Parents' Guide to

5 Children & It

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Funny wish-granting story has some mild scariness.

Movie NR 2004 89 minutes
5 Children & It Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

RonjasMom
RonjasMom Adult
October 1, 2019
age 9+

A not-so-great adaptation of a pretty good book

In contrast to the book, one child, Robert, is made central and is rendered annoying and whiny. A cruel cousin is added, and while I wouldn't normally wish for such an addition, the child actor who plays him brings a lot to the role. I do wish that, in a movie that is so obviously for children (not teens), a vivisection scene hadn't been added. When your child is old enough for that scene, they will be too old to think the movie is any good, though truly, they might not, anyway.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

5 CHILDREN & IT meet on a hidden beach in the countryside during World War I. The five children are siblings who are sent to live with their eccentric uncle (Kenneth Branagh) while their father's off fighting and their mother cares for the wounded. "It" (Eddie Izzard) turns out to be a sand fairy who grants wishes. When Cyril, Anthea, Robert (Freddie Highmore), and Jane uncover It, they're convinced that their problems are over. They start with avoiding chores, move on to buckets of gold, and look forward to being granted a new wish every day. They soon learn that taking the easy way out only makes things worse, so they determine not to make any more wishes. But when their father, a fighter pilot, goes missing in action, can they find a way to make one more wish work out right this time?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This classic wish-granting story is a good mix of humor, mystery, and adventure, sure to be enjoyed by kids old enough to handle parental separation and some mild to moderate scariness. 5 Children & It has characters of varying ages that a large range of kids will relate to. It's also got a big mansion to explore, an eccentric uncle to puzzle over, and a mean cousin to avoid, and what kid can resist being granted a new wish every day?

Kenneth Branagh is fun to watch as odd Uncle Albert. But it doesn't quite reach the level of a true family classic. Some of the dialogue is awkward, and the kid actors are serviceable but not great. Eddie Izzard's accent is odd. Younger viewers won't mind, though, as they get caught up in the adventure, and it's a good choice for sleepovers or family movie nights.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the wishes in 5 Children & It always go wrong. Why is that? What would you wish for, and how would you keep it from backfiring on you?

  • Did you know this movie was based on a popular English children's book written in the early 1900s? Would you like to read it now?

  • What are some of your favorite movies, TV shows, or books about getting your wishes granted? What do you like about them?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate