The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

PG-13

2013

2h 10m

Fantasy

Action

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

13%

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127 Reviews

58%

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50,000+ Ratings

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.

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Critics Consensus

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones borrows ingredients from seemingly every fantasy franchise of the last 30 years -- but can't seem to figure out what to do with them.

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Perri Nemiroff

Shockya.com

Aug 24, 2013

2/5

'The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones' might reduce plans for the sequel to ashes.

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Louis Black

Austin Chronicle

Aug 23, 2013

1.5/5

Not only have we seen this all before, but we were probably hoping to not see it again.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Aug 23, 2013

1/5

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is such a pathetic mess you end up feeling a little sorry for the poor mite.

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Erin Tatum

Bitch Flicks

Jul 8, 2026

Putting a girl in the middle of a heterosexual love triangle may feel progressive in giving the illusion of female agency, but really... it’s just a question of who she’ll end up with. It’s property ping pong.

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Amanda the Jedi

Amanda the Jedi (Youtube)

Jul 4, 2021

The one thing this movie managed to do was capture the visual style I felt the book conveyed but otherwise we were left with something that neither fans, critics or general audiences were particularly impressed by

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Dec 3, 2020

2/10

This is one incredibly mixed-up, poorly planned, annoyingly-plotted mess.

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Quinn O

@Quinn22 Oct 3, 2026

Movie has great actors and a welll developed plot line. I like post apocalyptic type films and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. A great reminder that paid film critics are often out of touch with what moves audiences in positive ways.

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Gr E

@RT53953714 Aug 25, 2026

This is such a good movie! I can't believe it was made 13 years ago. The CGI is so good, and the actors play their parts great. It has no flaws. I just watched it for the second time and really enjoyed it.

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Jozz G

@RT97847993 Jun 23, 2026

I feel that the film, The Mortal Instrument: City of Bones really brings the book to like. The fight scenes were nice and not rushed as much as other films and the love triangle that is shown between Clary, Jace, and Simon is an enjoyable kind of frustrating to go through and witness. I honestly don't understand why people don't think the movies good; they definitely should have made a sequel to it. It's not too late, they still can. I understand that some critics might find this movie "Poorly made" but I feel like it should also be up to the fans on whether there should have been a sequel or not.

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Algielyn E

@chielmace Jun 11, 2026

YEAH THIS IS MY LOVEABLE MOVIE

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Ashley M.

@RT91119779 Jun 2, 2026

I loved this movie when it came out. Just wish they continued the movies, I didn’t care for the show.

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Trenaway E

@Trenaway Jan 18, 2026

The story is all over the place, the acting is subpar, and it could had been done so much better, with better writing.

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Harald Zwart

Director

Lily Collins

Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower

Jace Wayland

Robert Sheehan

Simon Lewis

Kevin Zegers

Alec Lightwood

Lena Headey

Jocelyn Fray

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Synopsis

In New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager named Clary Fray learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters -- half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.

Director: Harald Zwart
Producer: Robert Kulzer, Don Carmody
Screenwriter: Jessica Postigo
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Constantin Film International, Unique Features
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Fantasy Violence|Intense Action|Some Suggestive Content)
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 21, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.2M
Runtime: 2h 10m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat

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