---
title: "Stuart Little"
year: 1999
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/stuart-little"
fi1m_id: "stuart-little"
imdb_id: "tt0164912"
tmdb_id: 10137
wikidata_id: "Q1048958"
fi1m_score: 66
critics_score: 57
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-10-05T01:39:27.106627+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T01:39:27.576788+00:00"
region: "EC"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Stuart Little (1999)

Directed by Rob Minkoff · 1h 24m · Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure

## Identity

Stuart Little

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/stuart-little
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** stuart-little
- **IMDb ID:** tt0164912
- **TMDB ID:** 10137
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1048958
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164912/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/10137, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1048958

**Fi1m score: 66** · Critics 57 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* The cat sounds as though he would prefer a less wholesome film

> Rob Minkoff’s family fantasy has an appealing mouse, a funny cat and rather too much reassurance. Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane keep it watchable when the human characters and the writing turn bland.

## Synopsis

When Stuart Little (voiced by Michael J. Fox) joins the Little family, the new arrival is a mouse. Mr. Little (Hugh Laurie), Mrs. Little (Geena Davis) and George Little (Jonathan Lipnicki) are the humans with whom he must make a home. Snowbell (voiced by Nathan Lane) is the cat, an awkward companion for someone of Stuart’s size and species. Stuart has to find his place in a household built around people, where the ordinary business of family life now involves sharing space with a much smaller member.

## Review

Rob Minkoff’s *Stuart Little* is a pleasant family film with enough charm to survive its determination to be lovable. Adapting E.B. White’s novel, screenwriters Greg Brooker and M. Night Shyamalan put a great deal of faith in sweetness, and rather less in giving the people something interesting to do. The computer-animated mouse is persuasive almost at once, which leaves the storytelling with no technical excuse for being so ordinary. It is decent entertainment for younger viewers, though their adult companions may find the warmth becoming a little insistent.

Michael J. Fox supplies Stuart’s voice with an unforced friendliness that helps considerably. There is eagerness in the performance, but little of the strenuous pleading for affection that can make an animated animal exhausting company. We found ourselves fond of Stuart almost immediately, because that modest voice and his convincing presence beside the human cast make him easy to accept. The animation lets us attend to a small character rather than spend the whole film inspecting a technical accomplishment.

Nathan Lane gives Snowbell the sharper comic personality, and the film benefits whenever the cat is allowed to sound dissatisfied. His delivery makes even a minor grievance seem worth hearing, with an offended dignity that does not require much assistance from the writing. The animal comedy provides welcome relief from the prevailing good intentions. It also exposes a weakness: the supposedly supporting cat is often more entertaining than the mouse whose name is on the film.

Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie have a harder job, and neither finds much room to surprise us. Their performances are amiable, but the writing leaves them representing a nice family more often than behaving like particular people. Jonathan Lipnicki, as George Little, belongs to the same carefully softened human world. There is nothing wrong with making a family film kind; the difficulty comes when kindness supplies so much of the characterisation that the actors have little else to play.

Guillermo Navarro’s cinematography helps the mouse and the human cast appear to occupy the same physical space, an essential achievement here. Bill Brzeski’s production design gives the animated figure surroundings in which he looks convincingly situated, rather than stranded in front of a backdrop. Together, those contributions support the effects without making the images feel like demonstrations. The visual credibility does useful dramatic work: we accept Stuart’s presence long before the script has earned an equal investment in everyone around him.

Editors Tom Finan and Julie Rogers keep the film to 84 minutes, a sensible length for material this slight. Even so, the sentimental passages can feel prolonged, because the emotional point is often apparent before the film has finished making it. Alan Silvestri’s music adds to that earnestness when a little less encouragement would have served the characters better. The problem is cumulative: performance, writing and music are too often working equally hard to ensure that nobody misses the affection.

As family fantasy, this gets the difficult business of making an impossible creature believable substantially right. It is less resourceful about what to do once we have accepted him, settling too readily for familiar comforts and uncomplicated people. There is enough humour in the animals, and enough appeal in Stuart himself, to make that a limitation rather than a disaster. Choose it for a gentle evening with younger children, and leave room for the cat’s objections.

*Fi1m score 66, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on Stuart Little is mixed, with praise clustering around the effects rather than the storytelling. Critics repeatedly admire how convincingly the computer-generated mouse interacts with the live-action cast, including several who find the film disappointing. The animal characters’ humour and voice work also earn approval, with the cats frequently singled out. Warmer reviews find enough charm and gentle fun to make it enjoyable family entertainment.

The divide is over how much sweetness the story can sustain. Several critics find it overly sentimental, while others point to an uninspired narrative and human characters who seem awkward or dull beside the animals. Responses range widely: the Evening Standard warmly endorses the classic storytelling, whereas the Los Angeles Times finds the film dull and largely uninvolving. Comparisons with the book bring further reservations about the loss of its mystery and magic, even among critics who enjoy the adaptation.

## Straight answers

**Is Stuart Little worth watching?**

*Stuart Little* is worth considering for a gentle evening with younger children, and we score it 66 out of 100. Michael J. Fox’s friendly mouse and Nathan Lane’s disgruntled cat keep it watchable, though adults may tire of the bland human characters and the repeated reassurance that this is a loving family.

**How long is Stuart Little, and what is it rated?**

*Stuart Little* runs 1h 24m. It is a family and fantasy film.

**Where can I watch Stuart Little in Ecuador?**

*Stuart Little* is not on any streaming or rental service in Ecuador at the moment. It is available in 33 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How does Stuart Little compare to Babe?**

*Stuart Little* is pleasant family entertainment, but we recommend [*Babe*](https://film.one/film/babe) as the stronger film, with more character beneath its sweetness. Both follow a small animal seeking acceptance; *Babe* earns its sentiment more convincingly, while *Stuart Little* relies on its appealing mouse and funny cat to compensate for less interesting human characters.

**Is Stuart Little based on a true story or a book?**

*Stuart Little* is adapted from E.B. White’s novel, rather than based on a true story. Greg Brooker and M. Night Shyamalan write this version around a mouse finding his place in a human household; no familiarity with the book is needed to follow that straightforward family story.

**What should I watch after Stuart Little?**

After *Stuart Little*, try [*Babe*](https://film.one/film/babe) (1995, Fi1m 88): Another small animal seeks acceptance, with more character beneath the sweetness. Then [*Ernest & Celestine*](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine) (2012, Fi1m 84): A mouse and a bear build a friendship without quite so much sugar; and [*My Neighbour Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro) (1988, Fi1m 89): Family warmth and improbable creatures, with welcome space for quiet observation.

### Reviews we read (11)

- **Evening Standard** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a small, perfect joy and praises its classic storytelling. They single out the convincing interaction between the computer-generated mouse and the live-action cast. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/stuart-little-7433888.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (3/4): Ebert finds the film charming and enjoyable as family entertainment. He especially praises how the computer-animated Stuart fits into the live-action world. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stuart-little-1999)
- **The Guardian**, Philip French (75/100, inferred): French finds the film a lot of fun despite its being less mysterious and more mundane than the book. He praises the convincing digital animals and the Central Park boat race. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,346295,00.html)
- **Time Out**, WH (64/100, inferred): The page identifies itself as a review, but its body is unavailable, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. The available description identifies the film as an adaptation of E.B. White’s story, but reveals no specific praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/stuart-little)
- **Radio Times**, David Parkinson (3/5): Parkinson finds the film charming but says its narrative lacks inspiration and is overly sentimental. He praises the animation and the voices of Stuart and Snowbell, while finding the human characters awkwardly performed. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-eicd9n/stuart-little/)
- **Total Film**, Total Film (3/5): The review finds the film lightweight and overly sentimental, but enjoyable for viewers of all ages. It especially praises Stuart’s convincing CGI performance and the funny animal characters. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/stuart-little-review/)
- **Variety**, Lael Loewenstein (55/100, inferred): The critic finds the adaptation more than passable but ultimately too slick and labored to capture the book’s magic. The technically impressive animation and the cats’ humor stand out, while the human characters feel dull by comparison. [Read](https://variety.com/1999/film/reviews/stuart-little-1117759841/)
- **The New York Times** (48/100, inferred): The headline suggests the review finds the sly cat more compelling than Stuart Little. The cat’s ability to upstage the title character is the only discernible point of praise. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/17/movies/film-review-extra-sly-cat-upstages-stuart-little.html)
- **Empire**, William Thomas (35/100, inferred): Thomas finds the film wholesome family fare but ultimately too cute and saccharine. He praises its technical trickery and singles out the unusual voices of the cats. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/stuart-little-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (30/100, inferred): Turan finds the film dull and largely uninvolving, despite its appeal for young viewers. He praises the computer-generated mouse and says the adventures work best when they follow the book. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-17-ca-44713-story.html)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (30/100, inferred): The review is critical, finding the film dull and overly sentimental despite some appealing elements. It praises the model work and says Stuart and Snowball steal the show. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/stuart-little-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Rob Minkoff
- **Director:** Rob Minkoff
- **Screenplay:** M. Night Shyamalan, Greg Brooker
- **Novel:** E.B. White
- **Cinematography:** Guillermo Navarro
- **Editor:** Tom Finan, Julie Rogers
- **Music:** Alan Silvestri
- **Production design:** Bill Brzeski
- **Costume design:** Joseph A. Porro
- **Producer:** Douglas Wick
- **Cast:** Michael J. Fox as Stuart Little (voice); Geena Davis as Mrs. Little; Hugh Laurie as Mr. Little; Jonathan Lipnicki as George Little; Nathan Lane as Snowbell (voice); Chazz Palminteri as Smokey (voice); Steve Zahn as Monty (voice); Jim Doughan as Lucky (voice) / Officer Allen
- **Runtime:** 1h 24m
- **First release (the US):** 17 December 1999
- **Genres:** Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
- **Budget:** $133 million
- **Box office:** $300 million

## Where to watch in Ecuador

Not streaming, renting or buying in Ecuador at the last check.

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, IE, IN, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2000: Best Visual Effects (nominated)
- BAFTA Film Awards 2000: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film (nominated)
- Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature 2000: Satellite Award for Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature (nominated)
- Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects 2000: Satellite Award for Best Visual Effects (won)

## If you liked this

- *Babe* (1995), Fi1m 88: Another small animal seeks acceptance, with more character beneath the sweetness. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/babe.md)
- *The Borrowers* (1997): Tiny people make household objects useful, dangerous and worth looking at again.
- *Ernest & Celestine* (2012), Fi1m 84: A mouse and a bear build a friendship without quite so much sugar. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ernest-and-celestine.md)
- *My Neighbour Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89: Family warmth and improbable creatures, with welcome space for quiet observation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)
- *The Secret of NIMH* (1982), Fi1m 74: For children ready for darker mouse adventures, with danger that feels consequential. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-nimh.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/stuart-little