Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
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After a malfunctioning machine shrinks four children to a tiny size, they must navigate a backyard wilderness filled with oversized hazards.
The story
Inventor Wayne Szalinski creates an energy-projecting machine intended to shrink and grow objects, but it frequently malfunctions. When a baseball accidentally activates the machine, it shrinks Wayne's children and the children of their next-door neighbors to a height of just a quarter of an inch. After being tossed into a trash bag and escaping into the yard, the four children find themselves in a perilous world where common insects and garden items become life-threatening obstacles. They must navigate the overgrown backyard to find a way back to their families while their parents remain unaware of their predicament.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Wayne Szalinski's malfunctioning shrinking machine accidentally shrinks his children, Amy and Nick, along with their neighbors' children, Ron and Little Russ. The children are discarded in a trash bag but escape into the backyard, where they face a perilous journey through a 'wilderness' of oversized grass, insects, and garden tools. They encounter a bee, a scorpion, and a lawnmower while trying to reach the house. Meanwhile, the parents realize the children are missing and Wayne eventually discovers the truth. The children eventually reach the house and use charades to communicate with the adults. Wayne fixes the machine, and the children are restored to their original size. The film ends with the two families becoming close friends.
- First release year
- 1989
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Joe Johnston
- Writers
- Ed Naha · screenplay; Tom Schulman · screenplay; Stuart Gordon · story; Brian Yuzna · story
- Cast and characters
- Rick Moranis · Wayne Szalinski; Matt Frewer; Marcia Strassman · Diane; Kristine Sutherland; Thomas Brown; Jared Rushton · Ron; Amy O'Neill · Amy; Robert Oliveri · Nick
- Genres
- science fiction; comedy
- Themes
- adventure; survival
- Tone and mood
- high-spirited; charming
- Premise and plot tags
- size change; family; sci-fi
- Franchise connections
- Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
- Reception
- The film was an unexpected box office success and received generally favorable reviews for its special effects and sense of adventure.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 76% · review count: 37; Metacritic · score: 63 · scale: 100 · review count: 11
- Awards and nominations
- ASCAP Award · Top Box Office Films · win; Saturn Award · Best Science Fiction Film · nomination; Saturn Award · Special Effects Crew · nomination; BAFTA Award · Best Special Visual Effects · win; Young Artist Award · Amy O'Neill · nomination; Young Artist Award · Jared Rushton · nomination; Fantasporto Award · Joe Johnston · nomination
- Production trivia
- The script was originally written with actor Chevy Chase in mind.; The film was heavily influenced by 1950s fare, such as The Incredible Shrinking Man.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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