The Borrowers

The Borrowers

Year: 1997

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter Hewitt

FamilyAdventureActionComedyFantasy

The four‑inch‑tall Clock family lives hidden inside the Lender home, quietly borrowing thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. Their peace ends when lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the house’s will and plans to demolish it for apartments. As the Lenders must leave, the Clocks risk exposure to the outside world.

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Timeline & Setting – The Borrowers (1997)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Borrowers (1997). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The story unfolds in a modern suburban setting, with the family home under threat of demolition and a community-driven response. Scenes move between a family house, city offices, and everyday locales like a dairy, reflecting a late 20th-century vibe. The time frame emphasizes present-day technology, bureaucracy, and ordinary life under pressure.

Location

Lenders' home, City Hall, Dairy

The action centers on the Lenders' suburban home where the Borrowers secretly live beneath the floorboards. The plot expands to the City Hall bureaucracy as Potter schemes to demolish the house, and to the local dairy where the Clock family flees. The setting blends everyday domestic life with municipal power and small-town industry.

🏠 Domestic life 🏛 Bureaucracy 🥛 Dairy & industry

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:07

Main Characters – The Borrowers (1997)

Meet the key characters of The Borrowers (1997), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Pod Clock — Jim Broadbent

Patriarch of the Borrowers, Pod is cautious yet fiercely protective of his family. He leads with practical wisdom and steady problem-solving, managing the delicate balance between hiding from humans and preserving their home. His concern for Arrietty and Peagreen drives many of the family’s brave decisions.

🏠 Protective 🧠 Clever 👨‍👩‍👦 Family-focused

Arrietty Clock — Flora Newbigin

Curious and fearless, Arrietty often pushes beyond the clock family’s limits to explore the human world. She forms a bond with Pete, showing empathy and courage despite danger. Her boldness often catalyzes key turning points in the plot.

🗺️ Curious 💫 Bold 🧭 Adventurous

Peagreen Clock — Tom Felton

The younger Clock child, Peagreen is cautious but resourceful, learning the ropes of Borrower life. His playful nature often belies an ability to stay calm under pressure, contributing to the group’s survival.

🧭 Curious 🛡️ Loyal 🧰 Quick-thinking

Pete Lender — Bradley Pierce

A kind-hearted human ally who believes in the Borrowers, Pete helps hide the will and assists in their escape. His courage grows as he defies the threat posed by Potter, becoming a bridge between the Borrowers and the Lenders.

🤝 Bridge-builder 🛡️ Loyal 🧠 Problem-solver

Ocious P. Potter — John Goodman

The scheming lawyer who aims to demolish the Borrowers’ home to build condominiums. He manipulates the will and uses bureaucratic power to pursue his own gain, only to be undone by the Borrowers’ ingenuity and bravado.

💼 Conniving 🧭 Manipulative 🏛️ Bureaucratic

Exterminator Jeff — Mark Williams

A formidable antagonist who initially serves Potter but experiences a change of heart. His practical enforcement role drives the chase and ultimately helps orchestrate the Borrowers’ rescue.

🧰 Practical 🛡️ Loyal 🗺️ Reluctant ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:07

Major Themes – The Borrowers (1997)

Explore the central themes of The Borrowers (1997), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏠 Home & Belonging

The Borrowers’ persistence shows that home is more than walls—it’s a living community and a sense of identity. The battle to stay in their house against developers highlights shelter and belonging as core needs. Small allies and clever fixes reinforce that even the tiniest residents deserve a place to call home.

⚖️ Power & Exploitation

Potter embodies how power can corrupt, using legal maneuvering to seize a home for profit. The plot pits bureaucratic ambition against moral justice, culminating in a rescue that preserves rightful ownership. The narrative critiques predatory development and manipulation of documents.

🛡️ Courage & Alliance

Bravery arises from unlikely bonds between humans and Borrowers. Pete and the Clock family team up to thwart Potter, demonstrating that trust and solidarity can overcome overwhelming odds. Small acts of courage propel the plot and protect their shared home.

🧰 Ingenuity & Resourcefulness

Borrowers rely on inventive ingenuity, repurposing everyday items to stay hidden and safe. Their quick thinking turns mundane objects into tools for survival, proving that creativity can level the playing field against larger threats. The theme celebrates how resourcefulness sustains a community under pressure.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:07

Unlock the Full Story of The Borrowers

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Borrowers in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Borrowers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Borrowers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Borrowers, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Borrowers Summary

The Borrowers Timeline

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The Borrowers Timeline

More About The Borrowers

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The Borrowers (1997) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Borrowers (1997) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Borrowers (1997) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow