Is The Secret of NIMH Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, The Secret of NIMH is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Family movies.
It features a runtime of 83 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to general audiences.

Verdict:The Secret of NIMH is a confirmed HIT based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 7.4/10, it has delivered a compelling experience for fans of the Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery genre.
Answer: Yes, The Secret of NIMH is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Family movies.
It features a runtime of 83 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1982, The Secret of NIMH emerges as a significant entry in the Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of A widowed field mouse must move her family -- including an ailing son -- to escape a farmer's plow. Unlike standard genre fare, The Secret of NIMH attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a refreshing take on its central themes.
The success of any Family is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Secret of NIMH features a noteworthy lineup led by Elizabeth Hartman . Supported by the likes of Derek Jacobi and Arthur Malet , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Secret of NIMH (1982) is overwhelmingly positive. With an audience rating of 7.4/10, it stands as a mandatory watch for any serious cinema lover.
Quick Plot Summary: The Secret of NIMH is a Family, Animation, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. 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. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Ending Breakdown: The Secret of NIMH resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to family resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of The Secret of NIMH reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Worth Watching If You:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $7.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $14.7M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The estimated production budget for The Secret of NIMH is $7.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.








MGM Plus Amazon Channel
Apple TV
Amazon Video
Apple TVAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 7.4/10, and global collection metrics, The Secret of NIMH stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1982 cinematic year.
The Secret of NIMH is considered a hit based on audience response and box office performance. With a rating of 7.4/10, it's highly recommended for fans of Family, Animation, Fantasy movies.
Yes, The Secret of NIMH is definitely worth watching! It's a must-watch hit for fans of Family, Animation, Fantasy cinema.
The Secret of NIMH is currently available for streaming on MGM Plus Amazon Channel. You can also check for it on platforms like MGM Plus Amazon Channel depending on your region.
This 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 feel how she's a loving mother, polite and shy. But due to adversary she has to rise about her gentleness and fear and really shows the strength you can develop when fighting for your loved ones. The music is really nice and fitting and I'm happy they just re-released an extended soundtrack. But maybe even more impressive is the visual style. As one came to expect from Don Bluth movies of that time, everything is beautiful, each single background of each scene a gorgeous painting even outside the movie's context, one thing I really miss in modern animation, as much as I enjoy modern stuff as well. Some added, beautiful sparkle effects on things like her medallion or the shiny lights in the rat's hideout, just lovely!! All voice actors do a great job, but I especially love Mrs Brisby herself, the loving warmth in her voice, the gentle tone when asking for help and especially how she still tries to stay gentle and polite when obviously irritated by Jeremy again. I can certainly recommend this movie! I want to support this lovely single mother and hug her and her kids so much! - If you like the movie and don't mind reading books, I also really recommend the book it is based on. The book has no magical items, no clear antagonist (Jenner is only mentioned) and describes much more of what happens around NIMH, so, even if you know one, watching/reading the other still puts a new spin on it.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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