Movie · 2008 · Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Action

Is The Spiderwick Chronicles OK for kids?

Q: Is The Spiderwick Chronicles OK for kids?

Not a fit. Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: profanity is mild, violence & gore is moderate, frightening & intense scenes is moderate.

Q: Is The Spiderwick Chronicles OK for teenagers?

A good fit. Everything the Teen-safe preset limits is within its limits.

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures.

At a glance

Kids preset · gentle limits for younger children

Not a fit

Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: profanity is mild, violence & gore is moderate, frightening & intense scenes is moderate.

Teen-safe preset · room for action and drama, nothing explicit

A good fit

Everything the Teen-safe preset limits is within its limits.

Every family draws the line differently. Set your own rules and see whether The Spiderwick Chronicles fits yours, topic by topic. Free.

Set your own rules

What's in it, topic by topic

Sexual & romantic

NudityNone
IMDb, Movieguide and Screen It all list nudity as none.
Sources: imdb.com
Sexual contentNone
Kids-In-Mind gives 0/10; the only item is a father leaving for another woman, which is not sexual content.
Sources: kids-in-mind.com, commonsensemedia.org
Sexualised imageryNone
Sex/nudity listed as none; no revealing outfits or suggestive framing reported.
Sources: imdb.com
Kissing & romanceNone
No source describes romance or kissing in the film; only the father's affair is discussed.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org

Language & behaviour

ProfanityMild
A few religious exclamations, one 'hell' and a cut-off 'Oh sh–'; no strong language.
Sources: imdb.com, kids-in-mind.com, commonsensemedia.org
Vulgarity & crude humourMild
Hogsqueal makes 'inappropriate noises' and spits in Jared's eyes; occasional gross-out moments.
Sources: pluggedin.com
Verbal abuse & bullyingMild
Siblings bicker with name-calling such as 'stupid', 'idiot', 'nut bag' and 'liar'.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, kids-in-mind.com
Discrimination & hateNone
No source reports racism, hate speech or group discrimination.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org
Disrespectful behaviour & role modelsMild
Jared lies and tells his mom he hates her but apologizes; Screen It rates bad attitude heavy.
Sources: pluggedin.com, screenit.com
Dangerous imitable actsMild
Brief risky moments: roof chase, peroxide on a wound, sword and stick play; Screen It rates mild.
Sources: screenit.com, kids-in-mind.com, imdb.com

Violence & intensity

Violence & goreModerate
Goblins bite and cut kids, kids fight back; mostly green creature blood and melting goblins, little detail.
Sources: imdb.com
Frightening & intense scenesModerate
Children repeatedly menaced by goblins and an ogre, a jump scare, and an intense climax; may scare under 7.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Self-harm & suicideNone
Sources found no self-harm or suicide; only Aunt Lucinda shown in a psychiatric hospital.
Sources: thereviewgeek.com
Death & griefMild
Father presumed dead but alive; hobgoblin's family killed (backstory); divorce drives the plot. Sources did not mention animals.
Sources: thereviewgeek.com
Alcohol, drugs & smokingNone
IMDb rates alcohol, drugs and smoking as none (33 of 37 voters).
Sources: imdb.com

Topics some families want to know about

LGBTQ+ representationNot present
No LGBTQ+ characters or themes found in guides; only a father's affair with a woman.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org
Religious contentNot present
Secular fantasy with no religious practice; Movieguide notes a light Christian worldview in its reading only.
Sources: movieguide.org
Occult & magicCentral
Fairy-tale fantasy premise: goblins, ogre shape-shifter, trolls, charms and a field guide of creatures; not occult practice.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, kids-in-mind.com, pluggedin.com
Political & ideological themesNot present
Plot summary describes only a fictional fantasy story about creatures and a field guide; no real-world politics.
Products & advertisingNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Messages & valuesMixed
Teaches family loyalty and not judging before knowing the whole story; revenge goes unexamined.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, pluggedin.com

Rated 30 Oct 2026 by our research.

How we rate

We read parent guides, reviews and official ratings for every title and rate 21 topics, from kissing and profanity to violence, frightening scenes, substance use and the messages a story leaves behind, each with a reason and its sources. Our team verifies what the sources leave out. You set a limit per topic, and every title gets a clear verdict against your rules, not someone else's age label.