Harold and the Purple Crayon

Play trailer

2:32

Harold and the Purple Crayon

PG

2024

Kids & Family

Comedy

Adventure

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

09/12/2024

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.

Go to Full Review

Jen Chaney

New York Magazine/Vulture

08/05/2024

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.

Go to Full Review

Katie Walsh

Tribune News Service

08/03/2024

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.

Go to Full Review

John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Feb 14

76/100

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

Go to Full Review

Will Bjarnar

Geek Vibes Nation

07/19/2025

1/10

Baffling and ill-conceived.

Go to Full Review

Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

02/04/2025

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Brittany L

Jan 19

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

See more

Sigurd Ruskedal

Nov 18

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

See more

Lashonda

07/23/2025

Cute make believe movie…

See more

Stacy C

06/16/2025

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

See more

Chris H

06/16/2025

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

See more

Martin

05/17/2025

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Carlos Saldanha

Director

Zachary Levi

Harold

Zooey Deschanel

Terry

Alfred Molina

Narrator

Lil Rel Howery

Moose

Benjamin Bottani

Mel

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - You Made A...Spider-Fly?!

2:31

Now Playing

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

1:22

Now Playing

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

7:31

Now Playing

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

1:26

Now Playing

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

7:19

Now Playing

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

1:41

Now Playing

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

2:46

Now Playing

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Official Clip - Porcupine's Motorcycle Joy Ride

1:34

Now Playing

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

0:54

Now Playing

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

1:40

Now Playing

View more videos

Sketch

95%

83%

Sketch

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Sketch

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

68%

89%

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Onward

88%

95%

Onward

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Onward

Christopher Robin

73%

83%

Christopher Robin

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Christopher Robin

How to Train Your Dragon

78%

97%

How to Train Your Dragon

Watchlist

TRAILER

for How to Train Your Dragon

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Trailer 2

2:32

Now Playing

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Trailer 1

2:02

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings