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The Borrowers

  • 1997
  • PG
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Tom Felton, Flora Newbigin, and Raymond Pickard in The Borrowers (1997)
Trailer for The Borrowers
Play trailer1:29
2 Videos
91 Photos
High-Concept ComedyUrban AdventureAdventureComedyFamilyFantasy

A secret family of four-inch people living inside the walls of a house must save their home from an evil real estate developer.A secret family of four-inch people living inside the walls of a house must save their home from an evil real estate developer.A secret family of four-inch people living inside the walls of a house must save their home from an evil real estate developer.

  • Director
    • Peter Hewitt
  • Writers
    • Mary Norton
    • Gavin Scott
    • John Kamps
  • Stars
    • John Goodman
    • Jim Broadbent
    • Mark Williams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Peter Hewitt
    • Writers
      • Mary Norton
      • Gavin Scott
      • John Kamps
    • Stars
      • John Goodman
      • Jim Broadbent
      • Mark Williams
    • 56User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos2

    The Borrowers
    Trailer 1:29
    The Borrowers
    The Borrowers
    Trailer 0:31
    The Borrowers
    The Borrowers
    Trailer 0:31
    The Borrowers

    Photos91

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    + 85
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    Top cast29

    Edit
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Ocious P. Potter
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Pod Clock
    Mark Williams
    Mark Williams
    • Exterminator Jeff
    Celia Imrie
    Celia Imrie
    • Homily Clock
    Flora Newbigin
    • Arrietty Clock
    Tom Felton
    Tom Felton
    • Peagreen Clock
    Raymond Pickard
    • Spiller
    Bradley Pierce
    Bradley Pierce
    • Pete Lender
    Aden Gillett
    Aden Gillett
    • Joe Lender
    Doon Mackichan
    Doon Mackichan
    • Victoria Lender
    Hugh Laurie
    Hugh Laurie
    • Officer Steady
    Ruby Wax
    Ruby Wax
    • Town Hall Clerk
    Andrew Dunford
    • Dustbunny
    Bob Goody
    Bob Goody
    • Minty
    Patrick Monckton
    Patrick Monckton
    • Swag
    • (as Patrick Monkton)
    Dick Ward
    • Milkman
    George Antoni
    George Antoni
    • Chauffeur
    • (as George Yiassoumi)
    Alex Winter
    Alex Winter
    • TV Gangster
    • Director
      • Peter Hewitt
    • Writers
      • Mary Norton
      • Gavin Scott
      • John Kamps
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews56

    5.924.5K
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    Featured reviews

    Witch Hazel

    A good film

    I honestly don't understand all the bad reviews this show has gotten. I think it's a great flick. Their sets and props were amusing (i.e., using birthday cake candles for torches and credit cards for doors), and it was interesting to see the world from a little person's point of view. The plot was very good, as was the acting, and the Borrowers' accents just added to their charm. You really should give this film a try.
    Lady_Jenna

    i loved it

    i adore this movie. it gives an entirely new perspective about the world. much the same effect as "honey i shrunk the kids" had only more every day life. tables, chairs, beds, clothes. it's great. what I love is the cast. I just keep recognizing people. "he was in jumanji!" "he was in stuart little!" "he is in the harry potter movies!" "he was in moulin rouge!" i loved it. actually, this movie is worth watching just for the hair styles! ^_^
    7j

    Good Fun with great effects.

    I have to be honest, I was not looking forward to this movie. I never heard of it nor know anything about those in it, except for John Goodman. However, this selection was for my daughter and did not want to see a repeat of another cartoon-type movie. My wife and I found the movie to be good clean fun with some mild but acceptable violence and virtually no language. A good combo for a family film and for a child. My daughter said it was "good" and my wife and I thought it was cute. In this day and age, it can be hard to find good movies around. While this movie may not be a keeper in your own collection, it is worth renting. The behind-the-scenes on the DVD was good and the DVD also contained both letterboxed and Pan-and-scan versions.
    Benjy

    Not just good special effects but superb ones!

    Reading some of the other reviews you get the impression that the Special Effects in the Borrowers are somewhat mediocre, well I feel I must stand up for them. The effects in this film are on the whole superb. The problem is that some of them are so good you just don't notice them unless they are pointed out to you. In my opinion the effects in the Borrowers are vastly superior to things like say Titanic, which rather unbelievably won an Oscar. Any effect which you're inclined to say "That's a good effect" too, is not a good effect, it is a poor one because you can tell it's an effect. The best effects go unnoticed, not only by the movie going public but also by the Academy it seems.
    8ccthemovieman-1

    Inventive And Real-Looking

    When this first came out, almost a decade ago, I thought it was the best job I had seen of making miniature people look real. This showed how far technology had come in films and now, of course, we see a lot more amazing special effects.

    It was fun to view how these "borrowers" moved about, using ordinary household items to propel themselves around a normal-sized house. It's all pretty ingenious.

    John Goodman plays a cartoon-like role, a role that is generally funny to watch. The cast has a mixture of American and English actors, with a setting of 1940s Britain. I first saw this on VHS and then later on DVD, which was improvement not only video-wise, but audio, too, as it somehow went from mono to surround sound. This might be considered a kids movie but a lot of the humor is more adult-oriented.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey in Liar Liar (1997)
    High-Concept Comedy
    Shameik Moore in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
    Urban Adventure
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming, the producers announced that this was the biggest family film to be shot on UK soundstages since "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang".
    • Goofs
      The film is set in a fictitious time and place which include elements of both Britain and North America, technology and products from many different eras, and fictitious uniforms and currency.
    • Quotes

      Peagreen Clock: Great, just great. I've been outside for two minutes and I'm covered in POO...

    • Crazy credits
      During the end credits, there is a scene shown where Potter tries to explain to the police about seeing the Borrowers.
    • Alternate versions
      On BYU TV, the words, "damn" and "good God" were removed.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Sphere/The Borrowers/The Wedding Singer (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Weird
      Written by Desmond Child and Hanson

      Performed by Hanson

      Courtesy of Mercury Records

      By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

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    FAQ20

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 13, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mis pequeños inquilinos
    • Filming locations
      • Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, London, England, UK(city hall)
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $29,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $22,619,589
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,470,111
      • Feb 15, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $22,619,589
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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