Parents' Guide to

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Confusing and commercialized ponies-as-human-teenagers tale.

Movie NR 2015 72 minutes
My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 1 parent review

Like T.
Like T. Parent of 3-year-old
May 5, 2023
age 5+

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

At Canterlot High, the human counterparts of ponies Fluttershy, Pinkie Pink, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Appplejack, and Sunset Shimmer are preparing for the upcoming games against rival Crystal Prep Academy in MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS: FRIENDSHIP GAMES. At Crystal Prep, prize student Twilight Sparkle, unaware of her pony identity but feeling like a complete outsider, has devised a magic pendant in her efforts to find out about the magical energy she keeps encountering. While the mean-spirited principal of Crystal Prep blackmails Twilight into using whatever powers she has to help the school win the games, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna of Canterlot ask Sunset Shimmer to please control the girls' magic during the games so they won't be accused of cheating. When Crystal Prep arrives at Canterlot for the start of the games, the Equestria Girls are stunned to see that Twinkle Sparkle is a student at the rival school and she doesn't recognize any of them. As the games get underway, Twilight unwittingly unleashes magic that closes the portal and threatens not only to upset the competition but also ultimately destroy the entire human world. It's only after Sunset Shimmer's fantastical skills triumph over Twilight's magic in a fierce battle that fair play and friendship return to the human world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (16):

This is only for die-hard fans, and even then it's a messy story with way too many characters and plot lines. Don't expect to follow the plot, recognize the players, or know what magic is afoot if you aren't already familiar with the Equestria Girls in this complex, confusing bid for more My Little Pony fans and consumers. Hoping to attract older kids and the tween market, the filmmakers have created a movie that is packed with new characters, academic/athletic events, rivalries, magic, and an original soundtrack of mostly undistinguished musical numbers, along with overt messages about competition, friendship, and true magic. It presumes that the viewer knows how the Ponies became human, how they go back and forth from the pony world to the human world, what magic they possess, and how each of them is different and special. By the end, the movie raises more questions than it answers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the meaning of "crossover" marketing -- for example, the way Hasbro uses this movie to sell new toys and uses toys to sell the movies. What other franchises use crossover marketing? Why is it important for families to be aware of the relationship between the movies and the products?

  • Do you think knowing the origin of the Equestria Girls and Canterlot High is important to understanding this movie? If you're new to this brand of My Little Pony characters, were you confused? Where would you look for information that would clarify the essential elements of the story?

  • What did Twilight Sparkle learn about "true magic" in this movie?

  • What is the appeal of the My Little Pony brand? Why do you think it continues to be popular?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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