Parents' Guide to

Babe: Pig in the City

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Darker than the original, not for very young kids.

Movie G 1998 97 minutes
Babe: Pig in the City Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 10+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Girlmombridge
Girlmombridge Parent of 6-year-old
March 27, 2016
age 8+

Would have liked to have a warning...

I would have liked to have had a warning about the scantily clad women and men that appear in one of the first city scenes. I think barely there bikinis are completely inappropriate for children's movies. It normalizes women's bodies being used as entertainment. Who ever reviewed this movies obviously thinks side cleavage coming out of bikini tops is perfectly ok for kids because there was no sexy warning.

This title has:

Too much sex
3 people found this helpful.
Rarityfan
Rarityfan Adult
September 11, 2018
age 10+

A step down

How 20 years flies by. And, this is a dark sequel. Great visual effects and editing. But as many mentioned there is some cruel scenes. Australia counts as the consumerism of course.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Once again, Babe is called on to save the day, as the Hoggett's farm is threatened with foreclosure. Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) and Babe must appear at a fair to raise money to save the farm. But everything goes wrong. They miss their connecting flight and are stuck in the strange and menacing city.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12):
Kids say (7):

Families who loved Babe need to know that this sequel, co-written and directed by Mad Max's George Miller, is much darker and more unsettling, not suitable for most small children. Mrs. Hoggett and Babe are beset upon by every kind of predator, and the warm and cozy scenes of redemption and reconciliation we expect never come. Mickey Rooney plays a genuinely creepy clown. A mildly happy ending is almost coincidental and anti-climactic.

The movie is easier to admire than like, which may be why it ended up on several critics' end of the year "10 best" lists, and was picked by the late Gene Siskel as the best film of 1998. The visuals are wonderfully imaginative. The city is a miracle of production design, brilliantly conceived. There are special effects of breathtaking skill and small moments of genuine charm. Babe and some of his new friends are adorably endearing. Older kids and teens who are not too embarrassed may appreciate the film's artistry. But younger children should stick with the original.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about tolerance and accepting others.

Movie Details

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