Common Sense Media Review
Charming family movie for tweens and up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say that while the film has a heartfelt story and offers valuable lessons about unconditional love and family, it contains significant language and mild violence that may not be suitable for younger children. Many appreciate the emotional depth and discussions it prompts, but some express disappointment over the inappropriate content and swear words present throughout the movie.
- language concerns
- family themes
- emotional depth
- age appropriateness
- violence elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 12 kid reviews
What's the Story?
In SECONDHAND LIONS, Walter (Haley Joel Osment) is dumped on the unwelcoming front porch of his two great-uncles, Hub (Robert Duvall) and Garth (Michael Caine) by his flighty mother (Kyra Sedgewick) so she can go to school and learn how to be a court reporter. She tells him that they disappeared 40 years earlier and just mysteriously returned. The rumor is that they have money hidden away somewhere, and she tells Walter to see if he can find it. Hub and Garth are not used to taking care of anyone. They tell Walter that if he needs anything he should find it himself or, better yet, do without it. Walter is not used to being taken care of. His mother has had a series of worthless or abusive boyfriends. When he calls the school to try to talk to her, he runs through a whole list of aliases before finding out that she has lied to him again and never even enrolled.
Is It Any Good?
Duvall and Caine have such easy charm that they make this movie work. It does sag when anyone else is on-screen, though such as during the flashbacks of their adventures in Africa and Osment's struggles to find his character and manage his adolescent voice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their own best advice for children about growing up and about the importance of having role models.
Families can also talk about Hub's view that sometimes it's important to believe in things whether they are true or not.
What do you think of the portrayal of rural folks? Do you think it's realistic or presents stereotypes?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 19, 2003
- On DVD or streaming : February 3, 2004
- Cast : Haley Joel Osment , Michael Caine , Robert Duvall
- Director : Tim McCanlies
- Studio : New Line
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material, language and action violence
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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