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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126 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

08/24/2013

2/5

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

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Louis Black

Austin Chronicle

08/23/2013

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

08/23/2013

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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Amanda the Jedi

Amanda the Jedi (Youtube)

07/04/2021

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

12/03/2020

2/10

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

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/17/2020

1.5/4.0

Screenwriter Jessica Postigo serves up a script that feels like a working draft.

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Trenaway E

@Trenaway Jan 18

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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Anja T

@armadillo114 Jan 5

this is the review i wrote after i watched it: the mortal instruments: city of bones 5.5/10 extra half a point because jamie campbell, otherwise the movie was so fucking stupid it made it funny, i kinda dont remember any of the plot besides Jace + Clary so effing hot btw. i was geeked when i watched it and wrote that, which is why i dont remember like anything butttt made it ten times better. i overall wasnt very interest in the plot it is very cliche and overdone i also didnt have a fucking clue what was happening but i loved the chemistry between jamie and lily and the love story. the only reason i watched it was from edits from tiktok and yea, its one of those movies i’ll obsess over for months because i want to be physically in it and experience what the characters did and yearn to be clary. so my personality will is changed from this movie, but would i recommend it, probably not, its mine.

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Alexandra L

@AlextheCat Dec 27

This movie a fantasy Dream come true. Like demon hunters and angels and bad guys with funny hair dos! Yes please. May I have seconds? Please lol Like I could do with a sequel or a remake. Or I'll just rewatch this hit over and over again. Cause I doubt I'll get sick of it haha 😂 okay that is all.

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Fox W.

@foxygrandpa910 Dec 19

Fun movie and gets way too much hate. The story gets predictable as the movie goes on. However, the characters and eventual ending are well done.

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Madison A

@Madi132 Dec 11

Loved this movie, I wish it got a second movie 😭

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Katie G

@RT67572317 Dec 3

I liked the idea of the movie but it was vary badly executed. The whole movie was confusing and unclear. There were many unnecessary and weird parts. The villain convinces the 2 love interests they are siblings by turning the boys ring around from W to M then fights them? I do not understand this movie and I had high expectations when beginning it.

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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

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - You Aren't My Dad

2:50

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demonic Psychic

2:38

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Fighting for the Card

1:28

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - I'm In Love With You

2:46

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Flamethrower vs. Demons

1:57

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Anti-Demon Rune

3:07

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Vampire Attack

3:52

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - A Kiss in the Rain

3:25

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Jace's Secret

2:17

The Mortal Instruments: Official Clip - Demon Dog

2:23

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Parental Guidance: Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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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