Parents' Guide to Bridge to Terabithia

Movie PG 2007 95 minutes
Bridge to Terabithia Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Sandie Angulo Chen By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Beautiful lesson in friendship for young and old.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Bridge to Terabithia: Scene #1
  • Bridge to Terabithia: Scene #2

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 51 parent reviews

Parents say this movie features a heartfelt and emotional story centered around friendship, imagination, and the harsh realities of loss. While many viewers were moved by the powerful themes and relationships, the sudden and tragic death of one of the main characters generated mixed reactions, leading to concerns about its appropriateness for younger audiences.

  • friendship
  • imaginative escape
  • emotional lessons
  • tragic themes
  • viewer discretion
  • age-appropriateness
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age 9+

Based on 124 kid reviews

Kids say this film beautifully captures themes of friendship and imagination but is marked by a deeply upsetting tragedy that can be hard for young viewers to handle, prompting strong emotional reactions, including crying. While many praise its lessons on loss and resilience, others find the content too intense or excessive for children, suggesting it's suitable for ages 9 and up, depending on maturity levels.

  • friendship
  • imagination
  • emotional impact
  • age recommendations
  • lessons on loss
  • intensity of content
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What's the Story?

Based on Katherine Paterson's Newbery Medal-winning 1977 book, this touching adaptation is the ultimate story of boy-girl friendship. Forget the zeitgeist of iPod-carrying, text-messaging, gadget-obsessed tweens, and meet two 10-year-olds who prefer to use their imaginations. Despite their different upbringings, Jess Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) -- a poor mechanic/small-time farmer's son -- and his neighbor Leslie Burke (a glowing AnnaSophia Robb) -- the only daughter of intellectual back-to-the-landers -- form a fast friendship. When Leslie decides that they need a special place to call their own, the two construct a magical land in the woods behind their houses, a secret kingdom dubbed "Terabithia" that's populated by wonders only they can see. And though Jess and Leslie's friendship continues to grow, as in the book, it doesn't devolve into pre-adolescent dating. It's as true a friendship as fiction offers. When tragedy strikes, quickly and unexpectedly, the fragility of Terabithia is exposed. Yet somehow, the magic continues.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 51 ):
Kids say ( 124 ):

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is not only one of the best family films of 2007, it's one of the finest film adaptations of children's literature. Like Narnia, only the initiated can see Terabithia's wonder, and the two young leads ably lead the audience into their secret kingdom, which is full of buzzing fairies and flying, rodent-like evildoers. As their imaginary world develops, each contributes their talents to the task: Leslie builds, and Jess draws.

Outside of Terabithia, the best friends share glimpses into the other's life: Leslie goes to church for the first time, and Jess hangs out with her laid-back parents. At school they delight in the weekly visit of breezy music teacher Ms. Edmonds (Zooey Deschanel, looking exactly like the beautiful teacher every student loves).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what made Jess and Leslie such good friends. What did they teach each other? Were they boyfriend and girlfriend or something different? Why is that rare?

  • Why was it so important for Jess and Leslie to have a "place just for us"? Kids: Do you have your own special place, or your own Jess or Leslie?

  • If you've read the novel, how is the movie different? Parents should encourage kids who haven't read it yet to get a copy. And if you're willing, read along -- it's a wonderful book. For more ideas, see our discussion guide.

Movie Details

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