Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Positive messages, some scary stuff in sweet, sparkly romp.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Little Pony: The Movie (2017)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 43 parent reviews
Based on 54 kid reviews
Kids say the film is colorful and entertaining, catering primarily to younger audiences with its themes of friendship and teamwork. While some found it amusing with catchy songs and strong messages, others criticized it for moments of mild violence and felt it was overly focused on merchandise rather than plot development.
- kid-friendly
- catchy songs
- friendship themes
- mild violence
- entertaining for all
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE opens during a very special day in Equestria. The ponies' Friendship Festival is about to take place, orchestrated by Princess Twilight Sparkle (voiced by Tara Strong) and all her best friends: Rainbow Dash (Ashleigh Ball), Applejack (Ashleigh Ball), Pinkie Pie (Andrea Libman), Rarity (Tabitha St. Germain), and Spike the dragon (Cathy Weseluck). Everything's going well ... until the evil Storm King (Liev Schreiber) and pony-gone-bad Tempest (Emily Blunt) freeze Equestria's three other pony princesses, stop the Friendship Festival, and steal the ponies' magic. Now Twilight and her friends must make a perilous journey to find Queen Novo, ruler of the Hippogriffs (Uzo Aduba), and learn the secret to defeating the Storm King once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
Stuffed with magic and sweet messages about friendship and kindness, this pony movie is a worthy pick for young viewers -- as long as the scary stuff isn't too much for them. Speaking of which, did we really need scenes in which the ponies are in danger of falling off a massive waterfall or hurtling through the sky after falling from an airship floating above the clouds? It seems a little much for the movie's young target audience. But there are plenty of positive takeaways to make up for it, with the ponies ready -- nay, eager -- to help each other and everyone else they meet. Parents of princess-mad kids will also appreciate a scene in which Twilight Sparkle doubts her capabilities and an authority figure tells her that "Being a princess means more than just a crown. It's a promise not to let other ponies down."
The puffy pink-and-purple visuals will appeal to young children, too. There are cupcakes and ponies in every color of the rainbow; there are rainbows that explode like fireworks and undersea dance numbers; there are songs about being awesome and getting by with a little help from your friends. And most of all, there's a magical world where (mostly) female ponies exist in a magical land with all their best friends. It's a place that adults may not be dying to visit, but young viewers will practically want to live there. And My Little Pony: The Movie is made for them.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship in My Little Pony: The Movie. How can you tell the ponies are friends? In what ways do they rely on their friends to help them out of jams? Kids: What qualities do you like most in your own friends?
How do the ponies demonstrate courage and teamwork in their struggle to save Equestria? Why are these important character strengths?
Why do you think the ponies are brightly colored, while the Storm King, Tempest, and the evil minions are drawn with dark, dull colors? How do movies and TV shows signal that a character is bad? How are they usually dressed? How do they usually look? In real life, are good people always beautiful/colorful and bad people unattractive?
Kids: Do you like the characters in this movie? Have you seen them on toys, books, or clothing? Does watching a movie like this one make you more interested in buying products based on the characters? Do you know what advertising and marketing are?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 6, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2018
- Cast : Kristin Chenoweth , Emily Blunt , Uzo Aduba , Liev Schreiber
- Director : Jayson Thiessen
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , Animals
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild action
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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