The Secret of NIMH
Right before your eyes, and beyond your wildest dreams.
1982 • 83 min • Adventure · Animation · Drama · Family · Fantasy · Mystery · Science Fiction
Synopsis
A widowed field mouse must move her family -- including an ailing son -- to escape a farmer's plow. Aided by a crow and a pack of superintelligent, escaped lab rats, the brave mother struggles to transplant her home to firmer ground.
Our family guide
Best from age 7- 100 Reviewers · 1 · 51%
- 74 Audience · 962 · 49%
A brave widowed field mouse must save her ailing son and family from a farmer's plow. She seeks help from wise, intelligent rats and faces dangers, including a villainous rat, in a race against time to move her home to safety.
- Violence & peril
- 5/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 0/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 0/10
- Scary moments
- 6/10
Heads up
- Intense peril and suspense
- Characters in danger
- Themes of loss and struggle
- Villainous threats
What it models well
- Courage and resilience
- Mother's love and sacrifice
- Resourcefulness in adversity
- Teamwork and cooperation
Talk about it after
- Helping those in need
- Overcoming fear
- Consequences of scientific experimentation
- Environmental responsibility
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Secret of NIMH. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
Free
KanopyFree with ads
- YouTube Free
YouTube FreeRent
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
PlexBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Don Bluth • Crew: Don Bluth, Will Finn, Gary Goldman, John Pomeroy
Trailers & clips
"In the beginning we were ordinary street rats"
A WAY TO GO HOME: An Interview with director Don Bluth Excerpt
Masters of Cinema Unboxing Video
"Are you Nicodemus? I need help!"
Original 1982 Trailer
Masters of Cinema Trailer
Mrs. Brisby Meets Justin
The Mice Save Their Home
Reviewer notes
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersThis is still one of my favorite animated movies. It combines so many different emotions so well: a cute and loving family, the urgency and danger of fleeing (/moving) your home with dangerous and action-filled scenes, and dark and scary moments involving cats and owls, clearly some of a mouse's biggest fears. Mrs Brisby herself is an absolutely lovely, beautiful character. Right from the start you see and f...
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