Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (also known as A Series of Unfortunate Events) is a 2004 American adventure dark comedy film directed by Brad Silberling and written by Robert Gordon, based on the first three novels of the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events. It stars Jim Carrey, Liam Aiken, Emily Browning, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara, Billy Connolly, Cedric the Entertainer, Luis Guzmán, Jennifer Coolidge, and Meryl Streep, with Jude Law as the voice of Lemony Snicket.

Nickelodeon Movies purchased the film rights to Daniel Handler's book series in 2000 and began development of a film with Barry Sonnenfeld attached to direct. Handler wrote the screenplay and courted Carrey for Count Olaf. Sonnenfeld left over budget concerns in January 2003 and Brad Silberling took over. Robert Gordon rewrote Handler's script, and principal photography started in November 2003. The film was entirely shot using sound stages and backlots at Paramount Pictures and Downey Studios.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was released theatrically in the United States on December 17, 2004, by Paramount Pictures, with DreamWorks Pictures releasing in other territories. It received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its production values and Carrey's performance. The film grossed $211.5 million on a budget of around $141 million. At the 77th Academy Awards, it won Best Makeup and received nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.