What we flagged
View all categories
Our take
A girl grieving her parents finds a hidden garden and a way back toward other people. The Secret Garden is gentle for much of its running time, though the old house can feel eerie and there is a trapped dog and a fire near the end. We would start around 8, especially for a child sensitive to loss.
Uplifting themes
Friendship, kindness, and caring for nature help three lonely people heal. The film shows how fresh air, play, and honest talk can help children feel braver Mary is stubborn at first but grows warmer and braver, and she helps her cousin step outside. The adults slowly learn to listen and show love Shows gardening and plant growth through the seasons and touches on a folktale from India, with a gentle look at how living things recover
Story (may spoil tone)
Mary Lennox is born in India to wealthy British parents who never wanted her. When her parents suddenly die, she is sent back to England to live with her uncle. She meets her sickly cousin, and the two children find a wondrous secret garden lost in the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor.
Details
Violence A dog's paw is caught in a steel trap, and we hear it whimper before th…
A dog's paw is caught in a steel trap, and we hear it whimper before the girl frees it and a little blood shows. A girl tumbles over a fence, and a house fire near the end sends characters coughing out of it
Frightening Mary loses her parents early on, then wanders a huge dark house at nigh…
Mary loses her parents early on, then wanders a huge dark house at night and hears strange cries. The trapped dog and the late house fire may upset younger children, though everyone ends up safe
Child peril / abuse Mary is left alone in a strange country, and a sick boy is kept shut aw…
Mary is left alone in a strange country, and a sick boy is kept shut away in his room. Both are looked after by the end, but their loneliness is clear
Gore / death / weapons A little blood shows on the dog's paw after the trap, and early talk of…
A little blood shows on the dog's paw after the trap, and early talk of death and war stays in words only. Nothing else bloody is shown, and the dog recovers well
Mental health Mary and her cousin start out lonely and fearful, and the cousin believ…
Mary and her cousin start out lonely and fearful, and the cousin believes he is too ill to ever go outside. Their worries ease as they learn to trust each other and care for the garden
Grief / bereavement Mary's parents die early in the story, and her uncle is still lost in m…
Mary's parents die early in the story, and her uncle is still lost in mourning for his late wife. The sadness is handled gently and moves toward healing
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
What other parents think.
Be the first family to leave a watch note.
Talk after watching
- Mary starts out stubborn and lonely. What helped her change, and who helped her most?
- The garden seems to heal the people around it. Why do you think looking after something living can make us feel better?
Ask ClearAge
The Secret Garden
Ask about this guide, or name another film to open its ClearAge page.
