Common Sense Media Review
By Tracey Petherick
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Unoriginal festive made-for-TV movie has some good messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
What's the Story?
In RICHIE RICH'S CHRISTMAS WISH, Richie (David Gallagher) unwittingly causes destruction and mayhem in his home town, leading the locals -- including, he believes, his parents -- to turn against him. Hiding out in Professor Keenbean's (Eugene Levy) laboratory, he flippantly wishes he'd never been born, only for his wish to come true. He soon discovers that a world without Richie is not a happy place -- his spoiled cousin Reggie (Jake Richardson) is now in charge, and he's threatening to cancel Christmas. Richie must find a way to reverse his wish and bring peace and joy back to Richville.
Is It Any Good?
If you're in the market for a second-rate combination of Back to the Future and It's a Wonderful Life with some slapstick action thrown in, then you're in luck. Richie Rich's Christmas Wish is a farcical adventure with parallel universe morality messages and distinctly made-for-TV production values. But that's not to say it's completely devoid of the entertainment factor.
Richie himself is actually quite a pleasant kid. Notwithstanding a smidgen of self pity and unavoidable privilege, he has good intentions and learns some valuable lessons. The plotline is frequently implausible but is delivered with enthusiasm and tongue-in-cheek humor, and though kids will find the special effects hilarious (for the wrong reasons) the overall takeaway is just about jolly and festive enough to warrant a holiday viewing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the positive messages in Richie Rich's Christmas Wish. Did it succeed in demonstrating kindness, generosity, and respect? Were character traits such as greed and selfishness clearly portrayed as negative?
What do you think of the special effects in this movie? Were they realistic enough? If not, did they spoil your enjoyment of the story?
Did the movie have a festive message? If so, what was it? If it didn't, does that matter? What are your favorite Christmas movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 10, 1998
- Cast : David Gallagher , Eugene Levy , Keene Curtis
- Director : John Murlowski
- Studio : Warner Home Video
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Holidays
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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