The Snowman

Movie review by Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media
The Snowman Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 3+

Charming, wordless, book-based holiday fable for all ages.

G 1982 26 minutes
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Parents say

age 4+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 4+

Based on 5 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Stands out for .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Snowman is a charming, whimsical, totally kid friendly adaptation of Raymond Briggs' classic picture book. At only 26 minutes long, it's brief enough to hold even the youngest viewers' attention. And there's very little content that's likely to bother them, though some might get a tiny bit nervous when the snowman is near the fire and/or when he and the boy fly away from home. Wine and champagne bottles are seen very briefly, and the snowman momentarily has a pipe in his mouth. The snowman melts in the end, but the child in the movie doesn't seem distressed by it.

Community Reviews

Watson P.
Watson P. Adult
December 20, 2022
age 12+

Inappropriate on so many levels

I didn’t know about this film until my six (6) year old daughter came home on the last day of school, before Winter Break, to tell me that she watched a movie about a snowman where she saw the rear of a boy and his chest. Obviously annoyed, because there was no mentioning of watching this movie to us parents in an email. We watched the movie and while many may say that it’s harmless, we raise our kids to let them know that no one needs to see their private parts. This movie was shown by a 1st Grade teacher four (4) days after a Body Safety class!!! So, let’s get into the fact that I love fantasy but this kid did everything his parents would not allow him to do when his parents were awake. The Snowman even had the kid doing things with his sleeping parents just feet away. Again, irreverent. No respect for authority and that’s what public schools are teaching. Disrespect parents and authority. What about families that do not believe in Santa Claus? There are so many other things happening that there isn’t enough time! The snowman dying in the end was the most twisted ending ever! We never read the book but this movie leaves little desire to do so. There was zero educational value! The only message was “do as you please!” Our modern society is crumbling because we refuse to respect boundaries. There should have been advance warning on this. Shameful is this movie.
AddyZ
AddyZ Adult
September 17, 2022
age 3+

Gentle Beautiful Winter Adventure

I love the animation, the music, and magic of this movie.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Raymond Briggs' classic picture book, THE SNOWMAN tells the story of a boy's magical Christmas adventure. After the snowman he builds comes to life in the middle of the night, a young English boy and his new friend explore, starting off inside the boy's house and then moving outside after things get a little too warm. Ultimately, they take flight, soaring over the wintry countryside until they wind up at the North Pole, where they join a festive party with Santa and many other snowmen before heading back home.

Is It Any Good?

This is a mostly animated tale that blends whimsy, nostalgia, and holiday magic to create a feel-good fable that viewers of all ages will enjoy. There's an extremely brief live-action intro that sets the main action up as a boyhood flashback.

The Snowman's flickering, broad-strokes animation style truly makes the movie look like a picture book come to life, and the story is simple -- and engaging -- enough that the lack of narration and dialogue doesn't matter a whit, especially since Howard Blake's score is so lovely. Even the youngest kids will be able to follow this tale of friendship, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether it matters that The Snowman doesn't have any talking. Do you need words to understand what's going on?

  • What do the boy and the snowman learn from each other? Why do they have so much fun together?

  • Although The Snowman takes place at Christmas, it's not about presents. What else is Christmas about? How does your family celebrate the holidays?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

Themes & Topics

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