Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- adventurous
- whimsical
- suspenseful
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found City of Ember visually arresting and supported by a strong cast, but considered its simplified juvenile story and limited action less compelling than its production design.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lina and Doon must reconstruct the lost instructions stored in a strong box before Ember's failing systems collapse.
Ember is defined by immense pipeworks, grinding machinery, dim artificial illumination, and improvised gadgets.
Lina and Doon investigate the city's secrets and resist the mayor's ineffective control as conditions deteriorate.
Ember was deliberately built underground as a temporary refuge, but its inhabitants have forgotten the purpose and means of departure.
Films like City of Ember, and why
The Giver
Shares a child-led dystopian adventure, puzzle-solving quest, underground setting, and hopeful escape narrative.
The Darkest Minds
Shares a visually inventive subterranean world, resource scarcity, youthful protagonists, and discovery of a hidden truth.
The Last Mimzy
Shares family-friendly science fiction fantasy, eccentric world-building, young heroes, and a journey toward a wider world.
Brazil
Shares whimsical dystopian production design, oppressive civic systems, mechanical environments, and a young protagonist seeking liberation.
Movie Details
- Director
- Gil Kenan
- Release Date
- 2008-10-07
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (1962)
Cast
- Saoirse Ronan
- Harry Treadaway
- Bill Murray
- David Ryall
- Tim Robbins
- Mackenzie Crook
- Marianne Jean-Baptiste
- Mary Kay Place
- Toby Jones
- Lucinda Dryzek
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is City of Ember about?
- Two resourceful teenagers race to decode Ember's forgotten escape plan before their underground refuge loses its power, food, and future.
- What is City of Ember like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of City of Ember as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is City of Ember violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in City of Ember as mild.
- What did critics think of City of Ember?
- Critics broadly found City of Ember visually arresting and supported by a strong cast, but considered its simplified juvenile story and limited action less compelling than its production design.
- Which films are like City of Ember?
- Films with a similar feel include The Giver, The Darkest Minds, The Last Mimzy, and Brazil.
- How long is City of Ember?
- City of Ember runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch City of Ember?
- In United States, City of Ember is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
