Trailer

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

PG   |    |  Adventure, Comedy, Family

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) Poster

When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf, who is secretly plotting to steal their parents' vast fortune.

6.8/10
198,901
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62 Metascore

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Photos

  • Andrea Bowen at an event for A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Amy Yasbeck and Stella Ritter at an event for A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Andrea Bowen at an event for A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Emily Browning in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Amy Brenneman at an event for A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

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Awards

Won 1 Oscar.

Another 9 wins & 28 nominations.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
31 October 2005 | ccthemovieman-1
No Lemons In This Snicket
Some movies are just plain fun to watch. This is one.

It's funny, it's dramatic and it's a great visual treat with Tim Burton-esquire wild images throughout. This is a superb job of combining great visuals, special effects and an entertaining story.

The two kids, played by Emily Browning and Liam Aiken, should get top billing since they are in every scene while Jim Carrey is in about half.

Everyone in this film is a hoot, especially Carrey who plays "Count Olaf" and then disguises himself by pretending to be other people throughout the story. Whomever he was playing he was hilarious. With his crazy persona, Carrey was good choice for this role. The lines he delivers are so hammy they make me just laugh out loud. I appreciated his work even more on the second viewing.

The kids are likable, good-looking and decent actors and the "baby" is given the funniest "lines" in the movie - all in subtitles.

This film is too dark for the little kids but fun for adolescents on up. There is almost no profanity in here and no sex. The sets are particularly strange and interesting, from the various houses to the clothing to the computer-enhanced scenery, with gorgeous colors. Make no mistake: this is a very pretty film with so many fascinating objects in here to view that even multiple viewings can't possibly pick them all up.

Obviously, there is a lot to like. I hope there is a sequel.

Metacritic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two weeks before the end of shooting, director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki had to leave due to work commitments for The New World (2005). Robert Yeoman was brought in for a shot in the last half of the third act (The Wide Window). Yeoman was given a special thanks in the credits.

Quotes

Lemony Snicket: I'm sorry to say that this is not the movie you will be watching. The movie you are about to see is extremely unpleasant. If you wish to see a film about a happy little elf, I'm sure there is still plenty of seating in theatre number two. However, ...

Goofs

In the last scene, when Klaus is in the tower and the light shines through all the mirrors, it is made quite clear he is standing right in the path of the light. Yet, when he walks up to the eye, he no longer is in the light's path.

Crazy Credits

The final song in the end credits is "The Littlest Elf" theme song. When both the credits and song are finished, the elf's laugh is heard right before the closing Paramount logo appears on screen.

Soundtracks

Hungarian Dance #5
(uncredited)
Written by Johannes Brahms

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Details

Release Date:

17 December 2004

Language

English

Country of Origin

Germany, USA

Filming Locations

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$140,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,061,756 19 December 2004

Gross USA:

$118,634,549

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$211,468,235

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