Parents' Guide to

Dreambuilders

By Tom Cassidy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Stepsisters learn to unite in animated tale; mild threat.

Movie NR 2020 81 minutes
Dreambuilders Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

CodyHH
CodyHH Adult
March 23, 2021
age 10+

Sigh.

Was not 100% terrible so there is that. But could not get over how selfish her dad was and self centered seemed to completely ignore his daughter and her wants and needs, for his own wants and new family terrible perant. (Hard not dislike him.)
Pod482
Pod482 Adult
January 8, 2021
age 16+

Not appropriate for young or sensative children

There is a line ' if she was my sister I would kill myself' not something I wanted my children to hear. Bullying, manipulating behaviour throughout. Was really disappointed.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DREAMBUILDERS, young girl Minna (voiced by Robyn Dempsey) discovers she can go behind the scenes of people's dreams, altering them in the process. Minna decides to use her newly discovered gift to manipulate the dreams of her new -- and annoying -- stepsister, Jenny (Emma Jenkins).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

This is a steady, thoughtful children's movie that keeps its focus tight and stakes low in order to get across its message of acceptance. With just a handful of human characters and a core group of fantastical "dreambuilders," co-directors Kim Hagen Jensen and Tonni Zinck keep us firmly in the shoes of young Minna, voiced with authenticity by Dempsey. Pixar's Inside Out opened the door for portraying internal fantasy worlds and Dreambuilders carries the torch, with Minna's dreams revealing her subconscious fear of losing her father when her step-family moves into the family home she shares with her dad and hamster.

There are some genuine fun moments -- particularly in the whimsical dream world -- but Dreambuilders is more a family drama than wacky animation. As such, there's a slight melancholic air that runs throughout, which is notable in its absence when the characters have learned their lessons. The stepsister rivalry is excellently played out, too, with Jenkins' Jenny perfectly embodying the secretly hurt, social-media-obsessed young teen in competition with Minna. Both the real world and dream world are beautifully animated too. Smart, tight and thoughtful, this is an effective, but not preachy, look at the effects of trauma and how to overcome it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the portrayal of family in Dreambuilders. How does Minna and Jenny's family compare to yours and other families you know? How does this portrayal compare to other families seen in movies? Would you like to see more portrayals of "step-families" on TV and in movies?

  • Jenny shares photographs of Minna on social media for others to judge? How did this make Minna feel? What are the dangers of sharing things on social media?

  • What are some of the issues Minna and Jenny face as stepsisters, and how do they overcome them? Why did talking about their feelings and experiences together help Minna and Jenny feel happier? How can I use media to help my kid's communication skills?

Movie Details

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