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Big Fish

(2003, Rated PG-13, Fantasy, Starring Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Ewan McGregor)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Delightful, sad father-son story for teens and up.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Strong African-American and female characters.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Fantasy peril, death of a character.
  • Sex:

    Brief nudity.
  • Language:

    Mild language.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Big Fish

Parents need to know that this movie has brief nudity, mild language, and fantasy peril. Sensitive kids may be upset by the death of a parent.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about some of their favorite stories -- factual and fictional. Who tells the best tall tales in the family?

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Our Members Say

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  •  I think this movie is

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    :)

    One of m favorite movies... Great Movie...

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Metaphorically Speaking...

    This movie is probably the nest explanation of a metaphor a kid could ever get. Edward's whole life, he has told his true stories through slightly exaggerated metaphors. I think it sends a great message of the power of love between a man and woman, and of the importance of trust between father and son. It is a great movie to see with your children, and you will have a lot to talk about afterwards.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Incredible

    Incredible and creative this movie is awesome. You do briefly twice see a woman's bare bottom.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    awesome... :)

    I LOVE this movie!! tim burton is a genius! I don't like fantasy movies,but I love this one... it's awesome... fantastic...amazinG!

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    a bit odd but thats what makes it original! :D

    ok this movie is pretty weird. but i liked it. its sweet and... just cool in its own little way. big fish is not like your ordinary movie and thats wat i like about it. and ewan makes it all the more cool too. :P id say ages 8 up

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    I liked it so much I bought it

    This movie is wonderful. There is a little language, kids saying the s word and the d word. Other than that it is great. I would have given it a PG rating

  10. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Burton at his best.

    I love Tim Burton and proud to say it is his best since Ed Wood. The cast excells and the direction, music score and Cinematography are excellent. The movie really makes you think and the script is great too. Amazing.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Rhode Island
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Compelling Drama.

    i really liked this movie surprisingly since many people whom I know that have saw it said it was dumb but I amazed at how origional imaginative, and thought provoking it was. Some dissapointing nudity but since none of it was sexual this could be one PG-13 movie tweens could see.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    An Imaginative and Fun Fairy Tale

    I love Tim Burton, and Big Fish may just be my favorite movie of his. It's a great mix of fantasy and humor with a heart. As far as content goes, well, it shows Danny DeVito's butt. That was fairly disturbing. Besides that there's not much objectionable content.

  14. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Can i give it more than five stars?

    I loved this movie. It was amazing, thought provoking. Tim Burton is my favorite director, and this is my favorite by him. I loved this movie, and the last scene is beautiful. I don't want to give anything away, but i will say that thi movie was truely amazing!

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This is by far one of the most moving and beautiful movies that I have seen in my life. It tells, to put it briefly, the tale of a son coming to terms with his dad, and how sometimes the legend is more important than the straight facts. The most moving scene comes at the end, when the son goes to his father's funeral, and finds that, after all, the tales that are recounted throughout the movie are true. There are the twins, though not Siamese, the giant, though perhaps not quite so tall as he imagined, and all of the other characters, major or minor, "real" or imagined. This is movie-making at its finest.

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Tim Burton almost normal

    This is a charming movie, a bit disorienting and unfocused, but Ewan McGregor is fantastic and the character interactions greatly appealing. This movie lacks the edge that many of Burton's other movies contain, but this doesn't by any means take away from the story. The plot is pretty difficult to explain, but it's a great movie for teens and adults. I don't think younger children would really understand it, although they might simply enjoy the many stories told. This movie is touching and funny.

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    brief nudity

    I love this movie, I love the stories they tell in the movie. I think its a great movie for everyone to go see, kids under 7 might not be interested in it, some cuss words and brief nudity(dont look). My relative is in this movie, shes the little he meets girl when he goes through the forest, she throws his shoes when he leaves.

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Weird but entertaining

    It's Tim Burton, so of course it's going to be weird but this is a really entertaining if odd story that is great for families with kids 12 and up. Lots to discuss here--the father/son dynamic, the stories we tell, the use of imagination, etc. Kids may have a hard time with the blurred line between fantasy and reality here, but that just gives you somethingelse to discuss together.

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    I like make-you-think movies

    If you enjoy movies like "What Dreams May Come" you'll like this flick. Artsy and a little esoteric, and charged with 'deeper meaning.' I loved it. I especially enjoyed the relationship between the husband and wife--some people do stay in love and faithful forever.

    I wouldn't take kids to see it--mostly because I don't think they would be too interested. Even teenagers might not have patience with it if they aren't into mythic or allegorical stuff.

    The movie explores everything from family relationships, to oral tradition, to reaching for your dreams, to forgiveness and tolerance. Don't waste time trying to 'figure it out'--just allow yourself to enjoy it the first time around--then see it a second time to get it all the details straight.

    With the exception of Danny Devitos bare bottom--there is very little offensive material in this, which is refreshing. 2 Thumbs up!

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Incredible!

    Tim Burton is a genius. His imagination is never-ending. I enjoyed this movie so much. There is some sexual references and brief nudity but nothing too explicit. Some language but it didn't make the movie less enjoyable. I recommend this movie to anyone.

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