The Secret of NIMH (1982)
Kernel Score: 84% · 916 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
Released: 1982-06-17
Runtime: 83 minutes
Where to watch The Secret of NIMH
- Free with ads: The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
The Secret of NIMH parents' guide: ages 5+
Parents need to know that The Secret of NIMH is a G-rated animated fantasy about a mother mouse protecting her sick child from danger, with some genuinely scary moments for young kids.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Contains dark and scary scenes involving predatory cats and owls, per reviewer accounts, more intense than typical G films.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Secret of NIMH
If you liked The Secret of NIMH, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (2020) — 83%
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986) — 77%
- The Croods: A New Age (2020) — 85%
- Elio (2025) — 76%
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2022) — 91%
- Anastasia (1997) — 87%
- Ernest & Celestine (2012) — 89%
- Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness (2022) — 81%
Director
Cast
- Elizabeth Hartman as Mrs. Brisby (voice)
- Derek Jacobi as Nicodemus (voice)
- Arthur Malet as Mr. Ages (voice)
- Dom DeLuise as Jeremy (voice)
- Hermione Baddeley as Auntie Shrew (voice)
- Shannen Doherty as Teresa (voice)
- Wil Wheaton as Martin (voice)
- Jodi Hicks as Cynthia (voice)
- Ina Fried as Timothy (voice)
- John Carradine as Great Owl (voice)
The Secret of NIMH FAQ
Is The Secret of NIMH good?
The Secret of NIMH has an 84% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 916 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Secret of NIMH?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on The Roku Channel, Xumo Play and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Secret of NIMH OK for kids?
The Secret of NIMH is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 5+. Parents need to know that The Secret of NIMH is a G-rated animated fantasy about a mother mouse protecting her sick child from danger, with some genuinely scary moments for young kids.
What movies are like The Secret of NIMH?
If you liked The Secret of NIMH, try Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe, The Great Mouse Detective, The Croods: A New Age and Elio.