The Spiderwick Chronicles

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, The Spiderwick Chronicles is available in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 2,886 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Freddie Highmore sets the tone, and the world-building does the rest. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Spiderwick Chronicles earns its spot. The Spiderwick Chronicles uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. Freddie Highmore and Sarah Bolger lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2008. The Spiderwick Chronicles resists the temptation to explain everything, trusting the audience to sit with ambiguity. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

The Spiderwick Chronicles is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Freddie Highmore grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.