It's a great animated movie, but the mouse's hole is almost run over by a tractor and one of the baby mice is sick with a bad cold.
The Secret of NIMH
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Fascinating. But sensitive animal-lovers beware.
Themes in this movie include: emotional abuse, friendship, physical abuse
updated 11.23.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
-
Role models:
What to watch out for
-
Violence & scariness:
-
Sexy stuff:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Secret of NIMH was written by Michael Scheinfeld
Parents need to know that this movie is based on Robert C. O'Brien's prize-winning book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H. about a group of intelligent rats who escape from an animal laboratory. It's suspenseful and somewhat dark, including themes of animal cruelty and animal experimentation. The worst part for sensitive viewers: a flashback shows the animated animals being tortured.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about animals in laboratories. Why are they there?
- How does your family feel about animal testing?
- Would you like to make a family pet super smart?
- Do you think they'd go to school with you?
- What can animals teach us already, without the extra brainpower?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Secret of NIMH
What’s the Story?
Mrs. Brisby (Frisby in the book) is a widowed mouse living on a farm with her four children, including Timmy, who's bedridden with pneumonia. When they're forced to find a new home, the Great Owl advises Mrs. Brisby to seek the help of Nicodemus, the king of the rat colony. Venturing underground, she discovers an entire civilization of rats that tell her that they revere her late husband Jonathan. Nicodemus explains that Jonathan helped them escape from NIMH -- the National Institute of Mental Health -- when he was a fellow prisoner there and where they were experimented on and injected with super-intelligence drugs. Nicodemus agrees to help Mrs. Brisby move Timmy and gives her a magic amulet. She returns to the farm to find that her home is sinking in the mud and hopes the amulet can really save them.
Is It Any Good?
Conceived as a return to the lush, "old-fashioned" style of such Disney classics as Pinocchio, this animated movie is an impressive example of cartoon art, featuring fully animated character motion and a three-dimensional look. The animation is rich and warm, filled with exquisite detail and color, which brings the dazzling, set pieces to life (including a duel during a lightning storm, and the finale involving the magic amulet).
The voice cast is also excellent, boasting such names as the distinguished British actor Derek Jacobi, veteran character actor John Carradine, the reliably comedic Dom DeLuise, and even a young Shannen Doherty as a mouse. However, parents should be strongly cautioned that the story's tone frequently careens from cheerfulness to grimness, which may frighten children. It does not shy away from being downright terrifying at times, most notably during a gruesome flashback showing animals being tortured.
Our Members Say
See all 14 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
Just as good as the Newbery-award-winning book.
-
I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great movie for all ages...
I used to love this movie, I was four when I first saw it - I liked it a LOT! :) I still like it somewhat..Its a pretty good movie :) Depending on ones tollerance for violence - it may be an issue or not..For me it never was :)
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
-
I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
This isn't the type of animated movie that has a dark side covered with overdone cuteness like Disney was making at the time. This is quite open about its darkness.
-
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great Entertainment For Everyone!
I have to say, this is the greatest animated fantasy ever made. There were some violent parts though, and some blood, but it had a pleasent ending. The animation is fabulous, and so are the special effects, music, and voice talents. This is a film that young and old people will enjoy. It was a faithfull adoption to Robert C. O'Brian's novel.
-
I rate this title pause for age 10 and give it
Okay, can we get some sense of imagination here, people?
In the world of today, kids kinda need to be scared, and I think they like it more than they let on. With all the lies told by parents nowadays, kids need to be exposed to this kinda thing. This is one of the best movie adaptations ever! Perhaps it is too frightening for younger children. I guess maybe it would be a good idea to wait a while. Still, this is Don Bluth's best film and deserves a lot more respect.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Bad memories!
Granted, I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid...but my mother just told me she rented it for my son (who is 4) and my blood froze. I remember being horrified by this movie. I told her about it, what happens in the movie..and that I distinctly remember hating it. I would not recommend this movie for young kids..some older ones might be able to handle viewing it..but I wouldn't recommend it!
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
Too Scary for 8 year olds
It's amazing how these ratings can go awry. This movie may have a G rating but it should have a PG-13. There are scary occultic sequences with witchlike characters, a very scary owl and mature situations wholly inappropriate for 8 year olds. It is too dark, ominous and frightening for kids.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
awful!
Violent, scary, witch-like. A wonderful children's classic taken to a "dark" level, makes the wise leader Nicodemus a wizard-king. Involves 2 murders, is all DARK. Certainly not for little kids, or for those who've loved Robert C O'briens classic. Puts NIMH in a cruel light, shows animals being "tortured". Absolutely horrid, would NEVER watch again. Had my 11 year old brother almost crying.
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
my review
when i first saw this i thought this was to scary for younger children
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
A favorite from my childhood!
A great adventure story, beautifully animated, funny, and a female protagonist to boot! Mrs. Brisby has to find courage to save her sick son, including going to the *scary* Great Owl for advice, and asking the Rats of NIMH to move her cinderblock house out of the way of the tractor-plow. Two of the rats are bad guys and they plot a murder and see it through! The two of them also wind up killed, one with a sword and the other with a dagger. Also, the flash-back story about how the Rats of NIMG escaped has some scary bits when they are sort of tortured, and the narrator sadly explains how some smaller mice who tried to excape in the air vents were blown away by the fans. Mrs. Brisby also finds out the true story behind the death of her children's father. Now as a kid, I was very sensitive about death, but for some reason, this movie didn't bother me, I think because when bad things happen, characters show how to deal with it maturely. For instance, when Mrs. Brisby finds out how her husband died, she is sad about it but greatful to have been told, and understanding of why she couldn't be told before. As with other better known classics by Don Bluth (All Dogs Go to Heaven, The Land Before Time, An American Tail), the adventure is captivating because of the real danger characters face, but the skill of storytelling, the tenderness in the voice-acting, and the lightheartedness of the music, all combine to make the adventures fun and not too scary.
-
I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
-
I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
