The Lovely Bones (2009): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Lovely Bones is a 2009 drama thriller directed by Peter Jackson, starring Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan. It is partly based on The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It runs 2 hours 16 minutes and earned $93.6 million worldwide on a $65 million budget. It won 2 awards from 15 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 16m (136 min)
- Director
- Peter Jackson
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- DreamWorks SKG
- Budget
- $65M
- Based on
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Lovely Bones About?
The premise of The Lovely Bones without spoilers, adapted from The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Following her brutal murder, Susie Salmon's spirit observes her family and killer from a liminal space between life and death. Her parents, played by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz, grapple with immense grief, while her killer remains at large. As Susie witnesses the devastating impact of her loss, she navigates a journey of remembrance, seeking justice and hoping her loved ones can find peace and healing.
The Lovely Bones Cast
Mark Wahlberg leads the cast, with Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan. Directed by Peter Jackson.
-
Director Peter Jackson
More from Peter Jackson
More films directed by Peter Jackson, best-rated first: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, They Shall Not Grow Old and Heavenly Creatures.
The Lovely Bones Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Lovely Bones 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 31% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 52%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 42 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 71% User score
See on TMDB
The Lovely Bones Plot Summary
What happens in The Lovely Bones from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1973, 14-year-old high school freshman, Susie Salmon, aspires to be a photographer. Her youthful innocence takes a turn when Ray, a boy she’s sweet on, asks her out. While walking home through a cornfield, she encounters her neighbor, George Harvey, who lures her into an underground “kid’s hideout” he’s constructed. Feeling uneasy, Susie tries to leave, but Harvey seizes her, and the scene transitions as we see her rush past her alarmed classmate, Ruth Connors, seemingly escaping the clutches of danger.
Full summary
The whole story of The Lovely Bones, scene by scene
The Lovely Bones Box Office & Budget
The Lovely Bones grossed $93.6 million worldwide on a $65 million budget, 1.4 times what it cost. $44.1 million came from the US and Canada and $49.5 million (53%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$93.6M
1.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $44.1M
- International
- $49.5M
- Budget
- $65M
The Lovely Bones Awards & Nominations
The Lovely Bones won 2 awards from 15 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2010, with 1 win from 6 nominations.
2 wins15 nominations7 ceremonies
-
Critics' Choice 2010 1 win · 6 nominations- Won Best Young Actor/Actress – Saoirse Ronan
- Nominated Best Actress – Saoirse Ronan
- Nominated Best Art Direction
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Stanley Tucci
-
Saturn Awards 2010 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best Performance by a Younger Actor – Saoirse Ronan
- Nominated Best Music
- Nominated Best Supporting Actress
-
BAFTA 2010 2 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Stanley Tucci
- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Saoirse Ronan
-
Actor Awards (SAG) 2010 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Stanley Tucci
Show all 7 ceremonies Show fewer ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 2010 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy – Stanley Tucci
-
IFTA Awards 2010 1 nomination- Nominated Best International Actor
-
Oscars 2010 1 nomination- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Stanley Tucci
The Lovely Bones Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip and 1 featurette.
- Clip Saoirse Ronan Heartbreakingly Stands Up Her Date
- Featurette Saoirse Ronan on The Lovely Bones | Film4 Interview Special
How Well Do You Know The Lovely Bones?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What was Susie Salmon's passion?
Cars in The Lovely Bones
24 cars on screen, including the 1967 Jeep Wagoneer and the 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser.
-
1967 Jeep Wagoneer Important role -
1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Important role -
1964 Buick LeSabre Minor role -
1966 Chrysler New Yorker Minor role
The Lovely Bones Also Known As
32 alternative titles, including “Flickan från ovan” and “Herfra min himmel”.
- Also known as
-
- Flickan från ovan
- Herfra min himmel
- ラブリーボーン
- Милі кості
- Desde Mi Cielo
- 러블리 본즈
- 蘇西的世界
- La nostalgie de l'ange
- Amabili resti
- In meinem Himmel
- Cennetimden Bakarken
- Oma taivas
+20 more Show fewer
- Милые кости
- Visto do Céu
- Komfortos mennyország
- 可爱的骨头
- Pevné pouto
- Nostalgia Anioła
- מבט מגן עדן
- Παραδεισένια Οστά
- Um Olhar do Paraíso
- Очи от рая
- Dārgie pīšļi
- 屍中罪
- Alle mine kjære
- Din Raiul meu
- Numylėtieji kaulai
- Pevné puto
- Ljupke kosti
- V mojih nebesih, საყვარელი ძვლები
- Hình Hài Dấu Yêu
- สัมผัสแค้นจากสวรรค์
Seen The Lovely Bones?
The Lovely Bones FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Lovely Bones, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Lovely Bones?
The Lovely Bones runs 2 hours 16 minutes (136 minutes).
When was The Lovely Bones released?
The Lovely Bones was released on December 11, 2009.
Who directed The Lovely Bones?
The Lovely Bones was directed by Peter Jackson.
More films by Peter Jackson Who is in the cast of The Lovely Bones?
The Lovely Bones stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan.
How much did The Lovely Bones make at the box office?
The Lovely Bones grossed $93.6 million worldwide ($44.1 million domestic, $49.5 million international) on a budget of $65 million.
How is The Lovely Bones rated?
The Lovely Bones has 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, 42 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.
Is The Lovely Bones based on a book?
Yes. The Lovely Bones is partly adapted from The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.
What awards did The Lovely Bones win?
The Lovely Bones won 2 awards from 15 nominations, including Best Young Actor/Actress at the Critics' Choice 2010.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
