55
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75The Seattle TimesThe Seattle TimesEven with that major miscue, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase works well for its target audience. It shows that anyone can stand up to peer pressure, bullying or even a ghost if they are smart and strong enough. As for the mystery of how good the movie is, the case is closed on a positive note.
- 70Los Angeles TimesKimber MyersLos Angeles TimesKimber MyersAs played by It standout Lillis, Nancy is smart, independent and loyal, and it’s easy to see how she’ll charm a new generation of viewers — and hopefully readers.
- 70VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeBut here’s the cool thing: The film’s consistently clever script, from empowerment-minded “The Handmaid’s Tale” writers Nina Fiore and John Herrera, isn’t nearly as interested in the mystery as it is in Nancy Drew herself, or in the circle of characters and relationships that surround her. And that’s the smart way to approach such a case, since the movie was clearly intended to be more than a one-off.
- 70Film ThreatNorman GidneyFilm ThreatNorman GidneyThis is innocuous, pop entertainment and, taken on those grounds, it does the job just fine.
- 60New York Magazine (Vulture)Bilge EbiriNew York Magazine (Vulture)Bilge EbiriIt’s a charming movie, with charming characters. Lillis is ideally cast as Nancy, often cheerfully undercutting some of her character’s more precocious proclamations, cracking smiles and reminding us that she’s still a kid.
- 58The A.V. ClubJesse HassengerThe A.V. ClubJesse HassengerIt’s a watchably low-key family adventure, but that’s a low bar to clear for Nancy Drew, so well-suited to function as a gateway text—to Sherlock Holmes, Veronica Mars, Philip Marlowe, Brick, House, Encyclopedia Brown fanfic... almost anything involving advanced noticing.
- 50TheWrapAlonso DuraldeTheWrapAlonso DuraldeNancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase is clearly made by people who have thought through the material and tried to make it enjoyable and palatable, but the set-up at the end for further sequels feels a little too hopeful.
- 50Austin ChronicleSteve DavisAustin ChronicleSteve DavisScreenwriters Nina Fiore and John Herrera have modernized Keene’s decades-old storyline without completely chucking the quaint qualities of the original.
- 38Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreHere’s one to catch at Red Box, on Netflix or your favorite “family” movie channel. Everything about Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase says, firmly and with conviction, “TV movie.”