Parents' Guide to

Charlotte's Web (2006)

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Enchanting take on a beloved children's classic.

Movie G 2006 97 minutes
Charlotte's Web (2006) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Stuart Little</i></a>. They'll also learn from Charlotte what a "Magnum Opus" is.</p> ">
  • Charlotte's Web (2006) Movie: Scene #1
  • Charlotte's Web (2006) Movie: Scene #2
  • Charlotte's Web (2006) Movie: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 32 parent reviews

liz_led12
liz_led12 Parent of 5-year-old
August 28, 2022
age 7+

A hard lesson to learn. Only appropriate for children who have learned what meat is...

Very sad - had me choked up. Not because the spider dies but because of the overall message of the circle of life. I think this movie is only appropriate for children who have learned about where meat comes from. The opening scene for instance features the farmer grabbing an axe to take to the adorably portrayed piglet because he is the runt of the litter. Charlotte is a good role model, she is brave and a great friend, though her death is quite confronting and sudden, which is hard because she has at that point become a close friend to the pig. Film at times portrays humans as ignorant and foolhardy.
annabelton
annabelton Adult
July 1, 2020
age 4+

We love Wilbur

This movie has a sad part but it’s a beautiful story about friendship. Kids who like animals will love it.
See all 32 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this adaptation of E.B. White's 1952 Newbery Award-winning book, CHARLOTTE'S WEB, barnyard animals are reluctant to befriend Wilbur, who's fated to be served up as the humans' Christmas dinner. But Wilbur (voiced by 10-year-old Dominic Scott Kay) is so sweet, curious, and affable that they're soon won over. And Charlotte A. Cavatica (Julia Roberts), the spider who spins her webs in the barn doorway, decides to find a way to save Wilbur's life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32 ):
Kids say (32 ):

Here's a welcome surprise: A children's movie that's thoughtful, entertaining, and enchanting. This newest big-screen version of Charlotte's Web, based on E.B. White's 1952 Newbery Award-winning book mixes performances by real-life actors and animals with animated mouths, slipping gracefully into the world of the barnyard without ever doubting its magic. Whether you're new to the story or already adore the book, Gary Winick's movie is a special treat.

The one questionable lesson offered by Charlotte's Web is that embodied by Fern. A tomboy through and through, she worries her mother (to the point that she visits a doctor, trying to understand why her daughter spends so much time with the farm animals). When Fern at last abandons her overalls for a pretty yellow dress, Mom (Essie Davis) feels reassured. But the film needn't offer this transformation as a sign of Fern's "proper" socialization. Really, tomboys can be mature too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can discuss the importance of words and their role in Charlotte's Web. How are words important for communicating, even between species? How do they help shape our impressions of others?

  • How do the animals come to see one another as friends, even though at first they're put off by their differences?

  • If you've read the book, how does the movie compare to what you imagined in your head?

  • How do the characters in Charlotte's Web demonstrate compassion and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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