Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Book Thief

Play trailer Poster for The Book Thief PG-13 2013 2h 7m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
49% Tomatometer 150 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In 1938, young orphan Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) arrives at the home of her new foster parents, Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson). When Hans, a kindly housepainter, learns that Liesel cannot read, he teaches the child the wonders of the written language. Liesel grows to love books, even rescuing one from a Nazi bonfire. Though Liesel's new family barely scrape by, their situation becomes even more precarious when they secretly shelter a Jewish boy whose father once saved Hans' life.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A bit too safe in its handling of its Nazi Germany setting, The Book Thief counters its constraints with a respectful tone and strong performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Kate Muir The Times (UK) Jan 2, 2018
The film is hamstrung by the novel's structure, unsure whether to be a 12A-certificate family outing, or to luxuriate in morbid irony. Go to Full Review Larushka Ivan-Zadeh metro.co.uk Mar 4, 2014
2/5
I'd heard reports that this film could reduce grown men to tears - but I'm guessing they were just yawning with boredom. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) Mar 2, 2014
2/5
Tries to blend heartwarming moral observation with ill-fitting metaphysical contrivance. Go to Full Review Matt Oakes Silver Screen Riot Oct 15, 2026
C+
As it stands, it's modestly good and mildly powerful but lacking the vitality of a more tactful director. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Feb 16, 2024
3/5
The film has its respectful essence, but lacks a bit of the spirit and entertainment value. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Aug 19, 2022
4.5/5
For two hours I was a resident on that small town German street. I cared about the characters, laughed with them, and was pierced by the tragedies they endured. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Emma L @RT87844662 Oct 12, 2026 Boring throughout the movie. The book brought me to tears, such a drastic difference. See more Riccardo G @IkeHarris Sep 21, 2026 Why didn’t she just use Z-Library? See more SurvivorAlways 7 @MyLife4Me79 Aug 1, 2026 The Book Thief does take place in Nazi Germany and yet it feels so light hearted and sweet most of the way through. I just love Geoffrey Rush’s character of Papa. He was my favorite. He is such a warm hug in this film. Emily Watson also just wonderful. All the actors were all really wonderful. I smiled and I sobbed and I absolutely recommend this movie. See more Todor Y @Phantom961 May 29, 2026 Good movie, i like it, but the mix of languages german and english make it seem ordinary. They should kept dialogue only on one language, in this case german. See more Ellie C @Ejtopsy82 May 18, 2026 For someone who found this book in children’s literature section of Waterstones I thought this movie did a decent enough job of at least attempting to encapsulate the novel’s magic. However I’m not sure that Spielberg himself would really have been able to recapture the book’s magic on film. The narration from Death is so vivid and evocative within the language used that pictures cannot be expected to resonate as much as the words. One particular sentence that I have never forgotten in its visceral horror and beauty was when death talks about what it will be like when he comes for us; "you’ll be caked in your own body, a scream will dribble down the air…" How would that horrifically beautiful imagery translate on film? The answer to the question is- it doesn’t. My advice would be to read the book and imagine the movie that it creates in your own mind. See more Gary R. @trader Feb 21, 2026 This movie handles wwII germany with kid gloves See more Read all reviews
The Book Thief

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Brian Percival

Director

Geoffrey Rush

Hans Hubermann

Emily Watson

Rosa

Sophie Nélisse

Liesel Meminger

Nico Liersch

Rudy

Ben Schnetzer

Max Vandenburg

More Like This

View All
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 64% 84% The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Watchlist Walking With the Enemy 46% 58% Walking With the Enemy Watchlist Miral 19% 54% Miral Watchlist Lee Daniels' The Butler 72% 78% Lee Daniels' The Butler Watchlist Frantz 91% 85% Frantz Watchlist TRAILER for Frantz Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

The Book Thief

The Book Thief (2013) The Book Thief (2013) The Book Thief (2013) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1938, young orphan Liesel (Sophie Nélisse) arrives at the home of her new foster parents, Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson). When Hans, a kindly housepainter, learns that Liesel cannot read, he teaches the child the wonders of the written language. Liesel grows to love books, even rescuing one from a Nazi bonfire. Though Liesel's new family barely scrape by, their situation becomes even more precarious when they secretly shelter a Jewish boy whose father once saved Hans' life.
Director
Brian Percival
Producer
Karen Rosenfelt, Ken Blancato
Screenwriter
Michael Petroni
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Sunswept Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Some Violence|Intense Thematic Material)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 8, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 18, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.4M
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Dolby, SDDS
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings