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Avg. Critic Score: 83 out of 100 Universal acclaim Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
6 OK for kids 6+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Stack

    The all-time great talking-pig movie, a lovely, intelligent gem of G-rated entertainment that is also rib-tickling funny. Read full review

  • 100
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    A witty, stylish, beautifully made charmer of a family picture. Read full review

  • 90
    Washington Post | Desson Thomson

    A hilarious fantasy, about a plucky piglet that learns how to tend sheep, Babe is a barnyard charmer. Read full review

  • 90
    Los Angeles Times | Kenneth Turan

    That rare movie that completely fulfills its admittedly modest aims. Read full review

  • 88
    USA Today | Susan Wloszczyna

    Babe, a live-action fable about a valiant pig who conquers prejudice like a barnyard Jackie Robinson, is in a league of its own when it comes to enchantment. Read full review

  • 80
    Washington Post | Rita Kempley

    A captivating comic allegory about daring to be different in the face of conformity. Read full review

  • 80
    Variety |

    The achievement here is a thoroughly compelling story in which the underlying technological razzle-dazzle never intrudes. Read full review

  • 80
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    The movie maintains a refreshingly light touch in spinning a fable about individualism and conformity. Read full review

  • 78
    Austin Chronicle | Marc Savlov

    Perhaps one of the cutest children's films ever made. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    A movie made with charm and wit, and unlike some family movies it does not condescend, not for a second. Read full review

View more reviews for Babe on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 6+ Heartwarming farm story is touching and a bit scary.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this live-action farm tale is widely considered one of the best family films of all time. However, unlike animated films, in which violence can be dismissed as make-believe, some of the violence on the farm may frighten younger viewers. One scene, in which wild dogs attack the sheep and kill one, is particularly intense and disturbing. The reality of why animals are bred is mentioned again and again (Christmas is equated to a blood bath, because of all the animals slaughtered to end up on a dinner table). But at its core, this is a tale of perseverance, friendship, and making your dreams come true.
  • Families can talk about what life on a farm might really be like. Which animals live on farms? Do you think they interact with each other the way the animals do here? What other movies have talking farm animals?
  • How would this movie be different if it were animated? Why do you think animation changes the way we experience a movie?
The good stuff
  • educationalvalue true2 Educational value: Kids will learn how life on a farm works, and what usually happens to animals bred on a farm – they become our food. The way dogs herd sheep is also taught.
  • message true3 Positive messages: There are so many wonderful messages in the movie. Babe isn’t born a sheepdog, but he is brought up by one, works hard to learn how to herd sheep and becomes the best herder on the farm. Kids will learn that just because you don’t look like you can do something doesn’t mean you can’t do it anyway. The idea that family is who raises you not just who gives birth to you is a good lesson for those who are or know adopted children. This movie may make some kids interested in becoming vegetarians because of how lovable Babe is in the story.
  • rolemodels true2 Positive role models: Both the farmer, who is a just and kind man, despite his stern exterior, and Babe, who works incredibly hard at becoming a diligent “sheepdog” are good role models for children. Babe is also never discriminatory against any animals, which is a valuable lesson in battling prejudice.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: A pack of wild dogs attack sheep and kill one named Ma; she’s shown with a bloody wound before she dies. Audiences know a duck is being slaughtered, but the actual killing isn’t visible. There are many references to slaughtering and how animals wind up as food on dinner tables. The farmer almost shoots Babe, mistakenly believing him to be responsible for the sheep’s death. Some scenes may scare very young children but probably not older kids, like when a piglet and puppies are taken away from their mothers or when Babe walks around in the dark slaughterhouse. Two dogs fight and one bites a man’s hand. A dog also tries to bite Babe.
  • language false1 Language: Several insults are hurled, like “butt-head,” “block-head,” “shut-up,” “moron” and “stupid.”
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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