue a princess and stop a magical kingdom-threatening invasion.
- What is Jack the Giant Slayer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Jack the Giant Slayer as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Jack the Giant Slayer violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Jack the Giant Slayer as moderate.
- What did critics think of Jack the Giant Slayer?
- Critics broadly found the film energetic and reasonably entertaining, but considered its digital effects overwhelming and its story bland and impersonal.
- Which films are like Jack the Giant Slayer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Jack the Giant Killer, Stardust, and Snow White and the Huntsman.
- How long is Jack the Giant Slayer?
- Jack the Giant Slayer runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Jack the Giant Slayer?
- In United States, Jack the Giant Slayer is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
