The Boxtrolls Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Blue garbage gremlins raise a human boy who then teams up with a girl to stop a cheese-obsessed villain from exterminating his family because of his lactose intolerance, involving a lot of cheese-related antics.

🍿 The Boxtrolls: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Orphaned Eggs and the Boxtrolls

In the Victorian-era town of Cheesebridge, nestled beneath the cobblestone streets, live the Boxtrolls – quirky, resourceful creatures who wear cardboard boxes. One of them, ‘Fish,’ raises a human boy named Eggs after his father disappears. The town believes the Boxtrolls are evil monsters, stirring fear and prejudice.

The Villainous Snatcher and his Ambition

Driven by ambition and a severe cheese allergy, Archibald Snatcher seeks to eradicate the Boxtrolls to gain a coveted ‘White Hat’ and a place among Cheesebridge’s elite. He spreads misinformation, fueling the town’s fear and manipulating Lord Portley-Rind, the cheese-obsessed leader, into funding his extermination efforts.

Eggs Ventures Above Ground

When Fish is captured by Snatcher, Eggs ventures into the human world to save him. He encounters Winnie Portley-Rind, a curious and adventurous girl fascinated by the macabre. Together, they uncover the truth about Snatcher’s sinister plot and the Boxtrolls’ benevolent nature.

Unveiling the Past

Eggs learns that he is the son of a human inventor who worked with the Boxtrolls, sharing knowledge and creating mechanical wonders. Snatcher, driven by greed, sought to steal the inventor’s work, leading to a confrontation that resulted in Eggs being entrusted to the Boxtrolls for safety.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Eggs (Isaac Hempstead Wright): A human boy raised by Boxtrolls who seeks to protect his family and reveal the truth about them to the world.
• Snatcher (Ben Kingsley): The ruthless, cheese-obsessed exterminator determined to eradicate the Boxtrolls to gain social status and a white hat.
• Winnie Portley-Rind (Elle Fanning): A precocious and adventurous girl who befriends Eggs and helps him fight for the Boxtrolls.
• Lord Portley-Rind (Jared Harris): The cheese-loving leader of Cheesebridge, initially oblivious to Snatcher’s evil intentions and the Boxtrolls’ true nature.
• Mr. Trout (Nick Frost): One of Snatcher’s philosophical and conflicted henchmen, who questions the morality of his actions.
• Mr. Pickles (Richard Ayoade): Another of Snatcher’s henchmen, often engaging in existential discussions with Mr. Trout about their role.
• Fish (Dee Bradley Baker): A caring and protective Boxtroll who serves as Eggs’ surrogate father, teaching him about the Boxtroll way of life.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Mr. Pickles: “Are we the good guys?” – A recurring question that he asks, as both Pickles and Trout contemplate their actions and morality working for Snatcher.
• Archibald Snatcher: “I was promised rivers of blood! And piles of baby bones!” – Snatcher’s comically dark desires reveal his twisted ambitions to eradicate the Boxtrolls.
• Winnie: “I’m sure I’m delicious.” – Winnie says this with a bored tone when facing peril, highlighting her morbid curiosity and fearless attitude.
• Eggs: “We can’t keep hiding!” – Eggs says this when his friend Fish gets captured, indicating his decision to fight back for his Boxtroll family instead of hiding.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $60,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $50,837,305
• Worldwide Gross: $108,255,770

💥 The Boxtrolls Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved ‘The Boxtrolls’! The animation is stunning, and the characters are so unique and endearing. I was completely drawn into their world, and I found myself rooting for Eggs and the Boxtrolls every step of the way. I was especially touched by the bond between Eggs and Fish – their relationship felt so genuine. There are some dark elements, but the film ultimately delivers a heartwarming message about acceptance and found family.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of stop-motion animation.”
  • “Viewers who enjoy dark fantasy and quirky humor.”
  • “Families looking for a movie with a positive message about acceptance and tolerance.”
  • “Adults who appreciate philosophical subtext in animated films.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some scenes may be too intense or grotesque for very young or sensitive children.”
  • “Contains themes of prejudice, social class conflict, and implied violence.”
  • “Features a villain with a severe allergy to cheese, resulting in exaggerated physical reactions.”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “The Boxtrolls is a visual feast that blends steampunk aesthetics with stop-motion artistry. While the story is straightforward, the film’s unique animation style and quirky characters make it a delightful experience for audiences of all ages. Kingsley’s performance as Snatcher is particularly memorable.
• Variety: “Laika Entertainment continues to impress with its dedication to stop-motion animation. The Boxtrolls offers a darkly humorous and visually stunning tale of acceptance and belonging. Though the plot is somewhat predictable, the film’s creative character designs and detailed world-building are sure to captivate viewers.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “The Boxtrolls boasts impressive stop-motion animation and a talented voice cast, but the story struggles to find its footing. While the film explores themes of prejudice and identity, it lacks the emotional depth and compelling narrative of Laika’s previous works. Still, the film’s visual flair makes it worth a watch.

Audience Reactions

Viewers praised the unique stop-motion animation style and the creative character designs.: Many appreciated the film’s blend of humor and heart, finding it both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Ben Kingsley’s voice performance as Snatcher was widely lauded as a standout element.: Fans enjoyed the movie’s quirky steampunk setting and its imaginative world-building.

Overall Consensus: The Boxtrolls is a visually stunning and imaginative stop-motion film with a heartwarming message. While some find the story predictable, the film’s unique animation style, memorable characters, and blend of humor and heart make it a worthwhile watch.

Awards

1. Critics’ Choice Movie Awards (Best Animated Feature)- 2014

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “”The Boxtrolls” is based on the children’s novel “Here Be Monsters!” by Alan Snow, but the film adaptation took many creative liberties.”
• “Over 20,000 props were handmade for the movie, showcasing the meticulous detail of the stop-motion animation.”
• “During the credits, Mr. Trout and Mr. Pickles have a philosophical discussion about their place in the world, showcasing the film’s quirky humor.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Boxtrolls?

The Boxtrolls is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu where you may be able to rent or buy the movie. Check your local listings for cable or satellite options as well.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Boxtrolls, you might like these similar films:

• Coraline (2009): Both are stop-motion animated films with a dark, whimsical atmosphere and are produced by Laika Entertainment.
• ParaNorman (2012): This stop-motion movie tackles themes of prejudice and acceptance of the misunderstood, similar to The Boxtrolls.
• Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005): This movie features stop-motion animation with British humor and eccentric characters.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): The film blends dark fantasy with whimsy and is animated with stop-motion, similar to The Boxtrolls.

🛒 The Boxtrolls Related Products

• The Art of The Boxtrolls: A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, showcasing the intricate character designs, set pieces, and stop-motion animation process. A must-have for animation enthusiasts and fans of the film.
• The Boxtrolls: Here Be Monsters! (Original Book): The original children’s novel that inspired the movie, written by Alan Snow. Dive into the expanded world and characters that brought the Boxtrolls to life.
• Boxtrolls Movie T-Shirt: A Boxtrolls-themed T-shirt featuring your favourite characters: Eggs, Fish, Winnie etc. Comes in various sizes for adults and children.
• Laika Studios Blu-Ray Collection (Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls): A Blu-Ray collection of Laika Studios’ most celebrated works, including Coraline, ParaNorman, and The Boxtrolls. Experience the stunning stop-motion animation in high definition.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Boxtrolls features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Boxtrolls Song” – performed by Mark Orton & Loch Lomond
• “Some Kids” – performed by Loch Lomond
• “Little Boxes” – performed by Malvina Reynolds

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

FLIPBOOKS from the movies I worked on

Ever wondered how they bring those amazing animated movies to life? This video gives you a sneak peek at the flipbooks used for The Boxtrolls and other stop-motion films. It’s a cool look at the artistry behind the scenes!

THE BOXTROLLS to the RESCUE! Stop Motion Adventure!

Want a quick, fun recap of The Boxtrolls with a creative twist? Check out this stop-motion adventure that brings the movie to life in a whole new way! It’s a charming take on the story.

2014 THE BOXTROLLS SET OF 8 McDONALD’S HAPPY MEAL MOVIE COLLECTION VIDEO REVIEW

Remember those cool Boxtrolls Happy Meal toys? Take a trip down memory lane with this review of the complete collection from 2014! It is interesting to see these kind of collabs.

Everything Wrong With The Boxtrolls in 18 Minutes or Less

Think The Boxtrolls is perfect? Think again! CinemaSins is known for their comedic and critical look into films, so take a look at this hilarious breakdown of all its flaws.

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