The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

89% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings

Adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic fairy tale, "The Secret Garden." Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is an orphan sent to live with her uncle at his mansion that is full of secrets. She discovers a crippled cousin she never knew she had and a neglected garden she is determined to bring back to life.

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Critics Consensus

The Secret Garden honors its classic source material with a well-acted, beautifully filmed adaptation that doesn't shy from its story's darker themes.

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Critics Reviews

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The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Fred Camper Chicago Reader ...though Solomon seems to assert that his films fundamentally consist of the physical images themselves, and not what those images might represent, he doesn’t abandon representational imagery completely... Jun 2, 2022 Full Review The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Jay Carr Boston Globe The result is an instant classic -- rich, dense, resonant, powerful. Aug 1, 2013 Full Review The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Jeff Shannon Seattle Times While drawing superb performances from her young leads, Holland has masterfully contrasted the garden -- a place where melodic robins seem almost conversant -- with the dread of Misselthwaite. Rated: 3.5/4 Aug 1, 2013 Full Review The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Bianca Garner Filmotomy Roger Deakins’ photography captures the beauty and the awe of the house and the garden, making for a truly immersive viewing experience. Oct 4, 2024 Full Review The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Josh Slater-Williams Vague Visages Maybe it’s not worth complaining that there aren’t more films like The Secret Garden when the way it quietly excels is partially dependent on how modest its pleasures are in comparison to its louder peers. Nov 13, 2023 Full Review The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine Visually, The Secret Garden is enchanting. Working in English for the first time, with Francis Coppola as her executive producer, Agnieszka Holland conjures up a fairy-tale world of images... Oct 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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MS. J The Secret Garden has always held a special place in my heart, but rewatching it as an adult brought layers of meaning I couldn’t fully grasp as a child. Growing up neglected and emotionally abused, I used this movie as a source of comfort, a way to cope with feeling unseen and unsupported. The story of Mary Lennox—a “spoiled” child not because she was indulged, but because her parents were never there to guide her resonated deeply with my own experiences. It’s not about being spoiled; it’s about a child desperately needing reassurance and care that was never offered.The contrast between the empathy of the children and the cold indifference of the adults in the film hit me hard. It mirrored my own life, where other kids might understand your pain, while the adults around you fail to provide that much-needed connection. Watching this as an adult was deeply moving. It was like revisiting a piece of my past that still holds so much truth for me. This film is more than a story.. it’s a reflection of the inner world of children who grow up unseen, yet find their own way to bloom.The Secret Garden remains a profound and healing experience, no matter how many years go by. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/11/24 Full Review Fabrícia F A pureza da infância e o valor da verdadeira amizade retratada de forma inocente e leal neste clássico gentil que celebra a esperança. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/23/24 Full Review Tom F I know this speaks to lots of people, but to me in 2024 it’s just unpleasant. Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Yaqub K Rotten Tomatoes The Secret Garden Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Sai M This movie came out when I was a little girl and I've loved it ever since. I think that Kate Maberly's role as Mary is one of the best and even though the book is a great source for the tale - the remakes of the movie haven't come close to the greatness that this movie did. I think the cast probably helped facilitate that with legends such as Maggie Smith to lend their talents and bring characters like Mrs. Matlock to life. The lush scenery of the garden and when spring hits in particular are refreshingly beautiful scenes and it makes the entire movie a heartwarming and beautiful experience that I feel is a sort of sunshine effect and I love to revisit it often, but particularly when Spring descends or Easter is near.A lovely family film that has been a favorite for over 25 years now, I feel the story, the scenes and the acting are superb and it's a cult classic now for that reason. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/19/24 Full Review Audience Member Based on the book by Francis Hogdson Burnett being the third adaptation directed by Agnieszka Holland A small girl Mary grows up in India in the early 1900s with her parents not wanting her in the slightest She was always alone and after both of them die she's sent to live with her uncle in England But he neglects her as well so Mary explores the whole mansion stumbling into a small boy Colin closed off from the outside He can barely walk but they both discover an enchanted garden filled with lush flowers and wildlife I didn't find this interesting or as magical as I wanted it to be I felt the same thing about 'Fairy Tale: A True Story' Rated 1.5/5 Stars • Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Agnieszka Holland Director Kate Maberly Mary Lennox Heydon Prowse Colin Craven Maggie Smith Mrs. Medlock John Lynch Lord Craven Andrew Knott Dickon
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The Secret Garden

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Synopsis Adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic fairy tale, "The Secret Garden." Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is an orphan sent to live with her uncle at his mansion that is full of secrets. She discovers a crippled cousin she never knew she had and a neglected garden she is determined to bring back to life.

Director
Agnieszka Holland

Producer
Fred Fuchs, Fred Roos, Tom Luddy

Screenwriter
Frances Hodgson Burnett, Caroline Thompson

Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Co
Warner Brothers

Rating
G

Genre
Kids & Family, Drama, Fantasy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 1993, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011

Box Office (Gross USA)
$30.0M

Runtime
1h 41m

Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo, Dolby Stereo
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The Secret Garden | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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