The Secret of NIMH

The Secret of NIMH has built a real following in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Kanopy among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Elizabeth Hartman's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason The Secret of NIMH keeps coming up in conversation. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry The Secret of NIMH through its more ambitious moments. A widowed field mouse must move her family -- including an ailing son -- to escape a farmer's plow. Aided by a crow and a pack of superintelligent, escaped lab rats, the brave mother struggles to transplant her home to firmer ground. Elizabeth Hartman and Derek Jacobi lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1982. The rules of The Secret of NIMH's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

The Secret of NIMH is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Watch for Elizabeth Hartman in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.