Common Sense Media Review
By Common Sense Media
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romantic '90s fairy tale has some cursing, sex.
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Why Age 11+?
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Sleepless in Seattle
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is sweet and charming, appealing to both teens and adults with its lighthearted romance. While some viewers noted a few minor swear words and sexual references, the overall consensus celebrates the chemistry between the leads and the heartwarming story, making it an enjoyable watch for date nights.
- cute romance
- lighthearted
- enjoyable for all
- good chemistry
- minor issues
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, young Jonah wants his widowed dad, Sam (Tom Hanks), to find a new wife. When Jonah calls up a radio talk show and starts talking to the host about how lonely his dad is, Sam eventually gets on the line and pours his heart out. Across the country, Annie (Meg Ryan) hears Sam and eventually comes to believe they're destined for each other, even though she's engaged to nice-but-dull Walter (Bill Pullman). Sam becomes a sensation after the radio show, and multitudes of women send him love letters. With some parallels to the classic 1957 romance An Affair to Remember, this sweet romance follows Annie as she heads to Seattle to meet the man of her dreams.
Is It Any Good?
This is a throwback to the great romantic comedies of the '30s and '40s. It's well written if a tad implausible: a fairy tale that encourages viewers to believe that true love and destiny will conquer all obstacles. Sleepless in Seattle's structure is a little frustrating; the two main characters spend almost the entire film apart. In less skilled hands, their separate stories could have fallen flat, but first-time director Nora Ephron manages to pull it off.
Great casting helps. Tom Hanks has never been more appealing and vulnerable, and Meg Ryan is the embodiment of impetuous romance. Rosie O'Donnell and Rob Reiner inject some tart humor as their sidekicks, making sure the story never becomes overly sentimental. There aren't many movies that parents can watch with older kids; this is one of the rare exceptions. Adults will enjoy the star-crossed romance, and kids will respond to Jonah's predicament. They'll also like the interactions between Jonah and his friend Jessica, a wise and very sarcastic little girl.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Jessica and Jonah mean well, but hide the truth from their parents when conspiring to get Jonah to New Your City in their attempt to get Annie and Sam together in Sleepless in Seattle. Was what they did right? How could they have handled this and still been truthful with their parents?
Sleepless in Seattle was a romantic movie that seems to hearken back to a time when movie pairs from the '30s and '40s brought romance to the silver screen. What are some examples of movie pairs known for their work together in romantic movies, past and present? What do you think is the enduring appeal of these movies?
Are romantic movies entertaining because they outline the ups and downs of trying to find and keep love, or does it set unrealistic expectations for those who want to believe in the romantic "happily ever after"-type ending?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 15, 1993
- On DVD or streaming : June 26, 1997
- Cast : Meg Ryan , Rita Wilson , Tom Hanks
- Director : Nora Ephron
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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