Tools for this page
Print

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

(2005, Rated PG, Comedy, Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp, Emily Watson)
  • 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 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Magical, with scares most 10-year-olds can handle.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship, loss
updated 09.21.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Love and selflessness are presented neatly in this quirky fairytale.
  • Role models:

    The central characters are intensely well-meaning; the evil villain never stood a chance agaisnt them. They are thoughtful, caring and, for the most part, unselfish. The main character, Emily, ascends to heaven after she has released Victor to his true love, Victoria, and protects him from a dastardly villain.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some scariness (crows in trees, talking skeletons, and dead bodies with rotting flesh and maggots).
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Some spicy sayings but nothing too out of line.
  • Consumerism:

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

    The skeletons drink, but it's clearly fantasy.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Tim Burton's Corpse Bride

Parents need to know that this movie includes multiple references to dead bodies, skeletons, decay, and death, though all in good fun. The corpse bride's eye pops out occasionally, to show the talking maggot who lives inside and offers romantic advice. The story concerns a young man and woman who meet for a marriage arranged by their parents, both families in need of money. The young man's betrothal to the corpse bride leads him to contemplate his own death, in order to fit in with her friends. Song and dance numbers feature skeletons, corpses, and ghosts. Both sets of parents are using their children to achieve money and status. And when the live bride-to-be asks the local pastor for help, the film raises questions concerning the effectiveness of organized religion.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the dilemma facing Victor, who comes to love both the corpse bride and his arranged bride and so must choose between them.
  • How do Victor's and Victoria's parents pressure them to marry?
  • How might Victor have handled the confusion he felt differently to avoid hurting Victoria's or the Corpse Bride's feelings?

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

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Tim Burton's Corpse Bride?
  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 44 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    This was a spectacular movie. although I watched it when I was very young, I never thought that I would be saying this, but after watching t a few nights ago, there are some parts that a child wouldn't quite understand.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    little kids will get scared.

    i liked this movie a lot.It contains scary parts that kids 5 and under should not watch.Theres also a scene where a skeleton briefly smokes and you see other skeletons with beer bottles and they do a very scary dance.(it is clearly a bar.)mild suggestive humor is the only other problem.

  3. I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    One of the Spookiest Animated Movies I have ever seen!

    The movie is cute, but spooky. Wouldn't reccommend for any younger than 9, unless your child (and/or brother or sister) is VERY mature for his/her age. It's spooky, but cool. I was a very mature seven and I loved this movie, as well as my friends of the same age. My sister, however, who is aging normally, was seven last year and this movie scared her to death. The reason I put "Too Violent" was because it is spooky. I reccommend this to all audiences of 9 and up and make sure this is on your Halloween Playlist!

  4. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    Good movie!

    It was a very well done movie, much funnier than I was expecting. I don't recommend it for any child who's scared of skeletons or zombie-like creatures, no matter how funny they are.

  6. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Creepy, Funny, Wierd!

    This Movie Is Creepy But Kinda Funny Wierd

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Montana
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Negative message

    very creepy

    i think this movie is cool and very creepy

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    fine movie

    i think this movie is normal its not appropiate or innappropiate

  9. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    A four year old can watch this!

    The darkness was a bit depressing. But a four year old loves this movie, so, why not?

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    not sure

    my mom thinks its stupid she will not let me see it i wanted to see it but now that you menchenge it lokks stupid you may like it but if you ask me avoid tim burton and the nightmare before christmas rocks but this sucks

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 1.0

    Bone chilling comedy

    I liked the movie. I found some real cool movies for kids on youtube. These are the BEST I've ever seen and they keep adding a new one each month. These movies were made by a 16 yr. old. Check em out at: http://www.youtube.com/user/ManikaMovies

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0

    Going in my collection

    Can be dark and spooky but definitely a keeper. (Great music too)

  14. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    That years Nightmare Before Christmas runs deep and aces the music

    I loved it, I think ages 11 is the perfect age

  15. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    dark story about love and light

    this is a sweet, heartfelt movie with characters that you can totally sympathize to. there are some little scares, but the dead turn out to be a whole lot friendlier then the living! very sweet movie for older kids and up!

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    this was slightly...

    scary at points but i like how tim burton uses colors.it makes you think

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

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

    A Must See for Each and Every Johnny Depp Fan!

    Corpse Bride is a sheer brilliant film since The Nightmare Before Christmas! The guy is about to be married but things get out of hand and he has to try again another time. Things are going wrong, dead wrong...when he is accidentally married to a Corpse Bride!

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 2.0

  20. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    Very artistic.

    Visually stunning and great acting , I'll be renting Nightmare before Christmas again to compare the two films. Many of the scenes with dancing skeletons remind me of the art I've seen depicting the Mexican "Day of the Dead" holiday. My favorite scene is the piano duo between Victor and Emily.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Issue Spotlight

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Set limits long before they get behind the wheel.

  • Must See TV

    Glee

    Glee

    Edgy-but-quirky comedy's music, message will win teens over.

  • Issue Spotlight

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    Our video game experts weigh in.

  • Download This

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

    Dark, cool tunes OK for kids too young for the movie.

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