Harold and the Purple Crayon

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2:32

Harold and the Purple Crayon

PG

2024

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

28%

Tomatometer

75 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

500+ Verified Ratings

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life--and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends' creativity to save both the real world and his own. Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children's classic that has captivated young readers for decades.

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Critics Consensus

A high-concept treatment that misses out on the blissful simplicity of its source material, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a tribute to imagination that's content to only color inside the lines.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Sep 12, 2024

2/5

Levi capers around with a big, goofy smile and a squeak in his voice -- but there’s more desperation than humour in the performance.

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Jen Chaney

New York Magazine/Vulture

Aug 5, 2024

Harold and the Purple Crayon makes the classic Hollywood mistake of taking a story that was lovely because of its concision and simplicity and turns it into a movie that is overly long and complicated for no good reason.

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Katie Walsh

Tribune News Service

Aug 3, 2024

1/4

There’s something deeply strange about [Levi's] performance here, grinning and mugging with childlike wonder in a way that can only be read as disingenuous.

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Feb 14, 2026

76/100

Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel elevate this family film into something engaging, with the aroma of originality, despite itself being an adaptation.

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Will Bjarnar

Geek Vibes Nation

Jul 19, 2025

1/10

Baffling and ill-conceived.

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Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

Feb 4, 2025

An unimaginative, soulless cash grab that fails to capture the whimsy and magic of its source material.

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Brittany L

Jan 19, 2026

Very cute movie and this is a family show. Enjoy!

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Sigurd Ruskedal

Nov 18, 2025

I love how it looks real from the book I love it

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Lashonda

Jul 23, 2025

Cute make believe movie…

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Stacy C

Jun 16, 2025

I loved how the movie was similar to the book and the author. And the movie and actors were very funny!

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Chris H

Jun 16, 2025

I wasn't too much into it, but it was a perfect Sunday morning kids/family movie.

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Martin

May 17, 2025

Son liked but we need a real magic purple crayon or marker for him.

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Carlos Saldanha

Director

Zachary Levi

Harold

Zooey Deschanel

Terry

Alfred Molina

Narrator

Lil Rel Howery

Moose

Benjamin Bottani

Mel

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - My Imaginary Dragon Friend Came to Life?!

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Jemaine Clement vs Zachary Levi: CRAZY Crayon Draw-Off

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Finding A Dad Is Hard (And Sometimes Fun) Work!

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Let's Go To The (Constipated) Real World!

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - HILARIOUS Department Store Chaos

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Zachary Levi's WILD Plane Ride!

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Jemaine Clement Flirts With Zooey Deschanel

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Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Zachary Levi Goes To Jail

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Synopsis

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book's pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life--and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends' creativity to save both the real world and his own. Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first film adaptation of the beloved children's classic that has captivated young readers for decades.

Director: Carlos Saldanha
Producer: John Davis
Screenwriter: David Guion, Michael Handelman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures, Davis Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Mild Action)
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.4M
Sound Mix: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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