Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

A Series of Unfortunate Events

  • 2004
  • PG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
214K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,899
90
Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:45
1 Video
99+ Photos
AdventureComedyFamily

When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf, who is secretly plotting to steal their parents' vast fortune.When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf, who is secretly plotting to steal their parents' vast fortune.When a massive fire kills their parents, three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf, who is secretly plotting to steal their parents' vast fortune.

  • Director
    • Brad Silberling
  • Writers
    • Robert Gordon
    • Daniel Handler
  • Stars
    • Jim Carrey
    • Jude Law
    • Meryl Streep
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    214K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,899
    90
    • Director
      • Brad Silberling
    • Writers
      • Robert Gordon
      • Daniel Handler
    • Stars
      • Jim Carrey
      • Jude Law
      • Meryl Streep
    • 665User reviews
    • 181Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 10 wins & 28 nominations total

    Videos1

    Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
    Trailer 1:45
    Watch Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

    Photos232

    Laurie MacDonald and Walter F. Parkes in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Meryl Streep and Brad Silberling in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Liam Aiken, and Emily Browning in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Jim Carrey in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Billy Connolly, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Jim Carrey and Liam Aiken in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
    Timothy Spall, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Shelby Hoffman, and Kara Hoffman in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey
    • Count Olaf
    Jude Law
    Jude Law
    • Lemony Snicket
    • (voice)
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Aunt Josephine
    Liam Aiken
    Liam Aiken
    • Klaus
    Emily Browning
    Emily Browning
    • Violet
    Kara Hoffman
    Kara Hoffman
    • Sunny
    Shelby Hoffman
    Shelby Hoffman
    • Sunny
    Timothy Spall
    Timothy Spall
    • Mr. Poe
    Catherine O'Hara
    Catherine O'Hara
    • Justice Strauss
    Billy Connolly
    Billy Connolly
    • Uncle Monty
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Bald Man
    • (as Luis Guzman)
    Jamie Harris
    Jamie Harris
    • Hook-Handed Man
    Craig Ferguson
    Craig Ferguson
    • Person of Indeterminate Gender
    Jennifer Coolidge
    Jennifer Coolidge
    • White Faced Woman
    Jane Adams
    Jane Adams
    • White Faced Woman
    Cedric the Entertainer
    Cedric the Entertainer
    • Constable
    Bob Clendenin
    Bob Clendenin
    • Grocery Clerk
    • (as Robert Clendenin)
    Lenny Clarke
    Lenny Clarke
    • Gruff Grocer
    • Director
      • Brad Silberling
    • Writers
      • Robert Gordon
      • Daniel Handler
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    A Series of Unfortunate Events
    7.8
    A Series of Unfortunate Events
    Nanny McPhee
    6.6
    Nanny McPhee
    How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    6.3
    How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    The Spiderwick Chronicles
    6.5
    The Spiderwick Chronicles
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    6.7
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
    6.9
    The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
    Jumanji
    7.0
    Jumanji
    Zathura: A Space Adventure
    6.2
    Zathura: A Space Adventure
    Mr. Popper's Penguins
    6.0
    Mr. Popper's Penguins
    A Christmas Carol
    6.8
    A Christmas Carol
    The Polar Express
    6.6
    The Polar Express
    Stuart Little
    6.0
    Stuart Little

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the children first meet Count Olaf and Jim Carrey says, "Wait, give me that last line again" was not actually in the script. It was Carrey staying in character and wanting to try it again, but they kept the cameras rolling and felt it worked the way it happened.
    • Goofs
      When Count Olaf asks why the children haven't cooked him roast beef, he is standing on the ground in front of his acting troupe. In the next shot, about a second later, he is shown jumping down from the table (This is due to cutting an extended scene where Olaf gets onto the table and ruins the dinner they have prepared).
    • Quotes

      Count Olaf: I must say, you are a gloomy looking bunch. Why so glum?

      Klaus Baudelaire: ...Our parents just died.

      Count Olaf: Ah yes, of course. How very, very awful. Wait! Let me do that one more time. Give me the line again! Quickly, while it's fresh in my mind!

      Klaus Baudelaire: [uncertainly] Our parents just died?

      Count Olaf: [gasps dramatically]

      Sunny: [in baby talk] What a schmuck!

    • Crazy credits
      There is a credit for 'baby wrangler.'
    • Alternate versions
      When aired on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, lines with profanity such as "Damn it, this was such a good character" have the offending language removed. In this case the line simply becomes "this was such a good character." However, what is odd is the line "No one knows the precise cause of the Baudelaire fire. My colleagues and I have investigated as best we can. But all we've discovered is that the blaze was started from a great distance through the refraction and convergence of light. And within moments, the entire mansion was in flames." is removed entirely, which is odd since it's an important plot point. However the line " And as mysterious as the source of the blaze, other mysteries began to unfold before the children's eyes. Every family has its secrets, doors left unopened. But as Klaus now realized, the smallest discovery would send his mind reeling with questions." is kept intact.
    • Connections
      Featured in A Terrible Tragedy: Alarming Evidence from the Making of the Film - A Woeful World (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Loverly Spring
      By Thomas Newman and Bill Bernstein

    User reviews665

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Quality movie, unless you're a die-hard fan of the books
    I first heard of these books when I saw my younger brother reading them. I got curious and when I saw they were making a movie was sure to read the first three before seeing it. Right off the bat, I can tell you that if you are a completely possessive fan of these books you might be rather disappointed by this movie. The movie condenses books "The Bad Beginning," "The Reptile Room," and "The Wide Window" by slicing the first book in half and placing the other two inside of it, like a sandwich. Of course in order for this to be possible the story has to change to make it work, so some elements are not factual. Combine this with Snicket's usually clever details in the book having to be cut down and very loyal fans are going to be disappointed. The movie also adds in a subplot that the first three books do not possess, but that the later ones (according to my brother) do, so I was a bit bothered by having that element ruined if i choose to read more of the series. I, however, understand the difference between books and movies, and think that on the whole they succeeded in keeping the tone and uniqueness of this series. Carrey as Olaf is wonderful and adds something to a character that seems to be rather dry in the books and the children are believable and easy to sympathize with. While humor was scarce, the tone of the books is more clever than humorous anyway. Overall my only issues are plot-wise and how this creates a choppy feel to the film, but I don't know of a way it could have been done better. The movie was well done with(as many are saying) excellent scenery, costumes, etc., yet nothing made this film completely amazing. It is however, worth the time and money and one should definitely read the books. ~Steven C
    helpful•143
    54
    • Movie_Muse_Reviews
    • Dec 23, 2004

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 17, 2004 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Desventuras em Série
      • Desventuras em Série Brasil
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(.)
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Dreamworks Pictures
      • Nickelodeon Movies
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $140,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $118,634,549
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,061,756
      • Dec 19, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $211,468,235
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital EX
      • DTS-ES
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • IMDb Answers: Help fill gaps in our data
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.