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City of Ember

Play trailer Poster for City of Ember PG 2008 1h 35m Kids & Family Fantasy Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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53% Tomatometer 129 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
For generations a massive generator has sustained the needs of the underground city of Ember. But the generator was built to last only 200 years, and as its lights start to flicker and fade, it remains to two youths, Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway), to follow a cryptic series of clues that will restore light to the place.
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City of Ember

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Critics Consensus

City of Ember is visually arresting, and boasts a superb cast, but is sadly lacking in both action and adventure.

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Critics Reviews

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Sandra Hall Sydney Morning Herald Dec 12, 2008
3/5
Murray playing the glutton doesn't exactly fit the bill and for all the architectural care that's gone into Ember's creation, the secret at its heart is no mystery to us, the audience. Go to Full Review David Stratton The Australian Dec 12, 2008
3.5/5
Murray is always good to have around, and so are Tim Robbins, who plays Doon's defeated father, and Martin Landau as one of the drones who tries to keep the city in working order. The young actors are excellent. Go to Full Review Claudia Puig USA Today Oct 10, 2008
2.5/4
Even if it occasionally goes off course, City of Ember provides audiences with a thought-provoking and family-friendly adventure. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Mar 20, 2024
2/4
The story’s science fiction foundation becomes nothing more than your run-of-the-mill adventure yarn, abandoning its thought-provoking ideas for something much less satisfying. Go to Full Review Linda Cook AWFJ.org Oct 5, 2021
This enchanting science-fiction story has a female protagonist who's so courageous and smart you'll wish she were your daughter... Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Nov 28, 2020
7/10
It's difficult not to become immersed in the fun of uncovering clues and discovering secrets in a society and landscape with few caps on creativity. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Noah S @NoahS11042 Sep 25, 2026 Overall, a pretty good movie! Definitely worth watching whether you’ve read the books or not :) See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 12, 2026 This was just an okay movie! See more Kyle M @RT77296778 Aug 19, 2026 May have gone down as another YA cinematic flop that unfortunately prevented any subsequential adaptations, the viewing experience itself sums this up as an underrated, substantially imbalanced, subtly adventurous marvel too ambitiously enveloped for its engaging vision bolstered by solid performances. (B) See more Gavy K @Glitchycat May 15, 2026 I have seen the movie and read the book, there were some parts that were not in the book but overall it was great! See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jan 30, 2026 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Dec 21, 2025 Ember burns brighter than we expected - especially with the cast they had lined up. But - there wasn't as much excitement and adventure until they escaped at the very end. See more Read all reviews
City of Ember

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Cast & Crew

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Gil Kenan

Director

Saoirse Ronan

Lina Mayfleet

Harry Treadaway

Doon Harrow

Bill Murray

Mayor Cole

Tim Robbins

Loris

Martin Landau

Sul

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City of Ember

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Movie Info

Synopsis For generations a massive generator has sustained the needs of the underground city of Ember. But the generator was built to last only 200 years, and as its lights start to flicker and fade, it remains to two youths, Lina Mayfleet (Saoirse Ronan) and Doon Harrow (Harry Treadaway), to follow a cryptic series of clues that will restore light to the place.
Director
Gil Kenan
Producer
Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks
Screenwriter
Caroline Thompson
Production Co
Playtone Productions, Walden Media
Rating
PG (Some Thematic Elements|Mild Peril)
Genre
Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.9M
Runtime
1h 35m
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