The Secret of NIMH (1982): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 animated thriller directed by Don Bluth, starring John Carradine, Derek Jacobi and Dom DeLuise. It is based on Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien and Zena Bernstein. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $14.7 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Animated Film at the Saturn Awards 1983. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- Don Bluth
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Secret of NIMH About?
The premise of The Secret of NIMH without spoilers, adapted from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien and Zena Bernstein. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A courageous widowed mouse, Mrs. Brisby, faces a daunting challenge when she must relocate her family to escape a farmer's plow. Seeking assistance, she encounters a group of intelligent rats with a mysterious past. Drawn into their complex conflicts and ancient secrets, Mrs. Brisby must rely on her resourcefulness and bravery to safeguard her children and uncover the truth.
The Secret of NIMH Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- balladeer
- courage
- animal cruelty
- reference to jupiter the god
- death of husband
- red cape
- reference to god
- reference to christian mythology
- mother of four
- illness
- sick child
- widowed mother
+38 more Show fewer
- 1980s
- pneumonia
- mouse
- cat
- sick animal
- three monkeys
- animal experimentation
- death of father
- based on novel
- anthropomorphic animal
- animal protagonist
- animal hero
- animal villain
- anthropomorphic animal as protagonist
- anthropomorphic animal as villain
- female protagonist
- explosion
- blue eyes
- reference to the god jupiter
- reference to jupiter the roman deity
- perspiration
- string
- cat and mouse
- water mill
- broth
- lost medicine
- maternal love
- reference to 'pearls before swine'
- national institute of mental health
- rural setting
- waking up naked
- cane
- walking cane
- rabbit
- shrew
- anthropomorphic shrew
- moving day
- trembling
The Secret of NIMH Cast
John Carradine leads the cast, with Derek Jacobi and Dom DeLuise. Directed by Don Bluth; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Don Bluth
Also Starring in The Secret of NIMH
· 6 moreThe Secret of NIMH Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Secret of NIMH 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.
-
IMDb 7.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 76 Metascore
User score 8.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 74% User score
See on TMDB
The Secret of NIMH Plot Summary
What happens in The Secret of NIMH from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Mrs. Brisby, a timid and introverted mouse widow, finds her family’s safety in jeopardy due to an unseasonably warm spell that compels Farmer Fitzgibbons to begin plowing his fields ahead of schedule. This rush threatens the fragile cinder block that she and her four children—Martin, Theresa, Cynthia, and young Timmy—call home. While a typical move to a safer location would be their usual course of action, Timmy’s serious illness from pneumonia complicates matters, keeping them rooted in their perilous situation.
Full summary
The whole story of The Secret of NIMH, scene by scene
The Secret of NIMH Box Office
The Secret of NIMH grossed $14.7 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$14.7M
- US & Canada
- $14.7M
The Secret of NIMH Awards & Nominations
The Secret of NIMH won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Animated Film at the Saturn Awards 1983.
1 win1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Saturn Awards 1983 1 win · 1 nomination- Won Best Animated Film
The Secret of NIMH Trailers & Videos
11 videos: 3 trailers, 6 clips and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer Masters of Cinema Trailer
- Trailer Original 1982 Trailer
- Clip Mrs. Brisby Meets Nicodemus
- Clip Escaping The Cat
How Well Do You Know The Secret of NIMH?
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 is the main threat to Mrs. Brisby's home?
Cars in The Secret of NIMH
2 cars on screen: the John Deere Model B and the 1971 Dodge Tradesman.
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John Deere Model B Important role -
1971 Dodge Tradesman Minor role
The Secret of NIMH Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “Brisby et le secret de Nimh” and “Секрет Н.И.М.Х.”.
- Also known as
-
- Brisby et le secret de Nimh
- Секрет Н.И.М.Х.
- Секрет НИМХ
- ニムの秘密
- 勇敢鼠妈妈
- The Secret of NIMH 1
- סודה של נים
- A Ratinha Valente
- Таємниця NIMH
- Секрет NIMH
- Секрет НІП
- Секрет НІПЗ
+24 more Show fewer
- Таємниця НІП
- Таємниця НІПЗ
- Rém-mese
- Mrs. Brisby und das Geheimnis von NIMH
- Brisby e il segreto di NIMH
- O Segredo de NIMH
- Het Geheim van NIMH
- Nimh, el mundo secreto de la Sra. Brisby
- 鼠谭秘奇
- Dzielna pani Brisby
- Brisby och NIMHs hemlighet
- על קסמים ועכברים
- A NIMH titka
- NIMH'in Sırrı
- 마우스 킹
- راز نیمح
- Brisby et le Secret de N.I.M.H.
- Nihm: Fru Brisbys hemmelige verden
- Tajemství N.I.M.H.
- Тајна НИМЗ-а
- La ratoncita valiente
- Таємниця щурів
- Το Μυστικό των ΝΙΜ
- Skrivnost čudežnega grma
Seen The Secret of NIMH?
Movies Like The Secret of NIMH
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, The Mouse and His Child and The Secret of Moonacre.
-
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue 1998 -
The Mouse and His Child 1977 -
The Secret of Moonacre 2010 -
Cinderella and the Secret Prince 2019 -
Once Upon a Forest 1993 -
The Rescuers 1977 -
The Secret of Magic Island 1956 -
Piglet's Big Movie 2003 -
The Secret of Mulan 1998 -
Storybook 1994 -
The Great Mouse Detective 1986 -
The Princess and the Goblin 1991
The Secret of NIMH FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Secret of NIMH, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Secret of NIMH?
The Secret of NIMH runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).
When was The Secret of NIMH released?
The Secret of NIMH was released on July 16, 1982.
Who directed The Secret of NIMH?
The Secret of NIMH was directed by Don Bluth.
More films by Don Bluth Who is in the cast of The Secret of NIMH?
The Secret of NIMH stars John Carradine, Derek Jacobi and Dom DeLuise, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Secret of NIMH make at the box office?
The Secret of NIMH grossed $14.7 million worldwide.
How is The Secret of NIMH rated?
The Secret of NIMH has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 76 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.
Is The Secret of NIMH based on a book?
Yes. The Secret of NIMH is adapted from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien and Zena Bernstein.
What awards did The Secret of NIMH win?
The Secret of NIMH won 1 award from 1 nomination, including Best Animated Film at the Saturn Awards 1983.
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