Parents' Guide to

Jack Frost (1998)

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Michael Keaton's frozen rocker dad makes a bad role model.

Movie PG 1998 102 minutes
Jack Frost (1998) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 5 parent reviews

122xxx 99o2
122xxx 99o2 Adult
December 16, 2021
age 5+

One of a kind Christmas films

Jack frost is a delightful movie with sad and happy bits throughout. It's a must see family Christmas movie.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Dale Dietrich
Dale Dietrich Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
December 28, 2020
age 9+

Pretty Good Christmas Movie for Older Kids

My rating of 9 and up isn't because I think its 'inappropriate' for younger kids. It's because its a bit too 'deep' (if you can say that about a talking snowman) for younger kids. My 6 (almost 7) and 8 3/4 year olds liked a lot about it - especially the snow ball fights and snowman chasing and snowboarding scenes. But it was a bit slow for the younger kids. Also [spoiler alert] the father dying didn't bother my kids. I warned them in advance thanks to reading reviews here first. But my almost 7 year old daughter found it too sad after the father came back as a snowman and she realized the boy would never have his real dad back. She left the room crying. My 8 ear old was fine with that and enjoyed most of it but found it slow. Kids today are used to violence and death in movies so long as it isn't too real. It got too real for my daughter. And for my son it was just too slow. I suspect older kids would enjoy it more. Myself, I thought it was much better than I expected. Yes, it could have done without the 'my balls are cold' type lines from the snowman dad. Definitely NOT Disney approved. But this is all tame stuff for modern movies. Yes, a tad uncomfortable when kids are calling each other idiots after we spent the last few months telling our kids that this is an inappropriate word. But they also live in the real world and know that movies show kids doing things they shouldn't do in real life. And FINALLY, I want to say that I DIDN'T FIND THE SNOWMAN CREEPY AT ALL!!! And neither did my kids. So much criticism is thrown at this movie because they say the snowman was creepy. I think it was endearing and was very much like Michael Keaton. All in all I think this is a fine and fun Christmas movies for kids 9 and up - or younger kids who aren't too sensitive to sad movies and who don't need constant action to keep them interested. But for that I would have recommended this movie universally to as young as perhaps 5 years old.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) is a guy who feels at home being on stage in his rock band. While playing a gig in Denver, a record producer hears the band and wants to bring them on his label. Jack comes home to his wife (Kelly Preston) and son, Charlie (Joseph Cross) late at night, and gets a warm welcome. When Charlie invites Jack to his hockey game, he promises to make it, but is too involved in a recording session to get there in time. To make up for it, Jack commits to taking the family to their mountain cabin for Christmas. But just as they are packing the car, he gets a call from the record company and -- you guessed it -- can't make the trip. He has a change of heart, deciding to turn around and make it home for Christmas. But fate has other plans, and he perishes in a car crash. One year later, when Charlie plays the magic harmonica that Jack had given him, the snowman outside becomes host to a familiar spirit. Guess who's home for Christmas?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (13):

Michael Keaton lights up the screen with his portrayal of this rocker-dad-turned-snowman. But he's not given much to work with. The plot is predictable and the special effects are more creepy than cool (that wry expression of Keaton's looks rather evil on the snowman). We expect more from Jim Henson's workshop, frankly! Though the soundtrack and the beautiful shots of the Rocky Mountains in winter add some grandeur, this movie takes the topics of death and loss a little too lightly. Charlie mopes and feels a little bitter, but nothing emotionally profound happens, even when Dad shows up again. It's as though every dad comes back as a snowman or some such thing in order to say his proper good-byes. More fluff here than substance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Charlie's dad's death affects Charlie. Why does he quit the hockey team? Why do his grades fall? What would happen to Charlie if his dad didn't come back as a snowman?

  • Jack tells his son not to tell anyone about his reincarnation. When is it OK to keep a secret? When do the words "don't tell anyone" raise a red flag?

Movie Details

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