Parents' Guide to

Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Book-based drama is emotionally intense, with mild scares.

Movie PG 2003 86 minutes
Where the Red Fern Grows (2003) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS, Billy Coleman (Joseph Ashton) lives on a farm in the Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression. More than anything, Billy wants a chance to raise hunting dogs, but money to buy puppies is hard to come by. Billy works doing odd jobs and finally earns enough money to buy two hound dogs and teaches them how to hunt raccoons. After a bet that his dogs can finally catch the infamous "ghost raccoon," a tragic accident makes Billy feel like he'll never hunt with his dogs again. But Grandpa (Dabney Coleman) tells him about an annual contest, and Billy can't resist entering Old Dan and Little Ann.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (4):

This sincere and squeaky-clean version of a beloved classic that's still on many school reading lists is enjoyable but may fall short for those who've read and loved the book first. The 2003 version of Where the Red Fern Grows has lots of positive messages about the value of hard work and perseverance, but leaves out some of the stronger content from the book, both positive and negative. This means that the stronger emphasis on religious and character messages are weakened because there's no contrast.

Performances are OK but make it hard to connect emotionally with Billy, his family, and even his dogs. It feels more like you're watching types of people, as admirable as they may be, instead of getting to know real, specific characters. It's an OK choice for family movie night, especially if you're ready to offer reassurance to little ones when people and animals are in danger. But this film version falls far short of the original book; consider reading it aloud, or together, to really experience the full emotional impact of this American classic.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about which character strengths are shown in Where the Red Fern Grows. How do Billy and his family show integrity, perseverance, and being a good sport?

  • Have you read the book, or seen any other movie versions of the story? How are they different? How are they the same? Which do you like best?

  • What are some of your other favorite books or movies about kids and their pets?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate