Common Sense Media Review
Cute animated tale with some mild peril and scary bugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
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A Bug's Life
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 51 parent reviews
Based on 61 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie is a mixed bag, with opinions ranging from appreciation of its humor and messages about teamwork to concerns over its darker themes and potentially frightening elements for younger viewers. Many reviewers feel the film contains inappropriate content for a G rating, especially regarding violence, graphic imagery, and adult-style humor, leading them to question its suitability for very young audiences.
- scary elements
- graphic imagery
- inappropriate content
- teamwork message
- mixed opinions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In A BUG'S LIFE, when Flik inadvertently loses the food tribute set out by the ants for the predatory grasshoppers, he must find a way to protect his community. In the spirit of The Magnificent Seven, he goes off in search of warrior bugs to fight the grasshoppers. He mistakenly hires a group of unsuccessful vaudevillians from (of course) a flea circus, who think they are being booked for a performance and have no idea he expects them to fight. But they turn out to have just the right stuff to help the ants fight the grasshoppers after all, and Flick gets to prove that he is a hero at heart.
Is It Any Good?
You'll need to see this delightful movie twice to appreciate the scope of its visual wit and technological mastery. Oddly enough, this wasn't the only computer-animated movie about bugs to come out in the fall of 1998; Antz was released just a month before, and the difference between the two animated bug movies is exemplified by their lead characters. Antz has Z, voiced by Woody Allen as -- well -- Woody Allen, angst-ridden, in analysis, searching for individual identity in a world of conformity. A Bug's Life has NewsRadio's Dave Foley providing his voice as Flik, an All-American ant-next-door type who is inventive, brave, and loyal.
Helped by outstanding voice talent, the rest of the movie's characters are quirky and endearing enough to make you forget they are computer-animated. Lending their voices are Seinfeld's Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Phyllis Diller, Kevin Spacey, Spin City's Richard Kind, Frasier's David Hyde Pierce, and John Ratzenberger of Cheers. Antz was largely brown, but this movie uses a paintbox of color to produce stunning images with luminous tones.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the insect world in A Bug's Life. How many bugs can you name? How do bugs communicate in real life? Why do you think ants and bees live in such big colonies? How do they benefit the earth?
Families can also discuss bullies, and how to deal with them. What was Hopper's perspective on power? What did the ants do to combat the bullies? Have you ever encountered real-life bullies?
How do characters in A Bug's Life demonstrate teamwork, communication, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 25, 1998
- On DVD or streaming : May 27, 2003
- Cast : Dave Foley , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Kevin Spacey
- Director : John Lasseter
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Pixar Animation Studios
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals ( Bugs )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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