Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More suspense, peril, and potential scares than usual.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure
What's the Story?
Just as Controller Sir Topham Hatt builds a brand-new branch line on Sodor Island, Thomas (Joseph Hay) is his most mischievous self in THOMAS & FRIENDS: SODOR'S LEGEND OF THE LOST TREASURE. Though he knows Sir Topham Hatt (Keith Wickham) is counting on him, Thomas races Bertie at top speed, causes a train to derail, shows up late for work, and gets huffy and jealous when the Controller introduces him to Ryan (Eddie Redmayne), a shiny new steam engine. When one of Thomas' naughty deeds uncovers a long-lost pirate ship and destabilizes the land, all of Sir Topham Hatt's new branch construction plans go awry. To make matters worse, Sailor John (Sir John Hurt), a greedy treasure hunter, sneaks onto the island hoping to find the legendary riches from the lost ship. Finally realizing that he's made some pretty serious mistakes, Thomas comes to his senses and sets out to fix all the damage he has caused.
Is It Any Good?
Too many story elements and an excessive number of suspenseful and action-filled scenes will make this Thomas entry less satisfying than most for very young kids. Gentleness and simplicity, usual trademarks of the franchise, have given way to more jeopardy and even some complex emotions. Though Thomas is often mischievous and gets into trouble, in this story he's jealous, a braggart, and quite destructive. Production values are solid, on a par with Thomas' always appealing animation and characterizations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Thomas behaved so badly when Ryan, the new engine, came to work on the island. What was Thomas afraid of? How did Thomas' actions make matters worse for everyone?
The long-buried pirate ship was attached to a legendary story. What is a "legend"? In this tale, did the legend turn out to be true?
Why is it important for parents and kids to be aware of marketing strategies when toy companies make movies to help sell their products, and vice versa? How does the introduction of new characters in this movie (such as Ryan and Sailor John) give the Thomas toy franchise a boost?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 8, 2015
- Cast : Joseph May , Keith Wickham , John Hurt
- Director : David Stoten
- Studio : HIT Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Friendship , Pirates , Transportation ( Trains )
- Run time : 65 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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