Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- gothic
- dramatic
- tense
- teen movie night
- fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as an overstuffed, derivative young adult fantasy adaptation with an incoherent plot and excessive visual effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Clary discovers the Shadow World beneath contemporary New York, populated by Shadowhunters, demons, vampires, werewolves, and warlocks.
Clary learns she descends from Shadowhunters and must assume a role connected to her lineage after her mother's disappearance.
The story brings together angels, demons, vampires, werewolves, warlocks, and demon-hunting warriors in a single urban fantasy framework.
The disappearance of Clary's mother motivates Clary's alliance with the Shadowhunters and her investigation of the Shadow World.
Films like The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and why
Twilight
Shared young adult fantasy romance, secret supernatural society, and teen protagonists confronting a hidden magical world.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Shared ensemble young adult fantasy adventure, coming-of-age conflict, and mythology-driven battle against supernatural forces.
I Am Number Four
Shared contemporary urban fantasy, teenage discovery of hidden powers, and visually elaborate supernatural action.
The Host
Shared young adult franchise-building, secret magical communities, romantic tension, and battles involving multiple supernatural species.
Movie Details
- Director
- Harald Zwart
- Release Date
- 2013-08-21
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (4708)
Cast
- Lily Collins
- Jamie Campbell Bower
- Robert Sheehan
- Kevin Zegers
- Jemima West
- Lena Headey
- Aidan Turner
- Jared Harris
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
- Kevin Durand
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- 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 Mortal Instruments: City of Bones about?
- A teenager discovers her supernatural heritage and enters New York’s hidden Shadow World to find her missing mother.
- What is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as an overstuffed, derivative young adult fantasy adaptation with an incoherent plot and excessive visual effects.
- Which films are like The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
- Films with a similar feel include Twilight, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, I Am Number Four, and The Host.
- How long is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
- The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones runs 130 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
- In United States, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones streams on Netflix.
