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Charlotte's Web (2006)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Enchanting take on a beloved children's classic.

updated 10.15.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Charlotte is determined and generous; WIlbur is courageous and, yes, "humble" and Fern is open to all her animal friends' very different sorts of beauty. Even "bad guy" Templeton has hidden depths.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness :

    Minor slapstick and sense of threat when crows chase rat; minor disturbance when rat's rotten egg explodes; allusions to Wilbur's imminent fate as Christmas dinner (use of the word "bacon" and ominous shots of the "cure house"); a central character dies (peacefully), and the others mourn their loss.
  • Sexy stuff :

    Charlotte gives birth (no mention of how she ended up having babies).
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Charlotte's Web (2006)

Parents need to know that the younger crowd will probably be very eager to see this one -- and for good reason. It's unusually respectful of its much-loved source (E.B. White's classic novel) and its young audience. While the movie does refer to the farmer's plan to kill Wilbur for Christmas dinner, the pivotal (and most potentially upsetting) moment is the death of a central character, which is followed by appropriate mourning and recovery by her barnyard friends. Some of the animal characters are initially unfriendly to a new arrival, and Templeton the rat scavenges objects and talks about being selfish and sneaky. Crows attack him, with their point-of-view shots suggesting the danger he's in. Although 5 is the ideal age for this movie, 4-year-olds should be fine, too, as long as they're able to handle the sad parts.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the different characters learn to accept one another. How do they come to see one another as friends, even though at first they're put off by their differences? Why does Charlotte want to help Wilbur? If you've read the book, how does the movie compare to what you imagined in your head? Families can also discuss the importance of words and their role in the film. How are words important for communicating, even between species? How do they help shape our impressions of others?
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Our Members Say

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See all 61 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer
    Age 8
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    sad (sigh)

    The part when charlotte died made me cry. i mean like she was so nice

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    Oops! Please excuse my careless typing errors!

    I meant one of the best things you can do as a person :) not is a person!! I'm sorry i keep making typing errors. I will try and type slower! when I did my review on Camp rock I accidently said gret intead of great twice! Sorry peeps!

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    Heart warming!

    This movie is so cute! The animals are gorgeous and loveable. Wilbur the pig is caring for athers and this displays that one of the best things you can do is a person is to put others before yourself. Charlotte the spider may look like an ugly, scary, spider but she really is kind and beautiful on the inside, this tells people who watch this movie to never judge others by the way they look because looks don't matter. When Charlotte died this made made me cry to the point that I had used most of the tissues in the tissue box! Very nice movie.

  4. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Negative message

    good movie

  5. Kid Reviewer
    Age 9
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Fantastic book, fantastic movie

    I loved charlotte's web the book and I also love the movie. It's still the same classic you love and anybody who hasn't read the book I know will love the movie. Charlotte is still nice and kind and that is what you want to see. This is a great movie for people who love the book or just are new to the story.

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