Max Records, James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose

The adventures of a young boy named Max who, after being sent to bed for misbehaving, imagines that he sails away to where the wild things are. Max is loved by the wild creatures who make him their Ki...( read more  read more... )ng, though he soon longs to be back home with his family.

Flixster Users

68% liked it

209,969 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

187 critics

PG, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Spike Jonze

Release Date: October 16, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (10,046)


  • November 17, 2009
    i dont know that ive ever been so disappointed in a movie that i liked so much. this is truly a great film, with stunning art direction and cinematography and a solid performance from a young max records. but the film also felt a bit void of depth despite the deeply emotional a...( read more)nd even depressing disposition of the wild things. the entire time i felt the film nearing that point of revelation that would blow me away, but it never came. a really good movie that has its special place among unique films, but the film never capitalized on what should have been a film filled with more joy.
  • November 10, 2009
    Gorgeously filmed, and packs quite an emotional punch. It perfectly captures the feelings of loneliness and yearning while still being fun and ultimately hopeful. New best line ever? "That was my favorite arm."
  • November 8, 2009
    A troubled, rambunctious boy travels to an imaginary land where wild beasts anoint him their king, but discovers that socialization is a struggle even in his imagination. It's incredible how Maurice Sendak's drawings are brought to life and there are several wondrous scenes, but...( read more) it's really more for adults than children: the lack of focus in the plot will bore them, and the symbolic exploration of a child's psyche will go right over their heads.
  • November 7, 2009
    As a child, I was never really sold on the book but always knew there was something special about it. That said, between Spike Jonze, his creative team, and Max Records, I was sold.
  • November 6, 2009
    I 'm a HUGE fan of the book (and of Spike Jonze & Dave Eggers), I went into this fully expecting a "five star" movie, but am only giving it four.

    Visually, it is stunning and beautifully shot. You can really see and feel the passion that went into getting this story told on ...( read more)film.

    The "acting-acting" by newcomer Max Records is brilliant! I hope this is the start of a great career for this kid. And the "voice acting" is brilliantly cast and spot-on. Some really funny and intelligent writing, made all the more powerful by these great actors.

    The soundtrack is superb and couldn't be better suited to the film.

    The film has all of the engrossing visuals of the book, but (as one would expect when the source book is only 10 sentences/338 words long) delves deeper into both Max's and "The Wild Things" psyches' and is much darker then the book dared to be.

    Which isn't a bad thing...but in doing so and by giving the "Wild Things" such elaborate (yet under developed) personalities it really takes away much of the charm of the book which was it's captivating imagary and simple (but touching) story.

    I remember as a child always being a little bothered by not knowing more about WHAT the "Wild Things" were...and now with this film I find that I'm additionally bothered by wanting to now know more about WHO they are.

    Having said that, I'm delighted it was made. I can not imagine anyone being able to capture the look and feel of the book as well as Jonze has and feel that it is (to spite a few flaws) a beautiful and magical journey that is well worth taking.
  • November 22, 2009
    The Wild Things and their world are perfectly realized. There are twenty or so aimless minutes after Max first gets to their land that had me fearing this would be the only real point of praise; but the movie pulls out of this funk and becomes quite wonderful. They say the Osca...( read more)rs next year will have ten Best Picture nominations rather than five. Counting this, there are now five I've seen this year that deserve it: glad to know there's room for more.
  • November 22, 2009
    espectacular.....oscura
  • November 22, 2009
    I don?t think I ever read this as a kid. The movie seemed ok considering I?ve heard there?s only 10 pages (I think) in the book! Was filled in well, I guess.
    I really can?t give a complete review or grade but from what I saw its average however... the costumes (?) are quite c...( read more)ool. Or maybe even awesome! They look (as far as I remember of seeing the book cover) Carol (I think) looks just like the cover of the book. Although I thought I?ve seen him w/ a toothy grin if I?ve leafed through the book. Otherwise I really didn?t care for the movie & really not sure how this would be a movie for the kids of age for the book. I don?t recall curses maybe one but I could have herd wrong. Also like I said its also dark but I guess with the movie you can teach how not to judge people & teach how to HELP better (& not lie) etc. To me, if they are not at least in grade school, then maybe shouldn?t be watching movie. Parents discression. C (for what part of the movie I saw)
  • November 22, 2009
    i cant wait to see it . It looks funny and emotional sometimes. Made me smile all the way through the trailer. Amazing
  • November 21, 2009
    i loved this book as a kid.

Critic Reviews


October 17, 2009
Pete Hammond, Back Stage

Spike Jonze is an original cinematic voice but in the end you just wish he left this on the bookshelf where it belongs. full review

October 16, 2009
Kurt Loder, MTV

The result is a picture of considerable vision (this is a Spike Jonze film), but one that feels still-born. It traipses from one set-piece incident to the next without gathering much imaginative power... full review

October 15, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Jonze's ideas, visual and otherwise, spill out in a faux-philosophical ramble that isn't nearly as deep as he thinks it is; at best, it's a scrambled tone poem. Even the look of the picture becomes ti... full review

October 15, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Where the Wild Things Are is a fiercely innovative film with surprising texture and nuance. It captures the joy and exuberance of childhood without shying away from its very real pains and woes. full review

October 15, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

For all the money spent, the film's success is best measured by its simplicity and the purity of its innovation. Jonze has filmed a fantasy as if it were absolutely real, allowing us to see the world ... full review

October 15, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

In an era glutted with sanitized, prefabricated, computer-generated kids' stuff, this is an experience of sophisticated cross-generational appeal. It digs deep into childhood's bright, manic exuberanc... full review

October 15, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Some children, I think, will love this film, some will find it frightening, and some will be bored. Adults, likely, will experience it the same way. full review

October 15, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The plot is simple stuff, spread fairly thin in terms of events but portentous in terms of meaning. It comes down to: What is right? -- a question that children often seek answers to. full review

October 14, 2009
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

A mature, striking exploration of the way that kids feel. full review

October 14, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

The most daring kid's-movie adaptation since Altman's still-avant-garde Popeye from 1980. full review

View more Where the Wild Things Are reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • crazeefrog08
    August 23, 2009
    look's fantastic!:)
  • yodadax
    December 6, 2007
    LOOKS RLY KOOL LUVED THE BOOK WEN I WAZ A WEE LAD!!!!!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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