A Series of Unfortunate Events
2004 · Movie · PG · 108 min · ★ 6.8 · 67% critics
Three wealthy children are left orphaned after their parents die in a fire. Sent to live with a distant relative, they quickly discover he may be trying to harm them and take their fortune for himself.
Based on The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, The Wide Window
Also known as Lemony Snicket
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Details
- Original title
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
- Years
- 2004
- Release date
- 2004-12-16
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Critic score
- 67/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (5,298 votes)
- Box office
- $209,073,645
- Budget
- $140,000,000
About
If you like darkly whimsical family adventures with a threatening villain and striking visuals, you may enjoy this; Not for you if you want a laugh-out-loud, lightly paced story like Onward or Nanny McPhee.
Pros: Jim Carrey as villain; Darkly fun atmosphere; Visually engaging sets | Cons: Feels too brisk; Not consistently funniest; Some dialogue repeats
Themes
- fire
- sibling relationship
- murder
- inheritance
- steampunk
- mansion
- orphan
- orphan siblings
- unfortunate
- based on young adult novel
- death of parents
- parental guardian
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Makeup and Hairstyling · 2005
- Australian Film Institute International Award — Best Actress · 2005
- Teen Choice Award — Best Villain · 2005
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 2005 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design · 2005 · nominated
Show all 17 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Makeup and Hairstyling · 2005 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 2005 · nominated
- Australian Film Institute International Award — Best Actress · 2005 · nominated
- MTV Movie Award — Best Villain · 2005 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Editing · 2005 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Cinematography · 2005 · nominated
- Saturn Award — Best Special Edition DVD Release · 2005 · nominated
- Teen Choice Award — Best Villain · 2005 · nominated
- World Soundtrack Award — Soundtrack Composer of the Year · 2005 · nominated
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Family Film · 2004 · nominated
- Saturn Award — Best Fantasy Film · 2004 · nominated
- Saturn Award — Best Make-up · 2004 · nominated
Cast & crew
Emily Browning
as Violet Baudelaire
Liam Aiken
as Klaus Baudelaire
Kara Hoffman
as Sunny Baudelaire
Shelby Hoffman
as Sunny Baudelaire
Jim Carrey
as Count Olaf / Dr. Stephano / Captain Sham
Meryl Streep
as Josephine Anwhistle
Jude Law
as Lemony Snicket (voice)
Timothy Spall
as Mr. Poe
Billy Connolly
as Dr. Montgomery Montgomery
Luis Guzmán
as Bald Man
Directed by Brad Silberling