Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- witty
- uplifting
- family movie night
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics generally found the film fast-paced and visually inventive but underdeveloped in its use of literary characters and too heavy-handed in its message.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richard begins in live action before entering animated conflicts inspired by fictional stories.
Richard obsessively cites accident statistics and avoids biking, climbing, and other potentially dangerous activities.
Richard travels through conflicts resembling fictional stories while trying to escape the library.
The library journey turns books and their characters into forces that reshape Richard's understanding of the world.
Films like The Pagemaster, and why
The NeverEnding Story
shared family fantasy, literary imagination, child protagonist, and transitions between ordinary life and fantastical worlds
Jumanji
shared family adventure, animated fantasy spectacle, bookish wonder, and a young protagonist confronting fear
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
shared child-centered fantasy, magical library or storybook sensibility, comedic peril, and encouragement toward imagination
Movie Details
- Directors
- Pixote Hunt, Joe Johnston
- Release Date
- 1994-11-23
- Runtime
- 75 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (813)
Cast
- Macaulay Culkin
- Christopher Lloyd
- Patrick Stewart
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Frank Welker
- Leonard Nimoy
- Ed Begley Jr.
- Mel Harris
- George Hearn
- Dorian Harewood
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Pagemaster about?
- A risk-obsessed boy is swept from a stormbound library into animated literary adventures that challenge him to become brave.
- What is The Pagemaster like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Pagemaster as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Pagemaster violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Pagemaster as mild.
- What did critics think of The Pagemaster?
- Critics generally found the film fast-paced and visually inventive but underdeveloped in its use of literary characters and too heavy-handed in its message.
- Which films are like The Pagemaster?
- Films with a similar feel include The NeverEnding Story, Jumanji, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
- How long is The Pagemaster?
- The Pagemaster runs 75 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Pagemaster?
- In United States, The Pagemaster streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
