The Borrowers

Inside a spacious house, a Clock family of four inches tall lives in plain sight of their normal sized neighbors, quietly making do by borrowing items and repurposing ordinary objects into tools and provisions. The family matriarchs and siblings work to keep their existence hidden, while Arrietty Clock, the adventurous daughter, leads little expeditions beneath chair legs and behind baseboards. Trouble arrives when a ruthless lawyer named Ocious P. Potter swipes the will that confirms who owns the house and schemes to demolish it to build apartments. With eviction looming, the Lenders pack their belongings and the Clocks face exposure to a world that barely tolerates their presence. They must outwit a powerful foe without breaking their code of secrecy.

Released in 1997, The Borrowers was directed by Peter Hewitt and adapted from Mary Norton's books with screenplay by Gavin Scott and John Kamps. The cast includes John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Flora Newbigin, and other performers who bring the tiny family to life. Their performances give the Clock family warmth and humor that anchors the film for a family audience.

The film earned about $22,619,699 worldwide, a modest result given the $29,000,000 budget, reflecting its family friendly appeal but limited blockbuster impact and modest release in several markets.

The movie sits in the late 90s wave of family friendly fantasy, using practical miniatures and clever set design to bring the Borrowers world to life. The set pieces, from a teetering staircase to a sugar bowl kitchen, create a sense of scale that invites kids to imagine a larger, bustling world around them.

Critics framed the film as a warm family adventure that foregrounds cooperation, resourcefulness, and the tension between small lives and big development. It treats difference with curiosity and humor while reminding audiences that home can exist in unexpected places. The movie also invites viewers to rethink everyday objects as potential tools and friends, not mere clutter.