What age is We Bought a Zoo appropriate for?

10 alone, 9 with a parent; 8 in France. The whole movie, watched in full: what's in it, and how to talk about it with your child.

Why is We Bought a Zoo not recommended under 10?

What's in it: a dead mother, an angry son; dangerous animals, a sick tiger; about ten swear words. The detail, fact by fact, is in the zinema guide, which reads the work itself (images, sound, dialogue).

zinema · movies · what age

We Bought a Zoo: what age is it for? 10 alone, 9 with a parent

10 alone, 9 with a parent.

Movie · 2011 · 2 h 03 · drama, comedy, family

YRS

The trailer

Alone, or with you

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not yetwith an adult, or to talk about afteralonethe sweet spot

Alone from 10; from 9, with an adult or by talking about it afterwards.

The sweet spot: around 10-11, when you have lost someone or know someone who has, and you like animals. Why a sweet spot?

In France, zinema would say 8.

Watch the trailerContinue in zinemathen where to watch it, in zinema · more trailers, and where to watch films · Where to stream itWhere to watch

What it's about

Benjamin has lost his wife and, in a bid to start his life over, purchases a large house that has a zoo – welcome news for his daughter, but his son is not happy about it. The zoo is in need of renovation and Benjamin sets about the work with the head keeper and the rest of the staff, but, the zoo soon runs into financial trouble.

Why 10

A dead mother, an angry sonThe mother died six months before the film begins; the fourteen-year-old son draws dark things, gets expelled from school and argues violently with his father. A little girl who reassures everyone.
Dangerous animals, a sick tigerAn escaped bear, a tiger that must be put down, rifles just in case; screams of fear, a growl. Nothing bloody.
About ten swear wordsMild swearing in English, seven swear words in French; a teenage kiss, beer.

What the movie brings

A film about grief for the whole family, where you laugh as much as you cry.
The line about twenty seconds of courage, which children remember.
Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson in a true story, that of Dartmoor Zoo.

Watching it together

Before

Say beforehand that the mum is dead and that the tiger dies too; the tears come, and everything ends well.

After

at 10 and up

The father says that sometimes twenty seconds of courage are enough: when have you needed them?

See the facts

Creature, monster, strong villain●●● · suggestedmeasured

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A weapon shown or used●●○ · suggestedmeasured

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Abandonment, separation, confinement●●○ · shownmeasured

Alcohol●●○ · saidmeasured

Alcohol●●○ · shownmeasured

Density of dialogue●●○ · shownmeasured

Frightening imagery●●○ · shownmeasured

Humor●●○ · shownmeasured

Kissing, romantic gestures●●○ · shownmeasured

Smoking●●○ · shownmeasured

Swearing●●○ · shownmeasured

Tense music or sound●●○ · shownmeasured

Visible injury, blood●●○ · saidmeasured

Creature, monster, strong villain●○○ · shownmeasured

Death of a character●○○ · shownmeasured

Fighting, brawls●○○ · shownmeasured

Insults, hurtful words●○○ · shownmeasured

Jump scares●○○ · shownmeasured

Mental distress, depression, anxiety●○○ · saidmeasured

Visible injury, blood●○○ · shownmeasured

For the same age, on zinema

Tenzing 10, 9 with a parent
A Minecraft Movie 9, 8 with a parent
KPop Demon Hunters 8, 7 with a parent
Coyote vs. Acme 8, 7 with a parent

The latest guides

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A zinema reading from September 20, 2026 · the whole movie, watched in full · the age by zinema's rules for the US and France, and a human reading · report an error · how this guide is made