Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Holes

Holes is a 2003 American film directed by Andrew Davis and written by Louis Sachar, based on Sachar’s 1998 novel of the same name.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Holes is a 2003 American prison comedy-drama film directed by Andrew Davis, based on Louis Sachar's 1998 novel. It follows Stanley Yelnats IV, a boy sent to Camp Green Lake after a wrongful theft conviction, where digging holes uncovers a mystery tied to buried treasure and a family curse.

What it is

Holes is a film adaptation of Louis Sachar's award-winning novel, blending adventure, comedy, and drama. The story centers on Stanley Yelnats IV, who is sent to a juvenile detention camp in the Texas desert. There, he and other boys are forced to dig holes daily, a task that gradually reveals connections to a hidden treasure and the Yelnats family curse.

Key details

The film stars Shia LaBeouf as Stanley Yelnats IV, Sigourney Weaver as the Warden, and features Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, and Dulé Hill. It maintains the novel's layered timeline, linking Stanley's present-day experience with the history of outlaw Katherine "Kissin' Kate" Barlow. The film was released in 2003 and is widely used in Canadian schools as a reading adaptation.

Why it matters

Holes is notable for its faithful adaptation of a popular novel, exploring themes of fate, friendship, injustice, and redemption. Its success as a family film and classroom staple in Canada highlights its cultural impact, bridging literature and cinema for young audiences.

In short

  • Holes is a 2003 film based on Louis Sachar's 1998 novel.
  • Stanley Yelnats IV is wrongfully convicted and sent to Camp Green Lake.
  • The boys dig holes tied to a buried treasure and a family curse.
  • The film stars Shia LaBeouf and Sigourney Weaver.
Canadian angle

Holes is widely distributed and discussed in Canada as a U.S. family film and school-reading adaptation of a popular novel.

Quick questions

What is Holes about?
Holes is about Stanley Yelnats IV, a boy sent to a desert juvenile detention camp where he and other boys dig holes, uncovering a mystery tied to buried treasure and a family curse.
Who is in the Holes movie cast?
Key cast members include Shia LaBeouf, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson, and Dulé Hill.
Who wrote the Holes book?
The novel Holes was written by Louis Sachar.

Sources

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311289/
    Supports: Basic film identification, release year, and short plot description
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holes_(film)
    Supports: Director, writer, source novel, plot details, setting, and character names
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/holes
    Supports: Film synopsis, release year, and ensemble cast
  4. Entertainment Weekly — https://ew.com/the-cast-of-holes-where-are-they-now-11950309
    Supports: Adaptation details, release year, plot premise, and cast names
  5. TMDb — https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8326-holes?language=en-US
    Supports: Plot premise about digging holes and the hidden treasure