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Movie · Comedy, Animated · 2009 · PG

Fantastic Mr. Fox: parents' guide

7+our pick

Best for ages 7 and up. Rated PG for action, smoking and slang humor.

A witty stop-motion caper that works for families with school-age kids, though its deadpan humor often lands best with older kids and adults. Mr. Fox cannot resist one last raid on three nasty farmers, who answer with guns, bulldozers and a flood of cider. Nobody bleeds, but the peril is real: Mr. Fox's tail is shot off, a rat henchman dies after a fight, and a rabid beagle corners the animals. Swear words are replaced with the word 'cuss,' and the farmers drink and smoke. Fine for about 7 and up, especially for kids who handle cartoon guns and chases well.

What's in it

Violence

Moderate

Farmers fire guns, dig out the foxes' home with earthmovers and flood their tunnels with cider. Mr. Fox's tail is shot off and worn as a trophy, chickens are killed offscreen, Mrs. Fox slaps her husband, and a switchblade-carrying rat dies after a fight.

Language

Mild

No real profanity. The animals say 'cuss' in place of swear words ('What the cuss?') as a running joke, a rat calls Mrs. Fox a 'tart,' and there is some name-calling like 'stupid.'

Sex and nudity

Mild

Mr. and Mrs. Fox kiss and hug, a rat flirts with Mrs. Fox and insults her as a 'tart,' and two young foxes start 'going steady,' which makes Mr. Fox's son jealous.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Moderate

Adults drink wine, champagne and alcoholic cider, and one farmer downs jugs of his homemade cider every day. A farmer is rarely without a cigarette, another smokes a big cigar, and Mr. Fox drugs blueberries to knock out guard dogs.

Scary or intense scenes

Moderate

Tense chases and standoffs: farmers lie in wait with guns, the animals are trapped and hungry underground, a rabid beagle charges, a farmer's wife goes after two young foxes with a big knife, and one of them is held captive. None of it is graphic.

Sensitive topics

  • Animal death

Worth talking about

Mr. Fox keeps stealing because it makes him feel like himself, even when it puts his family and neighbors in danger. Ask what he learns about pride, and whether he really changes by the end.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, childrenandmedia.org.au, the MPA, bbfc.co.uk, the-numbers.com. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.