FINDING NEMO
An instant family classic with heart, humor and strong moral values.
Should You Watch It?
FINDING NEMO is the kind of family adventure that captures your heart, mind and soul. Its animation is beautiful, its direction is spectacular, and its writing carries great heart and precision. The humor is family-friendly, while the story’s strong moral values make its emotional journey especially meaningful.
At its center is a father determined to find his son, even though fear has made him protective and hesitant. The movie also includes frightening sharks and barracuda, exciting escapes, and a slight off-color pronunciation of “boat.” Those elements are mild within an otherwise exceptionally family-friendly film.
You should see FINDING NEMO on the big screen if you can, and share it with the whole family.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESMarlin is a small clownfish who loves his son, Nemo, and promises never to let anything happen to him. But when Nemo disobeys and investigates a boat, a diver captures him and takes him to a fish tank in Sydney, Australia.
Marlin must overcome his fear of the deep and set out to find his son. Along the way, he is helped by Dory, a fish with short-term memory loss, as they face sharks, minefields, the great Australian current and the open sea.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means FINDING NEMO is an outstanding film and an instant classic. Every second is beautifully animated, and the movie is spectacularly directed and written with great heart and precision.
The story and characters are filled with family-friendly humor, while the emotional center—a father searching for his son—is handled with unusual warmth. The adventure keeps viewers breathless, and the movie’s moral values give its excitement lasting weight.
The Worldview
FINDING NEMO presents a very strong moral worldview, especially through its father-and-son story. Marlin’s love for Nemo drives him to overcome fear and endure danger. The movie also contains redemptive elements, showing the emotional power of courage, love and family devotion.
There are no references to God, but the story includes redemptive allegories and many expressions of “thank goodness.” The film’s moral vision is strongly pro-father and pro-children, and it treats a parent’s love as something worth sacrifice and perseverance. Its humor includes a mild, politically correct reference in the phrase “Fish are friends, not food,” presented as a funny takeoff on Alcoholics Anonymous.
The film’s central longing is for a father and son to be reunited. Scripture likewise calls fathers to cherish and faithfully guide their children: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with particularly strong father elements and redemptive elements; the little fish pronounce the word "boat" as "butt" several times; barracuda kills mother and fish eggs off screen, frightening sea creatures such as sharks and barracuda, exciting escapes, frightening humans, and animated action violence; no sex; no nudity; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Marlin promises to protect Nemo, but his love also makes him fearful. When does protecting someone become overprotecting them?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Proverbs 22:6Marlin has to overcome his fear of the deep to search for his son. What fear might love and faithfulness help you face?
Psalm 56:3–4 · 1 John 4:18The story centers on a father’s love for his child. How does God’s fatherly care help us understand faithful love?
Psalm 103:13 · Matthew 7:9–11The film includes redemptive elements. What does it mean for someone to change through hardship rather than remain controlled by fear?
Romans 5:3–5 · 2 Corinthians 5:17The Final Word
FINDING NEMO is a beautifully made, wonderfully funny adventure with strong moral values and a deeply moving family story. Its mild scares and brief off-color humor do little to diminish its broad appeal. WORTH THE TRIP for viewers of all ages.
