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Parents' Guide to

Watership Down (1978)

By Brian Camp, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Book-based animated tale has intense peril, violence.

Movie PG 1978 72 minutes
Watership Down (1978) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 12+

Based on 34 parent reviews

Bob K.
Bob K. Adult
November 5, 2023
age 10+

Good film

I really liked this film. It has good messages, like don't give up. It is quite violent, ad it shows rabbits fighting, bleeding, and General Woundwort is quite scary but it is a very good film.
tawnyaSauce
tawnyaSauce Adult
June 4, 2020
age 10+

Book for a lifetime

I read this book after watching the animated movie (1978) as a young girl - i think aged 6 or 7. I read the book at the age of 9 or 10. I loved animals, but was more taken in by a story with real life issues. Friendship, fear, adversity, sticking together, personalities and differing gifts, finding a new home, death and near death, and different communities that can lie to you, as well as try to control you in the name of safety. It fits well at certain times in our adult lives as well as give a child a heads up on real life possible things to consider. The story does have a happy ending after the troubles and I now read it as an adult at least once each year. It helps me through tough times and gives me more hope than fear.
See all 34 parent reviews

What's the Story?

This feature-length theatrical release based on Richard Adams's book Watership Down follows a group of rabbits, led by Hazel (voiced by John Hurt), Bigwig, and the hypersensitive Fiver. They leave their endangered warren (earmarked for real estate development) in search of a new home and female rabbits with whom to mate. Their journey is laced with numerous obstacles, including a dog, a cat, rats, men, cars, birds of prey, and other rabbits. In the final stage of their quest, they find a secure habitat but incur the wrath of a militaristic band of rabbits led by the dictatorial General Woundwort. A deadly battle ensues as our heroes attempt to secure their new home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (34 ):
Kids say (88 ):

A rare British-produced animated feature, WATERSHIP DOWN is an original drama with realistic animation, sharp characterizations, and brutal honesty about the territorial imperative. This is a stellar alternative to the glitzy musical numbers, cutesy characters, sentimental excesses, and merchandisable sidekicks of Disney movies.

For older kids and adult fans, the story offers plenty of drama, suspense, and action as the rabbits make their way through an idyllic landscape that turns out to be quite treacherous. It's all set against beautifully designed backgrounds and enacted by realistically drawn rabbits, all convincingly differentiated from each other. The superb voice acting is performed by a notable cast who treat their characters with as much gravity as they would Shakespearean roles. Complementing the drama is a music score that subtly and effectively accentuates the emotional twists and turns of the proceedings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the deeper messages of the movie. How are these messages conveyed?

  • What are some other examples of movies and books in which animals represent aspects of humanity and human nature -- politics, society, beliefs?

  • Was some of the violence and imagery necessary to convey the movie's deeper messages, or was it too scary and overwhelming, ultimately distracting from what the movie was trying to express?

Movie Details

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