Harriet the Spy (1996)

6.0PG100 minDirector: Bronwen Hughes

1996 film by Bronwen Hughes

Harriet the Spy is a 1996 American coming-of-age comedy film directed by Bronwen Hughes in her feature film directorial debut, and starring Michelle Trachtenberg in her major film acting debut. It co-stars Rosie O'Donnell, J. Smith-Cameron, Gregory Smith, and Vanessa Lee Chester. Based on the 1964 novel of the same name by Louise Fitzhugh, the film follows a sixth-grade student who aspires to become a writer and spy.

Filming began in the fall of 1994 in Toronto and was completed by the end of 1995. Produced by Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies and Rastar, it was the first film produced under the Nickelodeon Movies banner and the first of two film adaptations of the Harriet the Spy books. In theaters, the pilot episode of Hey Arnold! called Arnold was shown before the film.

The film was released in theaters on July 10, 1996, to mixed reviews from critics. It made $26.6 million worldwide on a production budget of $12 million. The film was released on home video on February 25, 1997.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is Harriet the Spy about?
Harriet the Spy (1996) — Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. But when her friends find her secret notebook, the tables are turned on her. Can she win them back and still keep on going with the spy business?
Is Harriet the Spy based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is Harriet the Spy scary?
Content rating: PG. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.