My 5 year old hid behind the couch. It was very scary for him. Neighbor kids, aged 7, weren't AS scared, but were often confused and had a hard time following the film.
Great adventure story with important moral lessons!
Not only is this movie wonderfully animated, it is based on a classic story that teaches that not everyone is what they appear and that even "bad guys" are human and can be reached emotionally. It also illustrates what comes of extreme greed...no good. I would recommend watching this with your child(ren) and talking to them about what they see and discuss consequences. A very enjoyable effort by Disney.
My daughter found the movie very scary in parts. In the beginning, a turtle with a raspy voice and sharp teeth dies in front of you. Another scene shows a character being sucked into a black hole. The main character is a down in the mouth rebellious brat who never seems to progress in one direction or the other, although he is the primary focus as the hero. I wouldn't recommend this movie.