BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
A brilliant, moving family film with brief worldview and language concerns.
Should You Watch It?
This is a rare family movie that is magical, funny, serious, and profound all at once. Its Christian worldview is strong, with positive references to forgiveness, compassion, Jesus Christ, church, and the Cross. The children’s friendship, the uplifting church scene, and the film’s emotional power give families much to appreciate.
The concerns are brief but important. Four obscenities and one light profanity appear, along with scary encounters involving imaginary creatures. More significantly, a discussion about whether people must believe in the Bible to avoid Hell introduces a universalist idea, and the film does not fully resolve the theological question.
The practical answer is simple: WORTH THE TRIP for families prepared to discuss those concerns together.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJess is a sad middle school boy growing up on a struggling family farm. His parents have little time for his drawing talent, and school brings bullying and loneliness.
Then Leslie, a vivacious girl from the city with a powerful imagination, enters his life. Together, they create an imaginary kingdom beyond the stream, where they become heroes and find solace from the troubles around them.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally accomplished family film. It is one of the most brilliantly made and powerful movies of the last ten years, standing out among children’s movies and putting many acclaimed adult films to shame.
The children’s acting is brilliant. Gabor Csupo’s direction is superb, and the movie is extremely captivating and poignant. Its final third is emotionally powerful, making you cry, think, and feel inspired and uplifted.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong Christian worldview and serious moral content. It treats forgiveness and compassion positively, includes an uplifting church scene, and references Jesus Christ and “that old rugged cross.” It also approaches difficult issues in a compassionate way.
The film’s theological weakness comes through a discussion about whether God sends people to Hell if they do not believe in the Bible. Leslie says she does not believe that He does. Later, the movie seems to suggest trusting God’s grace, compassion, and love regarding the salvation of a particular individual. This introduces a universalist idea and leaves the question ambiguous rather than clearly affirming salvation through Jesus Christ.
The movie also may carry a Romantic worldview about the sinfulness of mankind. Even so, its central emphasis on compassion, forgiveness, friendship, and moral seriousness is profoundly touching. The film would be stronger if it made clearer that Jesus Christ is God’s provision for human sinfulness and the one source of salvation.
Scripture gives the film’s unresolved question a clearer answer: “God commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong Christian worldview with strong moral content including some forgiveness, compassion, positive references to Jesus, church and the Cross, and discussion of some very serious issues in an uplifting, compassionate way, but spoiled by some brief false religion that verges on universalism and a possible Romantic worldview about the sinfulness of mankind; four obscenities and one light profanity, plus some references to pee when older girl won’t let younger girls visit bathroom without giving her money; some pretend violence such as children pretend to fight scary creatures, being chased by a tree troll, etc., as they play, and children swing across rope over stream, boy punches other boy, another boy has bloody nose from implied punch, and boy shoves his little sister away but later apologizes; no sex; no nudity; and, children bully one another, lying and father gets angry at son, telling him to get his head out of the clouds.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jess and Leslie use imagination to face fear and loneliness. How can creativity help us care for others rather than escape responsibility?
Philippians 4:8 · Romans 12:10The film includes bullying, conflict, and an apology. What does genuine forgiveness require from the person who has done wrong?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The movie raises questions about who is saved. What does Scripture say about God’s command to repent and His provision in Jesus Christ?
Acts 17:30–31 · John 14:6The church scene points to compassion and the Cross. Why is the Cross good news for people who know they are sinful?
1 Corinthians 1:18 · Ephesians 2:8–9The Final Word
With brilliant acting, superb direction, and an emotionally powerful final third, this is an unusually accomplished family film. Its brief language, scary fantasy imagery, and theological ambiguity deserve discussion, but its strengths are worthy of strong commendation. WORTH THE TRIP.
