BRAVE
Beautifully animated, morally complicated, and best for older children.
Should You Watch It?
BRAVE is beautifully animated and earns Pixar-level entertainment quality, but its message requires discernment. Merida wants independence from marriage and the freedom to create her own destiny. The film often presents following your heart as preferable to doing what is right.
The story also includes a witch, spells, and spirits guiding Merida. That concern is balanced by a redemptive moral movement: Merida and her mother must reconcile, learn to listen, humble themselves, and ask forgiveness.
This is a worthwhile choice for older children and adults who can discuss those tensions afterward. It is not a model for young children to copy. For middle schoolers and up, BRAVE is worth the trip when watched with thoughtful parental guidance.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESPrincess Merida has trained all her life to become Queen. Her mother teaches her how to fulfill her royal duties, while her father enjoys her tomboyish love of archery and riding.
When suitors from neighboring tribes arrive to compete for her, Merida decides to take action rather than accept the path expected of her. Her choice leads her to a witch, a spell, and a dangerous escape with her transformed mother.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means BRAVE is a highly entertaining, beautifully crafted animated film. The animation is a major strength, as is the film’s engaging adventure story.
It is also a departure from the usual Pixar experience. Merida is not presented as a charming, sweet young girl. She often whines about following her mother’s principles and behaves in ways children should not imitate. Still, the story gains moral weight through repentance, forgiveness, humility, and reconciliation.
The Worldview
BRAVE strongly emphasizes Romantic and feminist ideas. Merida wants to follow her heart, reject marriage, and create her own destiny rather than listen to the concerns of others. The film’s central message favors independence and free will over doing what is right within God’s Kingdom and righteousness.
The film also includes strong occult elements. Merida follows magical “wisp” spirits to a witch, receives a spell, and allows spirits to guide her actions. That conflicts with the biblical warning against divination, sorcery, witchcraft, spells, and spiritism.
At the same time, BRAVE does not leave Merida unchanged. She humbles herself, asks forgiveness, and learns that she and her mother must love, listen, and reconcile. Those moral elements give the film genuine redemptive value, even though its larger message remains centered on self-determination.
Scripture calls us to seek what is right rather than simply follow our hearts: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Romantic, feminist worldview with strong occult elements stressing following your heart rather then doing what is right, with a witch creating spells and spirits leading the main character to the witch and guiding her, with a redemptive, moral scene of repentance and forgiveness; no foul language, some burping; several scenes of men fighting, man punches other man, bear attacks; kissing; upper male nudity, male rear nudity, man “moons” other men; drinking; no smoking or drug use; and, young children steal food and rebellious children talk back to parents and authority figures.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Merida wants to create her own destiny. How should Christians think about freedom, responsibility, and doing what is right?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · Romans 12:2Merida and her mother must learn to listen, humble themselves, and reconcile. What does genuine repentance and forgiveness look like in a family?
Ephesians 4:32 · James 5:16The film uses a witch, spells, and spirits to guide Merida. Why does Scripture warn us against occult practices?
Deuteronomy 18:10–12Merida often talks back and rejects her mother’s principles. How can children show respect while still expressing disagreement?
Ephesians 6:1–3 · Proverbs 15:1The Final Word
BRAVE offers gorgeous animation, exciting adventure, and a meaningful lesson about repentance and forgiveness. Its celebration of following your heart, along with its witchcraft and spirits, calls for thoughtful guidance. For older children and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
