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Le Petit Monde des Borrowers

Original title: The Borrowers
  • 1997
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Tom Felton, Flora Newbigin, and Raymond Pickard in Le Petit Monde des 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
    24K
    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

    5.924.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7chandler_n

    Don't listen to the Haters

    This movie still stands up the test of time as a feel good silly children's film for ages 8-14. I still recall this film now that I'm in my early 30's. While a child and still active in cinema and commercials, films like this and Mouse Trap always stuck out as wonderful and underrated family films. I appreciated them alot then, I appreciate them even more now.

    Goodman is a genius - give it a shot.
    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.
    6zetes

    Not bad, not good

    I've been interested in seeing this adaptation of Mary Norton's novels ever since I saw the Studio Ghibli adaptation, The Secret World of Arrietty, last February. As I expected, this is more of a comic adventure film, a pretty typical children's film for the time, as opposed to the serious and beautiful Ghibli version. I have no idea which is closer to the source material (I'd actually bet the 1997 version is; the other one is way too Ghibli-esque not to have been heavily changed). As it is, the 1997 version is a halfway decent children's films. Not good, not bad. If I were a kid, I think I'd enjoy it. It stars John Goodman and Jim Broadbent, so it at least has something going for it. The family is pretty similar to the Ghibli version, except for they also have a son (Tom Felton). Felton and Flora Newbigin (who plays Arrietty) get separated from their parents (Broadbent and Celia Imrie) when the house they live in is set to be bulldozed by evil land developer (is there any other kind?) John Goodman. There's no seriousness here. It's all just loud adventure type stuff as the borrower children outsmart Goodman at every turn (he could probably very easily defeat his nemeses here if he would just avoid those comic pauses every time they're about to get him). I'm surprised Newbigin didn't go onto anything better. She's a pretty good juvenile actress. I don't think this film was very successful. I don't ever remember it existing (I was in college at the time, so I wouldn't have had any interest). The special effects aren't too bad. The story was adapted just five years previous with Ian Holm starring in the Jim Broadbent role.
    kinophile-2

    A very fun film with a great look

    I was charmed by this movie and cannot understand the venom unleashed upon it by some of the other reviews. I don't have any kids, nor do I spend a whole lot of time watching movies geared towards them, but most "kiddie fare" seems so saccharine and preachy, with screeching soundtracks and day-glo color schemes all designed to work as commercials for happy meals and action figures that this one stands out because it's just plain fun. The production design and special effects are unique -- and purposefully so. Some reviews have complained that the film is not set in a readily identifiable time or place, but that's the charm; set in a kind of timeless anywhere that is both familiar and foreign, with the kind of hazy details and warm glow that suggest a fond childhood memory/fantasy. If you expect some Dizneefied, pre-fabbed, pre-digested offering that hits all of the right beats at the right moments with such predictability that you can set your watch to them, skip this. (Or watch "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," because it sure mimics the form while subverting the content.) If you want something fun and imaginative, different from the usual, give this a try. And if the kids complain that it's boring, send them to bed and watch it yourself.
    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.

    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 & the Movies: 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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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1998 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Le Monde des Borrowers
    • 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
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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