A BUG’S LIFE
A fun, courageous family epic of miniature proportions.
Should You Watch It?
Yes. A Bug’s Life is marvelous family filmmaking with a persistent hero, an inventive group of circus bugs, and a rousing, heartwarming finish. It celebrates courage, teamwork, hope, perseverance, community, and individual effort.
The film does include moderate action violence, including threats against ants, bugs being chased by birds, and a child ant being threatened. There is also mild transgender humor, alcohol-like drinking, and some references to magical thinking. The source says these concerns are presented within a story where lying and intolerance are rebuked.
For a funny, visually inventive movie night that encourages courage and standing up for the weak, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFlik is an inventive worker ant whose colony faces extortion from Hopper, a menacing grasshopper who leads a band of grasshoppers demanding food. To protect his fellow ants, Flik enlists a group of circus bugs to help defend the colony against the evil horde.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an outstanding family film. The circus bugs are especially enjoyable, and their interactions with one another and the other characters bring the movie to life.
The computer animation takes another leap forward. Director John Lasseter and his team create an elaborate alternate reality that is fun to watch, while the story builds toward a rousing, heartwarming, funny finish.
The Worldview
The film presents a moderately moral worldview centered on good and evil. It exalts courage, teamwork, hope, perseverance, community, and individual effort through Flik’s decision to stand up for the weak against a bigger, stronger villain.
The story also rebukes lying and intolerance toward someone who does not fit in with the crowd. At the same time, it includes some references to magical thinking from an all-washed-up Mantis. The film’s moral emphasis on courage and defending the vulnerable aligns with a biblical concern for justice, though its references to magical thinking do not belong to a biblical understanding of truth.
Flik’s courage invites families to consider the strength God gives those who face fear: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Moderately moral worldview of good & evil; no foul language; moderate action violence including grasshoppers threaten ants to collect food for them, ant hits rock, circus bugs accidentally scorch flea, birds chase bugs to eat them in several scenes, & evil grasshopper hits ants & threatens child ant; no sex though mild transgender humor about male Ladybug; no nudity; bugs drink alcohol-like drinks in bar settings & mean grasshoppers drink alcohol-like drinks in saloon with Mexican flavor; and, lying rebuked, some references to magical thinking from an all-washed-up Mantis & rebuked intolerance for someone who doesn’t fit in with the crowd.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Flik stands up for weaker members of his community. When have you seen courage used to protect someone vulnerable?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Psalm 82:3–4The film celebrates teamwork and individual effort. How can a family or community work together without overlooking each person’s contribution?
1 Corinthians 12:12–27 · Ecclesiastes 4:9–10The story rebukes intolerance toward someone who does not fit in. What does it look like to welcome people who are different from us?
Romans 15:7 · James 2:1–4The film presents lying as wrong. Why does truth matter, especially when telling the truth is difficult?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The Final Word
A funny, heartwarming adventure with excellent animation and a strong message about courage, teamwork, and community, A Bug’s Life is WORTH THE TRIP for families of all ages.
