Tools for this page
Print

Coraline

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version
    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Cool but creepy animated fantasy too scary for young kids.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Coraline ultimately learns that sometimes imperfect, messy lives aren't as bad as they seem. She realizes that her imperfect real parents are better than perfect-seeming fake ones, and her parents realize that they don't spend enough time with their daughter.
  • Role models:

    Coraline's parents start out being impatient with and dismissive of her (and generally don't seem to enjoy having her around), but their perspective and behavior changes by the end of the movie. Coraline herself is spunky, brave, and resourceful, though she, too, has important lessons to learn about appreciating family. The Other Mother wants Coraline to behave a certain way and pursues her goals at any cost. Multi-generational friendships are formed.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The movie has a dark, creepy tone overall, and the Other Mother becomes witch-like and frightening. It's implied that she has more or less killed three other children. Some of her minions try to "get" Coraline and the Cat, but they don't succeed.
  • Sex:

    Nothing directly sexual, but the two very buxom elderly actresses wear barely-there costumes for their performance (one in a reference to Botticelli's famous Birth of Venus painting).
  • Language:

    Infrequent use of words like "crap" and "oh my God" and insults including "jerkwad," "idiot," "evil witch," and "stupid."
  • Consumerism:

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

    None, even though Coraline's mother thinks Mr. Bobinksy is a drunk.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Coraline was written by Sandie Angulo Chen

Parents need to know that this movie will scare young kids. Slightly less creepy than the book on which it was based, the movie is still quite dark, and the "other" world that Coraline discovers turns into a frightening, dangerous place where she could very well die (and other ghost children already have). Your young kids may be interested in seeing the movie thanks to the massive marketing campaign, but this isn't an age-appropriate pick for them. This movie deals with mature themes -- being careful what you wish for, thinking the grass is always greener, and being disappointed in your parents -- that are best suited for tweens and up. Language is mostly insults (like "jerkwad" and "idiot"), and sexuality is limited to two scantily dressed elderly actresses in one memorable scene.

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 the story's theme of wishing for a different, "better" life. Kids: Do you ever feel like Coraline? What about her parents made her initially prefer the Other Mother and Father? 
  • How do both Coraline and her parents change over the course of the movie? 
  • Do you think this movie is meant for little kids, or is it too scary?
Did this review help you decide?

Are you going to see it?

Have you seen it? Review It!

More on Coraline

What’s the Story?

Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) is an only child who's unhappy about moving to a new house with her self-absorbed parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman), who are too busy working to spend any time with her. The other inhabitants of their building are an eccentric crew: Russian mouse-circus ringmaster Mr. Bobinksy (Ian McShane) and bickering actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French), who are about six decades past their prime. When Coraline (never CARoline) opens a small hidden door in her apartment, she discovers a secret passageway to a parallel other world where everything -- her parents, her house, her neighbors, her magical garden -- seems way better ... or is it? Eventually, Coraline's dream world reveals itself to be a frightening, perilous place.

Is It Any Good?

In CORALINE, director Henry Selick, a stop-motion master best known for The Nightmare Before Christmas, creates a magical, colorful nether-world that's also dark and disturbing. At first, in addition to offering Coraline attentive "Other" parents, the alternate universe boasts a dazzling garden and a fantastic circus and theater acts, courtesy of the Other neighbors. Coraline, along with the audience, gets swept into the magic -- but there's an unnerving edge to all of the perfection. Everyone has buttons for eyes, except for Coraline and a mysterious talking cat (Keith David) that warns Coraline that her Other Mother isn't as warm and loving as she seems.

The 3-D effects (Coraline is Hollywood's first 3-D stop-motion film) are cool without being overwhelming, and the story is a two-pronged cautionary tale -- for parents and kids not to take each other for granted, and for people not to dwell on whether the grass is greener, because it could all be a huge, horrifying charade. Coraline ultimately learns that sometimes imperfect, messy lives aren't always as bad as they seem. Considering how formulaic so many family movies are , Coraline is a refreshing and inventive film. While too intense for some tots, it's a memorable treat for families with thrill-seeking tweens and up.

Movie Details

Studio: Focus Features, Director: Henry Selick
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 2/6/2009, DVD release: 7/21/2009
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

What did you think about Coraline?

or

to post a review

See all 196 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 2.0

    My 11 year old and his friends found this really scary!

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    bro scared to death!

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Kinda creepy.

    It's a good movie. Don't take anyone under 7.

  4. I rate this title off for age 9 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Still having nightmares

    Way creepy!

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Coraline lives in a twilight zone - too scary for the younger to watch in the cinema

    I watched it in the cinema were movies have a bigger impact of course (comparing to TV/DVD etc). It is a scary idea there - this is about the twilight zone - you're not sure if Coraline is dreaming/having nightmares or whether this is her new reality... As an adult - I loved it. but my 9 years old daughter had nightmares after watching it and for few months refused to stay alone in her room! It is not the Language or the other usual stuff, it is the idea behind the story that freaked her out...

  6. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Perfect for noone.

    Hated it. not good for anyone alround.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    SERIOUSLY 8 AND UP

    i am 9 and its my 4th fave. movie. i love it. but my 6 year old sister got freaked out for months and we have to throw it away.seriously 8 and up,to prevent nightmares,and money wasted on little munchkins.THE NIGHTMARE EBFORE CHRISTMAS ROCKS!!!!!!

  8. I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    scary movie

    This is good and kids 10 and under will find it atleast somewhat scary. The story is good and the movie fantastic!! There is lots of peril and scary images and situations plus some mild languge. But overall age apropreat for older kids.

  9. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    Frankly not a kids' film.... really quite scary

    Very scary!!!! My child had nightmares, and so did I!! Very imaginative and surreal [for adults] in the vein of Jean-Pierre Jeunet or Tim Burton. But really should not have been marketed to children. Coraline finds her fake mommy ("Other Mother") through the tunnel in the wall who wants to sew buttons on Coraline's eyes (the ghosts of children she has done it to before lurk in a locked room), and she turns into a giant, terrifying spider. Logan's nightmares were about when "Other Father's" face started melting and drooling. I mean, hello!!?!

  10. I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Creepy for a PG, but great!

    Coraline is creepy, fun, imaginative, and cool! It starts off slow and weird, but then it gets better and better until the end, where it's great! It's not for kids because of it's scariness. It's surprisingly spooky because I thought it was going to be boring and bad. Boy, was I wrong! The "other mother" turns into this frightening creature at the end. Overall, anyone 9 or older should see Coraline, be creeped out, but also LOVE it!

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Scary!

    Great movie, although frightening. If under the age of 9 or 10, I suggest a parent watching the movie with the child. It has a bit of graphical incidents such as when the cat kills the mice. Here is my experience. ---- I started out excited because all I knew was it was supposed to be a good movie. I didn't know a thing about the plot. (I watched it in 3-D, at my house, fyi) My older sibling was just as excited to see it to and sat with me throughout the movie. It started out and the opening credits had a needle pop out at you, which scared me a bit. Then as the plot settled in, I was enjoyed but nervous, the movie had awkward silent 'exploration' moments in it which made my head soar with thoughts. Finally when it was over, I was tired, like always from sitting around in one position forever. I was also scared to be in a room by myself for the night. But I was all excited to read the book next.

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0

    Brilliantly imaginative!

    Coraline is not for little kids. Even some older kids will likely be scared - the movie has a very ominous, dark atmosphere. It's almost a PG-rated horror movie. But if your kid isn't scared too easily, watch this with them! Creative, wild, and massively entertaining.

  13. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    Okay for older kids, but younger kids might get scared

    Loved this movie, and so did my 7 year old, but it freaked my 5 year old out just a little. Neil Gaiman is one of the best fantasy writers out there, and this movie is just as dark as his books.

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative message
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    ...

    I feel stupid right now, reading other reviews. At first, I got scared, then, after seeing the woman's face, I went from peepy to screepy. I was terrified, but I suddenly got used to mama spider. I chickened out in the beginnning, and wrote a review in the middle of the movie. I erased the whole thing except the first sentence. Then, I finished watching the whole movie, and felt glad that it finished. I used my copy book here to shield my eyes just in case something scary happened. My brother showed up, eight going nine, and shooed him away, not wanting him to go through the movie. I watched the movie because of Dakota Fanning! Or you can say that...I saw it on Box Office long time ago, and told myself I would watch it, but that is until I saw that Dakota Fanning voiced the main character. I went from happy to excited to gloomy to scared to terrified to relieved. Funny how much this movie puts on me.

  15. I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    perfect

    perect!!! in my opioin that was the best animted movie that i have seen in years!!!!!

  16. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Okay for older children

    I thought this movie was okay for my 8 year old, but I didn't like the name calling...i don't allow my child to call people ugly names. Other than that, nothing else really bothered me about it.

  17. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    good for older (9+) kids but not sutable for yonger ages.

    I mistakenly let my 5 year old watch this movie when given to her by a friend. Although the movie was very well made. It is defenatly unsutable for children under 9. Very disturbing, morbid images and a storyline not condusive to a child younger than 9.

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    Loved this movie! We brought our 7 year old to see Coraline and initially were concerned that it would be too much. It was disturbing at times, she was definitely scared but in the end the lessons learned far outweigh the fright. We still make comments about and reference the lessons in that movie (like if you really want something that we have said "no" to, you can go stay with your "other parents") it made quite an impression on my child (in a good way.) Also that you can't always jude a book by it's cover. Sometimes people may look or be a bit odd but that may not be the whole story.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    This movie was overall very entertaining. the special effects were neat, however, the movie could be potentially frightening for young viewers. Usually your parents protect you from the villian, but in this movie, her mother is the villian! the other mother is creepy with the whole "button eyes" concept, and towards the end she turns into a spider thing with fangs and frayed hair (shiver.) It is also implied that she has killed three other children that Coraline meets the ghosts of. The sex is nothing throughout the movie, however, there is one particular scene which some parents may consider to be inappropriate for their children. These two women are performing an opera and they were stars over their top area, and a g-string. One of their outfits is based upon the famous "Birth of Venus" painting. Yikes! Overall an entertaining flick, if your kids are the right age.

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    This movie was overall very entertaining. the special effects were neat, however, the movie could be potentially frightening for young viewers. Usually your parents protect you from the villian, but in this movie, her mother is the villian! the other mother is creepy with the whole "button eyes" concept, and towards the end she turns into a spider thing with fangs and frayed hair (shiver.) It is also implied that she has killed three other children that Coraline meets the ghosts of. The sex is nothing throughout the movie, however, there is one particular scene which some parents may consider to be inappropriate for their children. These two women are performing an opera and they were stars over their top area, and a g-string. One of their outfits is based upon the famous "Birth of Venus" painting. Yikes! Overall an entertaining flick, if your kids are the right age.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Most Popular This Week

    foursquare

    foursquare

    Is this social network too risky for your child?

  • Tech Tip

    What parents need to know.YouTube and Your Kid

    What parents need to know.

  • Must See TV

    Life Unexpected

    Life Unexpected

    Teen-themed family drama is edgy but earnest.

  • Pick of the Week

    Sites for Haiti

    Sites for Haiti

    Help kids get involved.

  • Download This

    "Today Was a Fairytale" (CD single)

    "Today Was a Fairytale" (CD single)

    Innocent love song for tweens from a PG-13 movie soundtrack.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name