People who like flowers will love the end of this movie.
The Secret Garden
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Great book, great adaptation.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, friendship
updated 10.23.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Secret Garden was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know that this is a fine family film, with no inappropriate content. Many kids will be drawn into the mystery of the garden and the strange crying in the house, yet be aware that this is a sedate story and may bore kids used to action-packed films.
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 how the movie compares to the book, and how Mary changes through the course of the story.
- Why do you think both Mary and Colin were so spoiled when we first meet them, and what caused them to change into more caring children by the end of the film?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Secret Garden
What’s the Story?
When her parents die, spoiled Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is sent from India to England to live with her uncle Archibald Craven, a mysterious and lonely man. He's rarely home, leaving Mary to the care of housekeeper Mrs. Medlock (Maggie Smith). One day, Mary finds the key to a secret garden, once the favorite place for her uncle and his wife, whom he adored. After she died, he locked it up and swore no one would go in there again. Mary decides to find the garden, but first she investigates the crying she often hears in the night and discovers her uncle's son, Colin (Heydon Prowse). He has been confined to bed all his life and is spoiled to the point of hysteria. Mary soothes him by telling him about the garden. Later, when he has a tantrum, she is the first person ever to set limits on his behavior. Mary finds the garden, and she and Colin and the maid's brother Dickon bring it back to life. As they do, Mary and Colin get stronger in body and in spirit. When Archibald returns, he meets them in the garden. They run to him, and it is clear that the garden will heal him, too.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fine adaptation of the beloved children's book. Children respond to Mary Lennox because (at least in the beginning) she is so unlikable, a relief from all the Pollyannas and Cinderellas who are rewarded for their relentlessly sunny characters and good deeds. And then there is the pleasure of meeting Colin, who is even worse, a "young rajah" who has had his every wish granted instantly and is surrounded only by those who live in terror of his hysteria.
Mary and Colin are a perfect match for each other, and the scene in which she responds to his tantrum with fury is especially moving, as is the scene in which they enter the garden together, a wonderful metaphor for all that is going on inside their spirits.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Agnieszka Holland
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/13/1993, DVD release: 1/1/2000
MPAA Rating: G
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 8/13/1993, DVD release: 1/1/2000
MPAA Rating: G
Our Members Say
See 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Good movie
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
It's perfect for the older, kids & teens :)
I Love it! Because it tells about friendship & Mary and Colin change by being a spoiled brats into a new persons. They change because of their friends, Dickon & Martha and by leading them to the Secret Garden who change their lives.
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I rate this title off for age 12 and give it
Not appropriate for kids under 12!
My 6 year old saw it and had nightmares and trouble sleeping for 2 months!!! Be careful! Serious themes (life/death/illness/sadness) that kids under 12 cannot process.
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Kids ages: 5, 9, 11
I rate this title on for age 2 and give it- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A beautiful and charming family "must-see."
My kids (boy - 10, girls - 8 and 4) and I love this movie for its charm, beauty and humor. The only scenes that we had trouble with were: 1) The main character, Mary, is sometimes treated harshly by other children as well as by her uncle's housekeeper, and 2) Mary has suffered the loss of significant family members. Parents really just need to know how strongly their own kids will react to the misfortune of movie characters. Otherwise, there is absolutely nothing inappropriate here - this is a lovely film.
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I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Great Childhood Drama
Must see one non-cartoon version of this.
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I rate this title on and give it
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I rate this title on and give it
a fav since i was little
this is such a beautiful movie!!! i used to watch it all the time when i was little, and now i rent it once in a while on DVD...its a great movie and u will just LOVE the garden and wish u had one just like it!
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I rate this title on and give it
This is the perfect movie for anybody to watch.
This movie and the book as well are amazing choices to watch or read. You understand what's going on from the very begining, and it keeps you wanting to know what happens next. It teaches not only kids but others as well how to enjoy the company of people you don't like or if you're just shy. This is a truely amazing choice of intertainment. You can watch or read it as many times as you like without the possibility of the magic leaving it.
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