Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Stuart Gordon (story) &
Brian Yuzna (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The most astonishing, innovative, backyard adventure of all time!

Plot:

The scientist father of two teenage boys accidentally shrinks his and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father searches for them.

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Laser | Bee | Shrinking Machine | Inventor

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Rick Moranis	...	Wayne Szalinski
Matt Frewer	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr. (Big Russ Thompson)
Marcia Strassman	...	Diane Szalinski
Kristine Sutherland	...	Mae Thompson
Thomas Wilson Brown	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Jr. (Little Russell Thompson) (as Thomas Brown)
Jared Rushton	...	Ronald 'Ron' Thompson
Amy O'Neill	...	Amy Szalinski
Robert Oliveri	...	Nick Szalinski
Carl Steven	...	Tommy Pervis
Mark L. Taylor	...	Donald 'Don' Forrester
Kimmy Robertson	...	Gloria Forrester
Lou Cutell	...	Dr. Brainard
Laura Waterbury	...	Female Cop
Trevor Galtress	...	Male Cop
Martin Aylett	...	Harold Boorstein
Janet Sunderland	...	Lauren Boorstein
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Frank Welker	...	(voice)
Patrick Brown	...	(uncredited)
Craig Richard Nelson	...	Professor Frederickson (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe Johnston

Writing credits (WGA)
Stuart Gordon		(story) &
Brian Yuzna		(story) &
Ed Naha		(story)
Ed Naha		(screenplay) and
Tom Schulman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Penney Finkelman Cox	....	producer
Jon Landau	....	co-producer
Thomas G. Smith	....	executive producer
Brian Yuzna	....	co-producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Hiro Narita

Film Editing by
Michael A. Stevenson

Casting by
Mike Fenton
Lynda Gordon
Judy Taylor

Production Design by
Gregg Fonseca

Art Direction by
Dorree Cooper
John Iacovelli

Set Decoration by
Macedonio Ramos

Costume Design by
Carol Brolaski

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	key makeup artist
Lynn Del Kail	....	hair stylist
Magdalena Eriz	....	makeup artist: Mexico
Esperanza Gómez	....	hair stylist: Mexico
Francisco Jaramillo	....	assistant hair stylist: men, Mexico

Production Management
Andrew Z. Davis	....	production manager
Vicente Escrivá hijo	....	production supervisor: Mexico (as Vicente Escriva)
Belinda Uriegas	....	production manager
David Hoberman	....	executive in charge of production: Walt Disney Studios (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mario Cisneros Jr.	....	first assistant director: Mexico
James Douglas Cox	....	second unit director: Mexico
David B. Householter	....	assistant director: second unit, Mexico
Miguel Lima	....	second assistant director: Mexico
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director
Michele Panelli-Venetis	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Carmen Avila	....	art department coordinator: Mexico (as Carmen C. Avila)
Ann Bruice	....	assistant designer
Charles Collum	....	construction coordinator
Carol Lee Davis	....	scenic painter (as Carole Lee Davis)
Brad Einhorn	....	property master
Martin A. Kline	....	production illustrator
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
Antonio Mata	....	propman: Mexico
Rick Moore	....	storyboard artist
Phillip Norwood	....	storyboard artist
Moises Pineda	....	production buyer
Denise Pizzini	....	set dresser
David Russell	....	storyboard artist
Peter A. Tullo	....	props
John Naulin	....	insect construction supervisor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Neal Burger	....	dialogue editor (as Neal R. Burger)
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Fernando Cámara	....	sound mixer: Mexico
Carlyn Montes De Oca	....	assistant sound effects editor
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer
William Dotson	....	sound editor
George Fredrick	....	dialogue editor
Scott Martin Gershin	....	sound designer
Avram D. Gold	....	supervising dialogue editor
Victor Grodecki	....	foley editor
Per Hallberg	....	assistant sound editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Chris Hogan	....	sound editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Lou Kleinman	....	dialogue editor
Mark R. La Pointe	....	sound editor
Mark Lanza	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Orloff	....	foley artist
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney	....	mechanical effects coordinator (as Peter M. Chesney)
Robert Clark	....	creature shop supervisor
Gunnar Ferdinandsen	....	mold maker
Linda Frobos	....	miniatures creator
Bruce D. Hayes	....	key mechanical designer (as Bruce Hayes)
Jurgen Heimann	....	special effects
David L. Hewitt	....	special effects
Sergio Jara Jr.	....	special effects assistant
Sergio Jara	....	special effects coordinator: Mexico
James Kagel	....	miniatures creator
Jim Kundig	....	special effects
John McLeod	....	special effects foreman
David Mesloh	....	mechanical fabrication
Steve Sanders	....	model maker
Kirk Starbird	....	miniatures creator
Tim Turner	....	special effects assistant: giant insects, Roark Productions (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bob Ahmanson	....	optical effects crew
Dave Allen	....	stop motion animator/stop motion ant crew
Dave Allen	....	stop motion animator: ant sequence (as David Allen)
C. Mitchell Bryan	....	model maker
Lenny Dalrymple	....	optical effects crew
Mark Dornfeld	....	optical line-up
Roderic 'Mick' Duff	....	model maker (as Roderic Duff)
Syd Dutton	....	matte artist
Mark Freund	....	optical cameraman: Illusion Arts
Paul Gentry	....	visual effects director of photography
Craig Hayes	....	designer & constructor: scorpion
Steve Hyde	....	visual effects artist
Emmet Kane	....	optical effects crew
Debra Ann Klegman	....	model maker
Peter Kuran	....	special visual effects animation
Michael Lawler	....	visual effects cameraman
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	special rigging: Illusion Arts
Richard Malzahn	....	motion control programmer
Bernardo F. Munoz	....	optical effects crew (as Bernardo Munoz)
Michael Muscal	....	visual effects coordinator
Bradford Plows	....	model maker (as Brad Plows)
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photographer
Stephen Scheutzow	....	assistant visual effects coordinator
David Sosalla	....	miniatures supervisor
Tom St. Amand	....	stop motion animator
Catherine Sudolcan	....	special rigging: Illusion Arts
Kevin Swigert	....	optical effects crew
Byron Werner	....	rotoscope artist
Mark Whitlock	....	matte artist
Peter Anthony Zamora	....	model maker
Jammie Friday	....	animator: VCE, Inc. (uncredited)
Brian Jennings	....	digital animator: title sequence (uncredited)
Mark M. Pompian	....	main title animation (uncredited)
Joseph Thomas	....	animation cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	stunt coordinator
Mickey Cassidy	....	stunts
Anthony G. Schmidt	....	stunts (as Anthony Schmidt)
Cherie Tash	....	stunts (as Cherie L. Tash)
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Victor Abbene	....	chief lighting technician
Eric Anderson	....	camera operator (as Roy Anderson)
John Boccaccio	....	first assistant camera
James Campana	....	grip
Gustavo Covarrubias	....	dolly grip
Mark Anthony Crawford	....	electrician
Mariano Garcia	....	gaffer: Mexico
John Gazdik	....	first assistant camera
Paul Gentry	....	additional photographer (as Paul W. Gentry)
John Grillo	....	assistant camera
Heriberto Gutiérrez	....	first assistant camera: Mexico
Mark Gutterud	....	assistant camera
Jan M. Heyneker	....	key grip
Henner Hofmann	....	director of photography: Mexico
Henner Hofmann	....	director of photography: second unit
Antonio Jara	....	key grip: Mexico
Edgar Ladrón de Guevara	....	still photographer
Adolfo Lara	....	best boy: Mexico
Brett Laumann	....	electrical best boy
Michael Maley	....	camera operator
Michael Maley	....	gaffer
Paul Marbury	....	first assistant camera: Mexico
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer
Robert Neville	....	best boy electric (as Robert S. Neville)
Clint Palmer	....	first assistant camera
Salvador 'Apache' Serrano	....	dolly grip: Mexico (as Salvador Serrano)
Jorge Suarez	....	assistant camera
Steve Venetis	....	electrician
Thaddeus Wadleigh	....	grip
Emmanuel Vouniozos	....	on-set technician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Michael Hyatt	....	rotoscope artist (as Mike Hyatt)
Brett B. White	....	animation assistant
Brett B. White	....	assistant to animator
Dave Woodman	....	animator
Kevin Kutchaver	....	animator (uncredited)
Pat Sito	....	checking: title sequence (uncredited)
Andrew Stanton	....	animator: main title animation (uncredited)
Eric Stefani	....	animator: title sequence (uncredited)

Casting Department
Claudia Becker	....	casting: Mexico
Jory Weitz	....	casting: New York City

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Lewis-West	....	costume supervisor
Abel Melo	....	wardrobe master: Mexico

Editorial Department
Carlyn Montes De Oca	....	assistant film editor
Lucy Hofert	....	assistant editor (as Lucy Hofert Rose)
Jacqueline Kinney	....	apprentice editor
Edgar Pavon	....	assistant editor: Mexico
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer
Carlos Puente	....	assistant editor: Mexico
Brian Ralph	....	negative cutter
William M. Steinberg	....	first assistant editor
James B. Woodson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Greig McRitchie	....	orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn
Frank Welker	....	special vocal effects
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Other crew
Alejandro Ayala	....	production assistant
Lisa Bailey	....	assistant to producers
Marilyn Bailey	....	script supervisor
Spence Bovee	....	production assistant
G. Spencer Boye	....	production assistant
Kenni L. Brodeck	....	production assistant (as Kerri L. Brodek)
Blair Clark	....	armature machinist
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	production coordinator: Mexico (as Robin D'Arcy)
Ricardo Del Río	....	coordinator: Walt Disney's Imagineering
Philip Elins	....	production assistant
Bruce Evans	....	production consultant
Lynne Ferry	....	production assistant
Raynold Gideon	....	production consultant
Gabriela Gurrola	....	continuity: Mexico
Carol Juk	....	production secretary: Mexico
Kysta Kawasaki	....	production assistant
G. Pekas Lozano	....	production office assistant
Paul J. Memmi	....	translator
Cecilia Monterrubio	....	chief accountant: Mexico
Susanne Pastor	....	assistant: Tom Smith
Sharon L. Simon	....	accountant (as Sharon Simon Rellick)
Garrison Singer	....	production accountant
Wesley Staples	....	studio teacher
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer effects
Alejandro Uriegas	....	production assistant
Belinda Uriegas	....	production office coordinator: Mexico
Sabra Van Dolsen	....	script supervisor
Glenn L. Whiteford	....	production assistant
Dale Wilmarth	....	moldmaker
Mark Bryan Wilson	....	puppeteer: Mexico
Gerardo Yubero	....	assistant accountant
Lisa S. Girolami	....	production executive (uncredited)
Harry Kopoian	....	airport liaison: Mexico (uncredited)
Gary Spatz	....	acting coach (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Buena Vista Pictures
• Doric Productions
• Silver Screen Partners III
• Walt Disney Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1990) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1989) (UK) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Egmont Films (1990) (Finland) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1993) (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Hollywood Optical Systems (optical compositing)
• Image Engineering (special effects)
• Tippett Studio
• VCE (optical compositing)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles
• Frank Inn Inc.  animal trainers
• Illusion Arts  matte painting
• Kroyer Films  main title animation
• Rain Bird  sprinklers
• TAJ  foley recording
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

"Microkids!" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-10/7 (1989) | Finland:S (1990) | Peru:PT | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | France:U

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Buena Vista Pictures

Trivia:

Chevy Chase and John Candy both turned down the role of Wayne Szalinski. Candy did however suggest Rick Moranis for the role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: It is stated that the ant is a baby. All ants that look like ants are adults. Actual baby ants look like maggots.

Quotes:

Ron Thompson:I'm your brother, Russ, you're not supposed to fink on your own brother!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Sherman of Arabia (#2.7)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Fire

A very strange adventure/comedy motion picture

"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" is a quite unusual adventure/comedy film, one of the most eccentric movies of all time. It's one of those live-actions films produced by Disney's studios.

The movie's title refers to Wayne Szalinski, a stereotypical nutty/mad scientist. He invents a machine with the ability of shrinking objects to a size even smaller than ants. This character is portrayed by Rick Moranis, the perfect actor for a role like this (with his intellectual looks).

Rick Moranis is funny as Wayne Szalinski, Matt Frewer is hilarious as the impatient and temperamental "Big" Russell Thompson. The kids also do a good job: Thomas Wilson Brown as the clever "Little" Russell Thompson, Jared Rushton as the paranoid Ron Thompson and Robert Oliveri as the nerd Nick Szalinski. One of the funniest parts for me is when "little" Russell forces his brother Ron to confess that he broke Szalinski's window with his baseball.

The Szalinski kids (Nick and Amy) and the Thompson kids ("Little" Russell and Ron, the Szalinski's neighbors) are accidentally shrunk by the machine and thrown into the garbage by accident. Because they are so tiny, they live a big adventure full of dangers and nightmares (from insects to a remote-controlled lawn mower) until reaching their house, something which would only take seconds on their normal size.

The story becomes a bit odd and of a somehow discussable taste, but it also makes the difference... for good and for bad. However, I must be fair: at least this is a thousand times better than those stupid "Problem Child" movies. Not that they have anything in common, but...

Overall, nothing extraordinary, but amusing, hilarious, great fun, entertaining, original, bizarre and with some funny lines («French class» is just one among many others). There's also a certain 80's charm on it.

The success of this movie inspired a very imaginative 3D film created as an amusement for Disneyland parks around the world called "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience".