Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cool but creepy animated fantasy too scary for young kids.
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Why Age 9+?
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Coraline
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 323 parent reviews
Parents say that this film draws mixed reactions regarding its suitability for children, with many highlighting its impressive stop-motion animation and intriguing plot, but also expressing concerns about its dark themes and frightening imagery. Most reviews suggest a recommended age of at least 10-13, indicating that while some kids may enjoy the creepy elements, others may find it traumatic.
- age recommendations
- animation praised
- dark themes
- child reactions
- intense horror
- suitable for tweens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 825 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is surprisingly intense and frightening for a children's film, featuring body horror that could be deeply unsettling for younger viewers; many recommend it for ages 11 or older due to its creepy atmosphere and some mature themes. While some find it a clever, beautifully animated tale with important messages, others warn of the potential for nightmares and suggest that parental guidance is essential for younger audiences.
- mature themes
- intense for kids
- parental guidance needed
- beautifully animated
- important messages
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
CORALINE Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) is an only child who's unhappy about moving to a new house with her seemingly self-absorbed parents (Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman), who are too busy working to spend any time with her. The other inhabitants of their building are an eccentric crew: Russian mouse-circus ringmaster Mr. Bobinksy (Ian McShane) and bickering actresses Miss Spink and Miss Forcible (Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French). When Coraline opens a small hidden door in her apartment, she discovers a secret passageway to a parallel other world where everything -- her parents, her house, her neighbors, her magical garden -- seems much better ... or is it?
Is It Any Good?
Director Henry Selick, a stop-motion master best known for The Nightmare Before Christmas, creates a magical, colorful nether-world that's also dark and disturbing. At first, in addition to offering Coraline attentive "Other" parents, the alternate universe boasts a dazzling garden and a fantastic circus and theater acts, courtesy of the Other neighbors. Coraline, along with the audience, gets swept into the magic -- but there's an unnerving edge to all of the perfection. Everyone has buttons for eyes, except for Coraline and a mysterious talking cat (Keith David) that warns Coraline that her Other Mother isn't as warm and loving as she seems.
The 3-D effects (Coraline is Hollywood's first 3-D stop-motion film) are cool without being overwhelming, and the story is a two-pronged cautionary tale -- for parents and kids not to take each other for granted, and for people not to dwell on whether the grass is greener, because it could all be a huge, horrifying charade. Coraline ultimately learns that sometimes imperfect, messy lives aren't always as bad as they seem. Considering how formulaic so many family movies are, Coraline is a refreshing and inventive film. While too intense for some kids, it's a memorable treat for families with thrill-seeking tweens and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Coraline's theme of wishing for a different, "perfect" life. Do you ever feel like Coraline? What about her parents made her initially prefer the Other Mother and Father?
How do Coraline and her parents change over the course of the movie?
Do you think this movie is meant for little kids, or is it too scary?
How do the characters in Coraline demonstrate self-control, gratitude, and compassion? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 6, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : July 21, 2009
- Cast : Dakota Fanning , John Hodgman , Teri Hatcher
- Director : Henry Selick
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Focus Features
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy , Family Stories
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Gratitude , Self-control
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements, scary images, some language and suggestive humor
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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