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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Fantasy · Action · Mystery · 2013

In New York City, Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager, learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters — half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires, and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.

Movie details

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

“There is a world hidden within our own.”

2013 Fantasy · Action · Mystery 2h 10m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

In New York City, Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager, learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters — half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires, and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Harald Zwart

Written by

I. Marlene King · Jessica Postigo

Lily Collins

Lily Collins

Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower

Jamie Campbell Bower

Jace Wayland

Robert Sheehan

Robert Sheehan

Simon Lewis

Kevin Zegers

Kevin Zegers

Alec Lightwood

Jemima West

Jemima West

Isabelle Lightwood

Lena Headey

Lena Headey

Jocelyn Fray

Aidan Turner

Aidan Turner

Luke Garroway

Court is in session

Put The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“It owes the canon nothing.”

The movie pursues immediacy and audience pleasure without begging institutions to certify its worth.

The prosecution The Prestige Tourist

“Easy pleasure, short half-life.”

It moves efficiently through the moment but offers little reason to keep arguing once the credits end.