Zathura

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Zathura

PG

2005

1h 41m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

158 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After their father (Tim Robbins) is called into work, two young boys, Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo), are left in the care of their teenage sister, Lisa (Kristen Stewart), and told they must stay inside. Walter and Danny, who anticipate a boring day, are shocked when they begin playing Zathura, a space-themed board game, which they realize has mystical powers when their house is shot into space. With the help of an astronaut (Dax Shepard), the boys attempt to return home.

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Critics Consensus

Dazzling special effects for the kids + well-crafted storytelling for the 'rents = cinematic satisfaction for the whole family.

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James Dyer

Empire Magazine

Dec 30, 2006

3/5

Charming children's adventure with some superb performances from the young cast.

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David Jenkins

Time Out

Jun 24, 2006

Favreau gratifyingly prevents the film from becoming a mere maelstrom of CG effects by pushing the brothers' amusing bickering to the fore...

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Richard Jinman

Sydney Morning Herald

Mar 31, 2006

Despite its peculiar name and the fact it bears a strong resemblance to Jumanji -- another film inspired by a book by children's author Van Allsburg -- it's hard not to like Zathura.

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Shannon Gramas

Spectrum Culture

Apr 1, 2022

Though many millennials may not have even heard of the film, Zathura is a classic family adventure film that deserves much better than the poor critical reception and box office receipts it received at the time.

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Jan 24, 2022

7/10

A charming small-scale adventure film for kids.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 9, 2020

7/10

An engaging, family-friendly, fantasy adventure.

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Richard

Apr 20, 2021

Clean fun and a great movie for a family with young siblings to watch together!

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Brandon B

@syncopatedbeet Oct 10, 2026

One of my favorite family films. It takes the concept of Jumanji, dresses it up in a modern aesthetic and sends you on an intergalactic journey.

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Hayleigh P

@haytay.shows22 Sep 21, 2026

It was really good for being such an old, sci-fi, type movie. Kristen Stewart was STUNNING in this movie tho..

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Tyler S

@tylerking24 Aug 11, 2026

They definitely made this one a little more confusing. Took me a while to get the idea right. And you can definitely see the sequel magic. Very very similar to the first, they just tried a few different things in the storytelling, and I can't say it is the most perfect.

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Caden R

@RT72101235 Aug 10, 2026

Iconic and nostalgic in it's own way.

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Joey T

@RT22151572 Jul 19, 2026

Zathura: A Space Adventure feels like being trapped on a plane with two screaming children while an absurdly patient astronaut turns every disaster into a lesson about feelings. The house somehow survives in space with air, gravity and no meaningful structural damage, yet the film never explains why. Lisa is frozen out of most of the story, leaving two constantly arguing boys and an astronaut who behaves more like a therapeutic babysitter than a desperate survivor. Then Walter gets a reality-altering wish while they are stranded in space and uses it on a signed football instead of wishing everyone safely home. The practical effects are decent, but the characters are exhausting, the logic is nonexistent and the whole thing feels like a bad dream with a Temu budget. 1/5

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Jon Favreau

Director

Josh Hutcherson

Walter Budwing

Jonah Bobo

Danny Budwing

Dax Shepard

Astronaut

Kristen Stewart

Lisa Budwing

Tim Robbins

Dad

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Synopsis

After their father (Tim Robbins) is called into work, two young boys, Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and Danny (Jonah Bobo), are left in the care of their teenage sister, Lisa (Kristen Stewart), and told they must stay inside. Walter and Danny, who anticipate a boring day, are shocked when they begin playing Zathura, a space-themed board game, which they realize has mystical powers when their house is shot into space. With the help of an astronaut (Dax Shepard), the boys attempt to return home.

Director: Jon Favreau
Producer: William Teitler, Scott Kroopf, Michael De Luca
Screenwriter: David Koepp, John Kamps
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Columbia Pictures
Rating: PG (Peril|Fantasy Action|Some Language)
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $28.0M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Surround

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