When ten-year-old Lewis is suddenly orphaned, he is sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan in a creaky (and creepy) old mansion with a mysterious ticking noise that emanates from the walls. Upon discovering that his uncle is a warlock, Lewis begins learning magic, but when he rebelliously resurrects an evil warlock he must find the secret of the house and save the world from destruction.
Practical Effects
Living furniture and sentient mannequins—CGI who?
Acting
Cate Blanchett and Jack Black's bickering witch/uncle duo
Production
1950s Michigan mansion dripping with production design love
Director
Eli Roth
Jack Black
Jonathan Barnavelt
Cate Blanchett
Florence Zimmerman
Owen Vaccaro
Lewis Barnavelt
Kyle MacLachlan
Isaac Izard
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Selena Izard
Colleen Camp
Mrs. Hanchett
Sunny Suljic
Tarby Corrigan
Lorenza Izzo
Mother
Braxton Bjerken
Woody Mingo
Vanessa Anne Williams
Rose Rita Pottinger
Ricky Muse
Bus Driver
Charles Green
Soda Jerk
De'Jon Watts
Clark
Aaron Beelner
Clown Automaton
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Eli Roth's first PG-rated film—yes, the Hostel guy directed a kids' movie about a magical uncle.
Based on John Bellairs' 1973 novel, which scared an entire generation of middle schoolers before Harry Potter existed.
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