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Trailer

The Tale of Despereaux

2008Movie1 h 33 minG

Animation
55
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.1Letterboxd2.9/5Metacritic535.7Rotten Tomatoes56%44%

An awe-inspiring, uplifting adventure movie about fantasy and growing up.

Good for family movie night · friends night · kids

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for scares, brutality or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

Small Mouse. Big Dreams.

Once upon a time... in the far away kingdom of Dor... lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro, who leads him, at long last, on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

Feels like

  • Animated Fantasy
  • Wholesome Adventure
  • Courage & Redemption
  • Family Friendly
  • Fairytale Adaptation
  • Enchanting World
  • Hopeful Narrative
  • Hero's Journey
  • Children's Classic

Cast

18 of 18

Crew

Directed by
Sam Fell, Robert Stevenhagen
Written by
Gary Ross
Produced by
Gary Ross, Allison Thomas
Music by
William Ross

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 18, 2008 · 1 h 33 min · G

Released
December 18, 2008
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Age rating
G
Genres
Adventure, Animation, Family
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$60 million
Box office
$87 million
Available in
95 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Abled in the Adaptation, Adapted Out, Blind Seer +9

  • Abled in the Adaptation
  • Adapted Out
  • Blind Seer
  • Bratty Food Demand
  • The Chain of Harm
  • Punctuated! For! Emphasis!
  • Spared by the Adaptation
  • Serious Business
  • Suicidal "Gotcha!"
  • Nightmare Fetishist
  • Happily Ever After
  • Unreliable Voiceover

12 of 22 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Tale of Despereaux?"

Questions about The Tale of Despereaux

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Tale of Despereaux?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Tale of Despereaux from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It streams in 39 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Tale of Despereaux worth watching?

55
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 55 (IMDb 6.1, Letterboxd 2.9 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 56%, and Metacritic 53).

Is The Tale of Despereaux okay for kids?

G

Yes: it's rated G in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Can I half-watch The Tale of Despereaux?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it drop-in friendly.

Will I feel good after watching The Tale of Despereaux?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for hopefulness and 8 for wholesome.

What tropes does The Tale of Despereaux use?

Abled in the AdaptationAdapted OutBlind SeerBratty Food DemandThe Chain of HarmPunctuated! For! Emphasis!Spared by the AdaptationSerious BusinessSuicidal "Gotcha!"Nightmare FetishistHappily Ever AfterUnreliable Voiceoverand 10 more

TV Tropes lists 22 tropes for it, including Abled in the Adaptation, Adapted Out, and Blind Seer.