Coraline (Movie Review)

Updated Nov 4, 2025

Is Coraline too scary for kids?

Coraline is PG for a reason. It’s spooky, not sweet. Between the button eyes, eerie parents, and dark stop-motion world, some moments get intense. Most kids 9+ who like creepy stories will be fine, but younger ones might find it too much.

Directed by Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), Coraline tells the story of a young girl (Dakota Fanning) who through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life, only much better. But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit parents (including Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) try to keep her forever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home, and save her family.

Selick’s Distinctive Animation Style

Selick’s animated style is almost smooth enough to be mistaken for CGI, but there’s a texture to the approach that betrays it as being a little more labor intensive. Kids likely won’t notice the difference, but adults will appreciate that the movie doesn’t feel like a generic clone of the animated product that studios are pumping out with regularity. Selick’s bizarre streak is given ample opportunity to be on display. His tendencies to favor gothic backdrops and to develop his characters in such a way that they look like they have emerged from an Edward Gorey illustration makes the film potentially intense for young, nightmare-prone children. This is the basis for the PG (not G) rating.

Strong Performances and Engaging Plot

The plot is interesting enough to involve viewers of all ages. Despite the incorporation of familiar elements, it provides some surprises and the narrative trajectory is not predictable from start to finish. The vocal characterizations, mostly provided by actors without distinctive voices, are strong. Dakota Fanning makes the young heroine instantly likeable and Teri Hatcher has no difficulty with aspects of her role that force her into Wicked Witch territory. Selick may have incorporated a little of Fanning and Hatcher’s looks into their animated counterparts, although nothing is overt.

A Fable for All Ages

Like all effective fables, Coraline isn’t only for children, although it would, I suspect, work as a bed-time story. One of my biggest problems with many animated movies is that they are pitched at an intellectual level below me, but I didn’t feel that way about Coraline. The film has been crafted with a consideration that the best family movies appeal not only to a young target audience but to the parents who accompany their offspring to theaters. And, while the 3D experience may make Coraline a little more eye-catching, it is by no means mandatory for those wishing to enjoy what this visually intriguing production has to offer.

Where to watch Coraline (2009)

Coraline is currently available to stream or rent:

• Streaming: Tubi, Pluto
• Digital: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play
• Disc: Blu-ray, DVD

Tip: if it’s not included in your subscription, rent in HD from Apple/Amazon.

FAQ

Q1: What age is Coraline suitable for?
A: Most children 9 and older who enjoy spooky fantasy stories should handle Coraline fine, though sensitive viewers might find it intense.

Q2: What is Coraline’s message?
A: The film reminds kids that bravery and gratitude matter more than wishing for a “perfect” family or life.

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