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The Boxtrolls adaptations: books & films
Every version of The Boxtrolls — the books & films, compared across media.
An orphaned boy and a world of underground creatures beneath a human city — that is the premise shared by every version of The Boxtrolls. In both the novel and the film a young outsider must rally unlikely allies to stop a villain's scheme against the creatures who call that hidden world home. Here be Monsters! and The Boxtrolls each tell this story through a different medium, offering distinct paths into the same imaginative premise.
The Boxtrolls films
The Boxtrolls books
Frequently asked
Is The Boxtrolls based on a book?
Yes. The Boxtrolls (2014) is adapted from Here be Monsters! (2006), a fantasy novel in which a boy named Arthur tries to protect a community of underground creatures from a villainous scheme in the city of Ratbridge.
How many versions of The Boxtrolls are there?
There are two versions covered here: the 2006 fantasy novel Here be Monsters! and the 2014 animated film The Boxtrolls, which brought the story to the screen.
Which version of The Boxtrolls should I start with?
If you enjoy animation, The Boxtrolls (2014) follows an orphaned boy and his underground creature family. If you prefer novels, Here be Monsters! (2006) follows Arthur through the streets and underworld of Ratbridge.