Nicholas Nickleby (2002)
81%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 5 nominations
Thanks to a strong cast of experienced actors and director Douglas McGrath’s steady hand, Nicholas Nickleby is a worthy and respectful adaptation of the Dickens novel
Nicholas Nickleby is a film adaptation that’s as classic as the novel it’s based on. It’s got everything you could want in a period piece: humor, pathos, caricatures, and dimensionality. It’s a pleasurable ride that packs an astounding amount of complications into just over two hours with deft efficiency. Sure, it may lean towards the blandness of its star, but it’s still an absolutely entertaining, well-acted, and well-directed film adaptation. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the triumph of goodness over evil in this exquisite craftsmanship of a movie.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Hawk Films, Peregrine
Distributor
United Artists
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Gibson Mill, Hardcastle Crags, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material involving some violent action and a childbirth scene
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 18m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 27, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Charlie Hunnam, Jamie Bell, Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Alan Cumming, Edward Fox, Romola Garai, Christopher Plummer, Anne Hathaway, directed by Douglas McGrath, written by Charles Dickens, Douglas McGrath, drama, PG rating, box office gross $1.3M, reviewed by Steven Oxman, John Leonard, Nell Minow, Steven D Greydanus, Sara Michelle Fetters, Sean Axmaker, John A Nesbit, Felix Vasquez Jr., Michael Dequina, Betsy Bozdech, United Artists, Simon Channing Williams, John Hart, Jeff Sharp, produced by, Nicholas Nickleby, Dickens adaptation, family drama, Victorian era, social criticism, Smike, Wackford Squeers, Newman Noggs, Mr Folair, Sir Mulberry Hawk, Kate Nickleby, Thematic Material, Childbirth Scene, Douglas McGrath’s adaptation, Charlie Hunnam’s performance, Jamie Bell’s performance, Christopher Plummer’s performance, Anne Hathaway’s performance, honor, integrity, cruelty, kindness, Squeers, Mrs Squeer, period film, emotional, sad, strong cast, respected adaptation, Dickens novel
Worldwide gross: $3,651,462
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,918,552
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,123
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 645,425
US/Canada gross: $1,587,173
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,572,604
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,974
US/Canada opening weekend: $42,864
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $69,477
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,086
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,208,717
Production budget ranking: 1,472
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,728,394
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$19,018,560
ROI to date (est.): -76%
ROI ranking: 1,853
Jim Broadbent – Wackford Squeers
Tom Courtenay – Newman Noggs
Alan Cumming – Mr. Folair
Edward Fox – Sir Mulberry Hawk
Romola Garai – Kate Nickleby
Director – Douglas McGrath
Producers – Simon Channing Williams, John Hart, Jeff Sharp
Writers – Charles Dickens, Douglas McGrath
Director(s)
Douglas McGrath
Writer(s)
Charles Dickens, Douglas McGrath
Producer(s)
Simon Channing Williams, John Hart, Jeff Sharp
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (129) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (101) | Rotten (28)
Pic separates itself out by hitting the humor as hard as the pathos, finding a nice contrast between the caricatures of the supporting roles and the dimensionality of the leads.
February 2, 2018
Steven Oxman
Variety
TOP CRITIC
… makes for bravura storytelling…
February 2, 2018
John Leonard
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Above all other pleasures it offers, it provides a classic of literature and social criticism with a straight run-through from start to finish.
January 9, 2018
Alexander Walker
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Respectful adaptation of rich Dickens novel.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
Does a respectable job of retelling as much of Dickens’ tale as possible in the time alloted.
September 12, 2003 | Rating: B
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
It’s thin, and McGrath wouldn’t know subtlety if it bit him on the butt. Still, it’s entertaining enough, and the two-plus hours the film runs fly by.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Directed at a sprightly yet smooth pace, [Douglas McGrath’s] adaptation packs an astounding amount of complications into just over two hours with deft efficiency.
January 27, 2017
Sean Axmaker
Seanax.com
a pleasurable ride
January 28, 2012 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
An absolutely entertaining, well acted, and well-directed film adaptation.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
Ultimately the film leans toward the blandness of its star.
February 1, 2009 | Rating: 2/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
A thoroughly enjoyable, artistically elegant bit of filmmaking that promises to stand the test of time.
November 6, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
Filled with exquisite craftsmanship bringing the Charles Dickens’ classic to life, Nicholas Nickleby is an intricate, absorbing saga about the triumph of goodness over evil.
November 7, 2003
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
Young Nicholas (Charlie Hunnam) and his family enjoy a comfortable life, until Nicholas’ father (Andrew Havill) dies and the family is left penniless. Nicholas, his sister Kate (Romola Garai) and mother (Stella Gonet) venture to London to seek help from their Uncle Ralph (Christopher Plummer), but Ralph’s only intentions are to separate the family and exploit them. Nicholas is sent to a school run by the cruel, abusive and horridly entertaining Mr. Wackford Squeers (Jim Broadbent). Eventually, Nicholas runs away with schoolmate Smike (Jamie Bell), and the two set off to reunite the Nickleby family.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Charlie Hunnam, who plays the titular character Nicholas Nickleby, is also known for his roles in Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim.
Douglas-McGrath.jpg
