The Secret of NIMH

93%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a widowed mouse, must move her children out of their home in a field before the local farmer starts plowing. Unable to leave because her son is ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats, who have heightened intelligence after being the subjects of scientific experiments. She receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi). Soon Mrs. Brisby is caught in a conflict among the rats, jeopardizing her mission to save her family. Read More Read Less

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The Secret of NIMH

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Critics Consensus

The Secret of NIMH seeks to resurrect the classical style of American animation and succeeds, telling a mature story with rapturous presentation.

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Critics Reviews

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The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Sadly, The Secret of NIMH is beautiful but unbalanced: The animators gambled when they should have gamboled.

Nov 11, 2021

Full Review

The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

Susie Eisenhuth

Sydney Morning Herald

Parents wistful for the world of mystery and magic fondly remembered from the best of the Disney cartoon features should hasten along to this rather endearing fantasy.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 11, 2021

Full Review

The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

This American full-length animated cartoon lives up to its publicity as a return to the meticulous artwork and storybook charm of the golden days of Disney.

Nov 11, 2021

Full Review

The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Known for its beautiful hand-drawn animation style, one very unique to that time period and a far cry from the computer-generated style that would take hold in the Pixar era. (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 5, 2022

Full Review

The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

Richard Holliss

Starburst

I was certainly surprised and delighted with every aspect of the film, from its stunning visuals to the character voices and the story.

Jul 29, 2022

Full Review

The Secret of NIMH | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

Jack Zink

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Secret of NIMH does not dazzle so much as glow. It is a reverent, literate family tale that is a tribute to the art of storytelling as well as the process of animation.

Nov 11, 2021

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Noe G The secret of nimh is one of my favorite animated films of all time and my rating is a 10/10 Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Roberta K No one Has ever heated of this movie I didn’t either till I was 9 And I love the actoan in it And incredible Voices and acting SHOUT OUT TO DON BLUTH Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/30/24 Full Review James M When you ask most people to name their favorite Don Bluth film they will probably say something like "The Land Before Time", "An American Tail", or even "Anastasia", but all of those pale in comparison to what I feel is his Magnum Opus- "The Secret of NIMH". This simple film of a mother going to do whatever it takes to save her sick son is spectacular. Elizabeth Hartman perfectly nails the role of Ms. Brisby as one who is scared, but becomes brave in facing the farmer's cat Dragon, going to meet the Great Owl, and even pleading with the Rats of NIMH all for the sake of her son Timmy. The score especially in the house raising scene gives me goosebumps everytime. Please Criterion give this film a 4k release!!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review matthias s "The Secret of NIMH" is a charming animated flick that deserves more recognition. With its stunning visuals, enchanting music, and thought-provoking themes, it's a movie that will leave you captivated from start to finish. Just remember, it's a film best enjoyed by the young-at-heart rather than the very young. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/23 Full Review Gabriel C Spoilers!A cute but a flawed film. The first half of the film is great. The mystery, characters, and story was great. But after Mrs. Brisby met Nicodemus the film went down hill from there. Especially Mrs. Brisby. She becomes rude and selfish. It could have been a truly great film. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/09/23 Full Review C.D Its beautiful, breathtaking animation and characters, particularly Mrs. Brisby, are what truly make Don Bluth's Magnum Opus one of the late 20th century's greatest masterpieces in animation. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Secret of NIMH

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Cast & Crew

Don Bluth Director Elizabeth Hartman Mrs. Brisby Derek Jacobi Nicodemus Dom DeLuise Jeremy Shannen Doherty Teresa Edie McClurg Miss Right

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