Common Sense Media Review
Lovely Alcott adaptation tugs at the heartstrings.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Little Women
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 26 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is an inspiring and beautiful adaptation that features strong performances, particularly from Winona Ryder, and promotes positive messages about family and friendship. While many find it heartwarming and suitable for families, there's a consensus that it may not capture the attention of younger children, ideally making it more appropriate for those aged 10 and up.
- inspiring performances
- family values
- age recommendation
- positive messages
- heartwarming story
- classic adaptation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
LITTLE WOMEN is not so much about what happens to the March family as about who they are. Their parties, meals, chores, games, romances are hardly high drama but, through individual personalities, they illustrate the highest human values: love, family, selflessness, loyalty. Known to be innovative thinkers, the Marches -- as one character observes -- had "views."
Is It Any Good?
Acting upon those views in day-to-day life, the girls capture our attention and, more, stir our souls. Excited about such holiday luxuries as a bit of butter and an orange, they give them up to feed an even poorer family. The gifted Claire Danes delivers a touching, very real, portrayal as Beth. When she dies, it's painful and viewers share the family's loss. Likewise, the climactic reunion between Jo and her professor is deeply moving. Rarely is such a low-key movie so uplifting. Meaning springs from the unaffected performances, the believable tensions among the sisters, the realistic contrast of their varied goals, and forthright, simple statements of authentically virtuous character. Lovely settings frame the story perfectly.
No pretense is made about the purity of the world in which the Marches live. As women, they confront and cope with second-class status, especially the free-thinking Jo. But society's flaws just reinforce the integrity the Marches bring to it. For a breath of fresh air that's anything but old-fashioned, choose Little Women.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Little Women compares to Louisa May Alcott's novel. Which do you like better? Why?
When Jo says she is "hopelessly flawed" do you agree? What were the traits valued in girls back then and how have things changed?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 1994
- On DVD or streaming : April 25, 2000
- Cast : Kirsten Dunst , Susan Sarandon , Winona Ryder
- Director : Gillian Armstrong
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Bisexual Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , History
- Run time : 115 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : emotional intensity
- Last updated : January 4, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate