Is 'Animal Farm' OK for little kids? What parents need to know.
Is 'Animal Farm' OK for little kids? What parents .
Brian Truitt, USA TODAYThu, April 30, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC
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Animated movies with talking animals are a staple of every little movie lover’s entertainment diet. Political satires about revolution and inequality? Not so much.
One of author George Orwell’s most trenchant works, the 1945 allegorical novella “Animal Farm,” gets a new animated film adaptation (in theaters May 1) directed by Andy Serkis and featuring a high-profile voice cast including Gaten Matarazzo, Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, Kathleen Turner and Glenn Close. Don’t go expecting a serious narrative here, though: This new “Farm” carries over some of the original heady themes but it’s much more animals driving Lamborghinis and pigs throwing booze-fueled ragers.
But even with all the chatty critters, is it OK for young children to watch, given the subject matter? Here’s what moms and dads about “Animal Farm.”
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What is 'Animal Farm' about?
Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo) is a young pig whose best friend is workhorse Boxer (Woody Harrelson) in the animated adaptation "Animal Farm."
The movie centers on a young pig on Manor Farm named Lucky (voiced by Matarazzo) who can read and write. When a slaughterhouse van shows up to take Lucky and the other animals away, their leader, the smart sow Snowball (Laverne Cox), leads a revolt that drives out everyone but the animals. Snowball drafts rules to live by, but her rival, the lazy but charismatic boar Napoleon (Rogen), leads his own revolution, taking Lucky under his wing.
After driving Snowball out, Napoleon takes over and creates a power structure where pigs rules. (The motto: "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others.) Napoleon and the other pigs begin to act like man, striking a deal with a wealthy CEO (Close) to help each other out. Lucky sees bad things happening to his former non-pig friends, like good-hearted workhorse Boxer (Harrelson), and leads his own revolt against Napoleon.
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What is 'Animal Farm' an allegory for?
The charismatic Napoleon (voiced by Seth Rogen, center) wins over other beasts in his battle against rival Snowball in "Animal Farm."
Orwell's original "Animal Farm" was a political satire that explored authority, power and corruption through animals that overthrow the human running their farm. But what starts as a utopia where animals can live free and treat each other as equals soon turns sideways, instead becoming a dystopian state where pigs become akin to mankind and things aren't any better than they were at the start of the story.
What is the age rating for the 2026 'Animal Farm' movie?
The film is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association "for thematic elements, some action/violence, rude humor and language." The movie embraces being a talking animals movie that leans toward kids, especially with the antics of Napoleon. "This is the sound of freedom," he says after a loud fart. At the same time, it struggles to also be something more heady, given the themes of totalitarianism. Plus there are quite a few scenes that put characters in peril, and some that strongly imply their death.
Is the 2026 'Animal Farm' movie the same as the book?
The script by Nicholas Stoller ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") keeps some of the bigger plot points of the book but veers in many other ways. Lucky, for one, is a completely new character that acts as the audience point-of-view way into the story. There are a number of modern touches, like the pigs going to the mall and buying sports cars and other human goods, and the ending is completely different.
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Is the 'Animal Farm' movie appropriate for little children?
"Animal Farm" has all the trappings of a kids' movie, with expressive cartoon animals and peppy songs. Yet it's also extremely dark at times: One scene involving Boxer is hard to watch, even for adults. There's also one eerie moment where Lucky sees, in horrific fashion, how there's no real difference between the ruling pigs and cruel humans. (So it's clear someone at least read Orwell's book.) The movie is probably best for 10 years and older: Younger kids might not understand the headier themes at play and likely will be bothered by the cruel way Napoleon and the other pigs treat their fellow four-legged creatures.
Is the new 'Animal Farm' any good?
Snowball (voiced by Laverne Cox) makes a proclamation in "Animal Farm."
A few parents might remember seeing the 1954 animated "Animal Farm" movie that didn't water down the meatier aspects of Orwell's story, maybe even in school. This is not that film. Serkis weaves in the deeper narrative – and almost seems to accidentally say something insightful about authoritarianism – but it's trying way, way too hard to also be a cute kids movie. You can imagine Orwell rolling in his grave when a pop-rap tune plays while Napoleon leads the animals to excitedly eat their winter's reserve of food and grain.
In these divisive times, a watered-down version of something so salient as "Animal Farm" – even a coming-of-age tale for children that leans into the importance of working together – just feels trite and unnecessary. (That it comes from a talented storyteller like Serkis is also head-scratching.) One can only hope that it inspires parents to lead their kids toward the OG book when they're old enough to understand its message.
When does the 'Animal Farm' movie come out?
"Animal Farm" is released in theaters nationwide May 1. For those wanting to watch at home, if it follows a similar pattern as other Angel Studios releases, it will likely be available to see on digital platforms and the Angel Guild streaming service sometime in June.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 'Animal Farm' OK for little kids? A parent's guide
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