BABE: PIG IN THE CITY
A riveting, unsettling city adventure best saved for home.
Should You Watch It?
This sequel is technically on par with the first Babe, with remarkable animal performances, unusual photography, and striking urban art direction. Babe remains benevolent and self-sacrificing, and the story ultimately moves toward rescue, friendship, and a home for vulnerable animals.
But the movie is a difficult experience for much of its 85-minute running time. Its city is full of danger, world-weary people and animals, vicious dogs, thieves, and disturbing situations. The terrors are presented as gritty reality rather than gentle fantasy. Even many adults may find 90 percent of the movie hard to watch.
You may appreciate its artistry and moral heart, but this is better experienced at home, where you can pause or stop if your family needs to. For little children, choose something gentler.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAfter winning a shepherding contest, Babe returns to the farm with Farmer Hoggett and receives acclaim from the community. When an accident leaves the farmer unable to work and the farm in financial trouble, Babe and Mrs. Hoggett travel to a big city to raise money.
Mrs. Hoggett soon becomes separated from Babe. Alone, he encounters a circus act, hungry animals, vicious dogs, and a city where danger waits around every corner.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a technically impressive film with a troubling viewing experience. The creative photography that makes the animals talk is again remarkably effective. The art direction creates an urban chaos compared with the idealized country setting of the first movie.
The film is also dark, strange, and riveting, with a benevolent, self-sacrificing central character. Its ultimate warmth and moral direction are real. Still, the intensity and gritty presentation overwhelm much of that goodness, especially for children. The result is entrancing filmmaking that is not friendly family fare.
The Worldview
The film presents a moral worldview centered on a pig who tries to save his farm, his would-be attacker, and his animal friends. Babe’s compassion and self-sacrifice stand against a city marked by danger, selfishness, theft, and cruelty.
That moral center is surrounded by many dark elements. The movie portrays animals and people as world-weary, vicious, crafty, or desperate, and some images are deliberately disturbing. The story ultimately values rescue, loyalty, friendship, and finding a home, but it does so through a gritty and sometimes very strange world.
Babe’s willingness to save an attacker points toward the biblical call to love those who harm us: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Moral worldview of pig saving his farm, his own attacker & animal friends with many dark elements; no obscenities & one “Oh, God”; extensive, dark action & violence including vicious dog chases pig, dog nearly drowns, humans argue, man falls down a well & passes objects on the way down, woman strip search implied, animals fall from heights, woman sprays other people with fire extinguisher, people shoot at duck, big bucket of glue lands on woman, dog hangs by chain, man falls into cake, animals destroy dinner, dog flung by rushing car, dropping animals, scary animal capturing scene, fish nearly chokes to death from being out of water, & other dark disturbing images; no sex but pink poodle is portrayed as a sort of prostitute & she leaves her puppies later for a supposed life again on the street; no nudity but women in bikinis & woman’s dress splits open revealing underwear; human alcohol use at party; humans smoke at party; and, several weird, disturbing images.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Babe rescues an animal that tried to harm him. What does it mean to answer wrongdoing with mercy?
Matthew 5:44 · Romans 12:20–21The animals are left to fend for themselves in a dangerous city. How can people care for those who are vulnerable or alone?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · James 1:27Babe’s self-sacrifice helps bring his animal friends toward safety. When have you seen someone give up comfort to help another person?
Philippians 2:3–4 · John 15:13The country and the city represent very different kinds of life in the movie. What makes a place feel like home, and how can your family help make others feel welcomed?
Romans 12:13 · Hebrews 13:2The Final Word
Babe: Pig in the City has real artistry, compassion, and moral heart. It also surrounds those virtues with frightening peril and disturbing darkness. Save this one for home, especially if you are watching with older children or adults who can handle intense material. WAIT FOR HOME.
