Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kitschy '70s Pippi adventures still fun, but no pirates.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Just as Pippi (Inger Nilsson) is about to board a ship with her father and bid adieu to her landlubber friends, she changes her mind and stays on in the seaside village to have adventures with friends Annika (Maria Persson) and Tommy (Par Sundberg). Pippi runs through town with red paint on her feet, fixes up a rowboat and takes her friends camping on an island, hosts her own offbeat birthday party, makes an ill-fated cameo at school, takes on the strongman at the traveling carnival (he never had a chance), takes out some would-be thieves with a giant snowball, and more. It's never a dull moment when Pippi is around.
Is It Any Good?
Kids will love Pippi's pep and creativity (and will overlook the bad, bad dubbing) as she plans unique fun for her friends and bests a strong man with ease.
While Pippi in the South Seas told of Pippi's high-seas adventures with pirates and crazy flying machines, despite a title of PIPPI GOES ON BOARD, this movie contains only Pippi's hometown antics. Kids may wonder when she will set sail again to navigate storms and take on pirates. So if you rent this one, rent it along with Pippi in the South Seas. Put on some freckles and pig-tails and make it a film festival.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Pippi's extreme independence. Would kids like to run their own homes and make the rules? Or would they get lonely after awhile?
Families can also talk about strong girl characters. Who are your favorites? Are they all as free-spirited as Pippi? Are they all smart, sometimes in unconventional ways? What traits do they share?
Pippi walks up to a cosmetics counter in one scene to figure out why a saleswoman would sell her a cream to hide her freckles. Are you like Pippi, appreciating the physical traits that make you stand out? Or would you try to change them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 1, 1975
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2005
- Cast : Inger Nilsson , Maria Persson , Par Sundberg
- Director : Olle Hellborn
- Studio : Henstooth Video
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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