Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Feel-good family movie has great messages for tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 63 kid reviews
Kids say this movie varies greatly in appeal, with many finding it enjoyable and fun, and praising its messages about family and respect, yet some critics deem it predictable and lacking depth. While it is appreciated as a spinoff from the original show and contains familiar Disney humor, concerns are raised about mild scary scenes for younger audiences and its suitability for very young children.
- mixed reviews
- fun and family-oriented
- suitable for older kids
- mild scary moments
- strong messages
- predictable storyline
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE: THE MOVIE, Disney fans' favorite spell casters head to the Caribbean for a vacation that's interrupted by a magical mishap that threatens to unravel the Russo family itself. For parents Jerry (David Deluise) and Theresa (Maria Canals-Barrera), the chance to revisit the tropical paradise where they met is a dream come true -- and they hope their three kids will love it, too. Sons Justin (David Henrie) and Max (Jake T. Austin) are on board, but middle child Alex (Selena Gomez) is put out over spending so much "quality" time with her family. Her frustration with her mom's rules leads her to cast an accidental spell that changes the past and leaves her parents strangers. Desperate to set things right, Alex must set aside her bickering with Justin to team up in search of a way to recreate their family.
Is It Any Good?
This entertaining movie casts a little magic of its own, weaving strong positive lessons into a neatly crafted story that will charm tween viewers. Even if they're not already familiar with the characters from the series, they won't have any problem jumping right into the plot. Girls especially may find that Alex's familial woes resonate with some of their own struggles for independence.
Parents don't have to worry about the example that the rebellious teen sets for their own kids, since Alex eventually is forced to come to terms with her unpleasant behavior when she faces the possibility of life without her family. What's more, she learns important lessons in responsibility and self-confidence and improves her relationship with her brother after she sees things from his point of view. This upbeat, kid-friendly movie is a great choice for families of tweens and might even help get the ball rolling on discussions about topics like rules and respect.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about communication. How does your family keep communication lines open? Does technology help you communicate? Tweens: Do you feel comfortable talking to your parents about your issues?
What rules does your family have about parties and hanging out with friends? How do these rules help keep you safe? How do they compare to family rules about use of media like the Internet?
Tweens: Whom do you respect? What attributes do you look for in a role model?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 28, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : December 15, 2009
- Cast : David Henrie , Jake T. Austin , Selena Gomez
- Director : Lev L. Spiro
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 73 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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