Faithful to the book, this is actually a good film adaptation on literature. Read the book first, then watch the movie. It was also quite grusome. Not for kids.
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Watership Down
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A serious animated drama with bunnies.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Watership Down
Parents need to know that, although there are animated bunnies, this is no cartoon. Kids who watch this movie will see battles among rabbits and with other animals (and humans) that result in bloodshed, serious injury, and occasional death. Rabbit characters die onscreen. A dog attacks and kills several rabbits in the climax. There is a recurring character known as the Black Rabbit of Death.
Read our full review by Brian Camp
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about how the film compares to the book. Which do you like better? Would you have done anything differently if you were making this film?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Bunnies - cute? Not in this movie...0.o
I saw this movie when i was about four years old...It terrified me - i had nightmares for weeks...Now - even then I didnt scare that easily - but man...Even now that just creeps me out...And I saw that hidden camera video of Chinese fur farmers...This is so NOT a kids movie - bunnies yes; cute - no! I have no problem with violence - but this was just too much...I admit - it is a fairly good movie - but definatly for older kids...
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Although this is an animated movie about bunnies, there's plenty of graphic and semi-graphic scenes of violence
One of my favorite movies. Although this is an animated movie about bunnies, some scenes are intense and semi-graphic, too much for, say, a five/six-year-old. Also, you can see some tiny, barely noticeable threads between Communism and -religious- freedom.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
The third best movie ever made in the history of moviemaking!
Great movie. It's my thrid favorite. Alas, it was missing some characters, like Strawberry, Buckthorn, and Bluebell. The book mentioned no blood (maybe once or twice), as the movie was one big blood bath. I was more sad when Blackavar died then when Hazel died, because it was quite a shock because Blackavar is a survivor in the book. It's scary, however, because unlike other horror movies, Things like the things in Watership Down happen to bunnies everday. But anyways, I would recomend this movie, no doubt, as an alternative to reading the book. The movie was missing characters, but it has all the messages, rolemodels, and spirit that the book has.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
wasn't that scary
i liked watership down.It wasn't that scary and i don't watch horror movies and it didn't scare me but it was sad
- I rate this title off for age 11 and give it
Not a quite bunny movie. A bunny horror movie!
I hated this movie. It upset me terribly. It was creepy, depressing and evil looking. You did not know what they were trying to get across. And scary movies don't bother me. This one did. Not worth watching. It will give your kid nightmares, and you the creeps. Especially if you have just lost a pet.
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Before writing your review, you have to read the first paragraph of mine
I love how so many people just assume this is a kid's movie just because it's animated. This is based off of a novel for adults, so of course it's not for children. This movie is brilliant. It's gory, dark and disturbing... but it's disturbing in a learning sort of way. I'd recommend this film for young teens and up.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
The movie is screwed up but Iliked it
I know how I said earlier that the movie is screwed up and it is. They edited out characters, they added they're own, and it was bloody. To pass up all of the things that are wrong about this film, it still has the major points from the book. Also I know most people weren't thrilled with the "musical number" in it but I liked it, they chose the right song for that seen too. PS: I loved the very end with Hazel. It was one of the most saddest endings EVER. Overall I liked the film (but they could've been more accurate).
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
terrifying
i watched this when i was ten, and there were parts that literally gave me nightmares, they were so horrifying. the scariest parts that stick out in my mind, even after four years, are when a rabbit is predicting doom and when a different rabbit talks about a burrow it escaped from that was sealed in. the first part made me want to run screaming and the second part made me want to throw up. it's all the more horrifying for happening to sweet little animals. not for little kids.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
The sith of bunnys
As an adult i liked it, and the book, but for kids... well, violent violent violent! let your kids read the back or tell them about it, read thier expression. dont let them watch this unprepared! (well said, review below me, (how are things down under?)
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Don't let the bunnies fool you
This is not a movie for little kids. It was the 70's and the rating system was just getting underway, so the PG rating is a lie. I watched this movie with my friends recently, and there's now a joke amongst us that it is possible to tell who saw this movie as a child by seeing who cringes in fear at the name. At least one line of the movie says, [spoiler alert] "dead bodies choked the exits [to the burrow]". The movie also features bloody scenes of rabbits which Cartoon Network would never show. Parents, please don't show this to your children.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Heartbreaking film about determined heroes
I've seen this film twice. First time- Age 7. Had nightmares. Nearly threw up. Second time- Age 12. Loved it. Appreciated it more. Parents need to know that the violence is pretty graphic. Not many movies dare to plunge the darkness, but this one does (and 'The Plague Dogs'). The rabbits search for a warren, a safe haven and get caught up in an epic struggle for their lives (and other lives). There are nightmarish images that can cause children to shriek. Rabbits are shot, torn to pieces, picked up by hawks, bitten, caught in mortal traps, and scratched. All this involving blood. Most of the tense scenes are around the end (I was biting my nails).
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
save money
your better off renting something else
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
great movie
I have never seen this movie.But it looks like heart warming filling adventure. I didn't know bunnies could fight.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Too violent for young kids, be careful watching this with preteens.
At first glance, this is a cute bunny movie. At watching, your eyes could pop out. The rich and very faithful to the book story saves this from dying a bloody death.
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| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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