Retrospective Film Review

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids • 35 Years Later — still a giant of charming family cinema

The scientist father of a teenage girl and boy accidentally shrinks his and two other neighbourhood teens to the size of insects.

1989 was a big year for movies. From the first animated film of the Disney Renaissance era (The Little Mermaid) to the first truly good Batman film, we had many reasons to visit the cinema between May and December in particular. But one of those reasons came as a surprise to critics, the studio, and even the creators…

It was a film from a first-time director, made on a reasonable budget, and expected to be a passable family film with no real staying power. However, the little film about shrunken children outperformed expectations and enjoyed the longest theatrical run of any live-action Disney release. A title it would hold for an impressive 12 years. Now, 35 years later, it’s easy to see why Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is considered a classic. But while the practical effects are magical and its concept evergreen, there’s one thing it…