# The House with a Clock in Its Walls

> 2018 film directed by Eli Roth

**Wikidata**: [Q42914959](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42914959)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_with_a_Clock_in_Its_Walls_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-house-with-a-clock-in-its-walls

## Summary
The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a 2018 fantasy film directed by Eli Roth, based on the 1973 novel by John Bellairs. The movie stars Owen Vaccaro as Lewis Barnavelt, a young orphan who discovers his uncle's magical abilities in a mysterious house with a hidden clock.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Eli Roth and released on September 21, 2018
- Based on the 1973 novel by John Bellairs
- Stars Owen Vaccaro as Lewis Barnavelt, with Jack Black and Cate Blanchett
- Official website: https://www.housewithaclock.com/
- Has 33 sitelinks across various language Wikipedias
- Wikipedia title: "The House with a Clock in Its Walls (film)"

## FAQs
**What is the plot of The House with a Clock in Its Walls?**
The film follows young Lewis Barnavelt, who goes to live with his eccentric uncle Jonathan in a creaky old house. He discovers his uncle is a warlock and learns magic himself, while they must find a mysterious clock hidden in the walls that could bring about the end of the world.

**Who are the main actors in the film?**
The film stars Owen Vaccaro as Lewis Barnavelt, Jack Black as Uncle Jonathan, and Cate Blanchett as Florence Zimmerman. Kyle MacLachlan also appears as Isaac Izard, the former owner of the house.

**Is this film based on a book?**
Yes, the film is based on the 1973 gothic horror novel of the same name by John Bellairs, which was the first in a series of twelve books featuring the character Lewis Barnavelt.

## Why It Matters
The House with a Clock in Its Walls represents an important entry in the family fantasy genre, bringing a classic children's book to the big screen with modern special effects while maintaining the spooky atmosphere of the original novel. The film's success helped introduce a new generation to John Bellairs' work and demonstrated that Eli Roth, known primarily for horror films, could successfully direct family-friendly content. Its blend of humor, magic, and mild horror elements makes it a unique entry in the 2018 film landscape.

## Notable For
- Eli Roth's first family-friendly film, marking a significant departure from his usual horror genre
- Bringing John Bellairs' beloved 1973 novel to a new generation of viewers
- Featuring an unusual pairing of Jack Black and Cate Blanchett in leading roles
- Successfully adapting a classic children's book while maintaining its spooky atmosphere
- Being one of the few fantasy films in 2018 that combined humor with genuine supernatural elements

## Body
### Production and Release
The House with a Clock in Its Walls was directed by Eli Roth and produced by Mythology Entertainment and Amblin Entertainment. The film had its world premiere on September 20, 2018, at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, followed by its wide theatrical release on September 21, 2018. It was later released on digital platforms on November 27, 2018, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD on December 18, 2018. The film had a third release date of October 31, 2021, likely for a Halloween screening.

### Cast and Characters
Owen Vaccaro stars as Lewis Barnavelt, the young protagonist who discovers his magical heritage. Jack Black plays Jonathan Barnavelt, Lewis's eccentric uncle and a warlock. Cate Blanchett portrays Florence Zimmerman, Jonathan's neighbor and a powerful witch who becomes Lewis's magical tutor. The cast also includes Kyle MacLachlan as Isaac Izard, the evil warlock who originally owned the house, and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Selena Izard, Isaac's wife.

### Source Material and Adaptation
The film is based on the 1973 novel "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" by John Bellairs, which was illustrated by Edward Gorey. This novel was the first in Bellairs' Lewis Barnavelt series, which includes twelve books total. The adaptation maintains the core elements of the story while updating certain aspects for a modern audience, including enhanced visual effects to bring the magical elements to life.

### Reception and Impact
The film received mixed reviews from critics but performed well at the box office, grossing over $131 million worldwide against a production budget of $42 million. Its success demonstrated that there was still an appetite for family-friendly fantasy films with a slightly darker edge, and it helped introduce John Bellairs' work to a new generation of readers. The movie's blend of humor, magic, and mild horror elements made it stand out among other family films released in 2018.

### Online Presence
The film maintains an official website at https://www.housewithaclock.com/ where fans can find information about the movie, cast, and related content. It has a significant online presence with 33 sitelinks across various language versions of Wikipedia, indicating its international reach and popularity. The Wikipedia page for the film provides detailed information about its production, cast, and reception across different language communities.

## References

1. IMDb
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3. The Movie Database
4. [Source](https://esadir.cat/filmoteca/fitxa/node/La_casa_del_rellotge_dins_de_la_paret)
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6. The House With a Clock in Its Walls. Rotten Tomatoes
7. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119543/releaseinfo/)
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9. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
10. BBC Things
11. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2119543/)
12. [Source](https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/house-clock-its-walls-2018)
13. Entertainment Identifier Registry
14. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=356817)
15. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
16. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119543/parentalguide/#certificates)
17. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/149585)
18. [Source](http://justica.gov.br/news/collective-nitf-content-1537461978.17)
19. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
20. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/webicaa/Ficheros/40718/34/40718/1/209.pdf)
21. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=15932)
22. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=453)
23. [Source](http://fpbquery.fpb.org.za/erms/film_details.aspx?ref=81619)
24. [Source](https://imdaonline.imda.gov.sg/classification/Search/Film/SearchDetail.aspx?sType=Feature&sRowID=AAAbRZAANAAAEgGAAB)
25. [Source](https://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=411443)
26. [Source](http://www.ifco.ie/en/ifco/pages/8655E584004FEE3F)
27. TheTVDB
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29. FilmVandaag.nl