Parents' Guide to

The Secret Garden (2020)

By Stefan Pape, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Adaptation has positive themes but falls short on magic.

Movie PG 2020 106 minutes
The Secret Garden (2020) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 10+

Based on 15 parent reviews

MamaC26
MamaC26 Adult
November 14, 2020
age 10+

Disappointing

As someone who loves the book and recently listened to the Audible version with my children, this movie is a total disgrace to the original story. I'm not sure why it was even allowed to be called The Secret Garden, because its really not even the same story at all. Ghosts? A fire? The characters were shallow and hard to connect with. And how could they leave out Ben Weatherstaff?! I will say it was visually beautiful to watch, but that's about all I can say in its favor. My 10 year old daughter kept saying, "That's not in the book!" Thoroughly disappointing, the 1987 version is my favorite.
1 person found this helpful.
akalujina
akalujina Parent of 6 and 11-year-old
January 31, 2022
age 6+

A real disappointment

I was really looking forward to watching this movie with my kids because I was a huge fan of the book as a child. The whole story was rewritten almost entirely. It was probably the most boring a slow movie we've ever watched as a family. I would not recommend it other than for the beautiful scenery and quality of the pictures.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE SECRET GARDEN tells the story of young orphan Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx), who's sent to live with her uncle, Lord Archibald Craven (Colin Firth), who's still mourning his late wife years after her death. Stuck indoors with housekeeper Mrs. Medlock (Julie Walters), Mary finds solace in her uncle's enchanting estate and becomes enamored with the magical secret garden she finds hidden in the grounds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15):
Kids say (11):

This is an accomplished turn by director Marc Munden, and it has an indelible charm despite delving into heavy themes like grief. With children at the forefront, The Secret Garden encourages adult viewers to get back in touch with their childlike wonder. But for a film all about imagination, it's hard not to wish it offered a little bit more.

There's some enchantment, certainly, but the movie lacks a certain spark. It actually works better as a more profound study of grief -- particularly in children who are trying to make sense of losing a parent. This is where the film excels, and it's helped along by exciting performances from the young cast, especially Egerickx, who's fantastic as Mary. (On the other hand, there isn't enough of Julie Walters. But then, there's never really enough of Julie Walters.) Devoted fans of the book -- of whom there are many -- will notice significant differences between it and this adaptation, most notably in the fantastical way the garden itself is portrayed (in the book, it's very much a standard, if special, garden) and in Mary and Colin's mothers' relationship. Those who aren't as familiar with the original story may be more likely to enjoy the movie for what it is, not what it isn't.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Secret Garden tackles grief. How do both Mary and her uncle start to overcome their own grief? Have you lost anyone? How did it make you feel? Get tips on talking to kids about difficult subjects.

  • Mary moves to a new country and must make friends in a new setting. Have you ever experienced anything similar? What can you learn from Mary's experiences that you could use if you have to do something similar? What character strengths does she display?

  • Much of the story is set outdoors in the garden. What are the benefits of spending time outdoors when possible and connecting to the world around us?

  • The characters use their imagination to "travel" to other places. Can you give any examples of when you and your friends have used your imagination creatively?

  • What differences did you notice between the book and the movie? What was changed? What did you miss? How does this version of the story compare to previous movie adaptations?

Movie Details

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