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The Lovely Bones

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Lovely Bones PG-13 2010 2h 16m Drama Mystery & Thriller Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
31% Tomatometer 245 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) -- and her killer (Stanley Tucci). As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.
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The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones

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Critics Consensus

It's stuffed full of Peter Jackson's typically dazzling imagery, but The Lovely Bones suffers from abrupt shifts between horrific violence and cloying sentimentality.

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Critics Reviews

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Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express 04/16/2019
2/5
Both [Saoirse] Ronan and [Stanley] Tucci are worth the price of an admission ticket. Go to Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/12/2017
B+
It's an interesting way to tell a heartbreaking story a young girl whose life was taken away too soon, and whose family fights to pull the pieces together after their loss. Go to Full Review Ian Freer Empire Magazine 02/19/2010
4/5
The Lovely Bones does a fantastic job with revered, complex source material. As terrific on terra firma as it is audacious in its astral plane, it is doubtful we'll see a more imaginative, courageous film in 2010. Go to Full Review Kenneth R. Morefield 1More Film Blog Oct 28
1/4
As feel-good child murder movies go, The Lovely Bones hits all its marks. Go to Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 9
2/5
Sometimes books should really stay books, no matter how lauded they might be, as translating meditative reflections on death from the page to the big screen don't work (like in this movie). Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/28/2023
1.5/4
At once, the director is doing too much visually while not doing enough dramatically. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rafael A @RT27395722 Jul 17 Too much fantasy, so little drama. The cuts between the real life murderer discovery and the in-between state of Suzie just kills the flow of the movie. If not the fantasy world parts this movie could be 10 times better. Should have been a dark and stressful film. See more Due F @RT14704568 Jul 14 The Lovely Bones (2009) is an emotional fantasy drama that explores grief, loss, and the longing for justice through the perspective of a young girl caught between life and death. While the adaptation differs significantly from the novel and softens some of its emotional impact, it stands out for its beautiful visuals and Saoirse Ronan's heartfelt performance. It is a worthwhile watch for viewers who appreciate reflective dramas with fantasy elements rather than conventional thrillers. By alunauwie See more Oscar T @ScarfaceRampage Jun 2 Chilling and sad but great film See more Kat R @juicykiwi333 May 30 The Lovely Bones is a beautifully done movie. Anyone who says otherwise has strange exceptions of a happy ending. Although not entirely following the book I feel It was brought to life in a way that still pays respect to the novel. I personally enjoyed the casting and feel the acting is incredible. The movie makes you feel all kinds of emotions, as all good movies should. It's a realistic heartbreaking film that I believe everyone should see once. See more lucy S @RT28000701 May 3 Awful ending. Not worth watching for it to end like that See more MCCB T @RT80046346 Apr 26 One of, if not the worst movies I have ever seen. It tries way too hard to be overly artistic and just drags along. This movie was twice as long as it should have been. The characters do stupid things for no reason just to keep adding to the tension and to advance the plot. It just frustrates and edges you without any pay off or relief at the end. One of the most frustrating and least satisfying movies of all time. It was a slog to sit through. See more Read all reviews
The Lovely Bones

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Jackson

Director

Mark Wahlberg

Jack Salmon

Rachel Weisz

Abigail Salmon

Susan Sarandon

Grandma Lynn

Stanley Tucci

George Harvey

Michael Imperioli

Len Fenerman

Movie Clips

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The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Lindsey Finds Evidence The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Lindsey Finds Evidence 2:13 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - You Wrote Me A Poem Once The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - You Wrote Me A Poem Once 2:06 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - I Willed Him To Stop The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - I Willed Him To Stop 2:13 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - I'm Not Gonna Hurt You, Susie The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - I'm Not Gonna Hurt You, Susie 2:13 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Jack Realizes the Truth The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Jack Realizes the Truth 2:13 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - You Are Beautiful, Susie Salmon The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - You Are Beautiful, Susie Salmon 1:26 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Last Wednesday The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - Last Wednesday 2:00 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - She's Gone The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - She's Gone 1:57 The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - A Thing of Beauty The Lovely Bones: Official Clip - A Thing of Beauty 1:38 View more videos

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The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones: Trailer 1 The Lovely Bones: Trailer 1 2:25 View more videos
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The Lovely Bones

Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." (L-R) Saoirse Ronan and director Peter Jackson on the set of "The Lovely Bones." A scene from the film "The Lovely Bones." Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." (L-R) Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon and Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lynn in "The Lovely Bones." Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon in "The Lovely Bones." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) -- and her killer (Stanley Tucci). As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.
Director
Peter Jackson
Producer
Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Aimee Peyronnet
Screenwriter
Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh
Distributor
Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks SKG
Production Co
WingNut Films
Rating
PG-13 (Disturbing Violent Images|Disturbing Violent Content|Mature Thematic Material|Some Language)
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 27, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.0M
Runtime
2h 16m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS