THE WILLOUGHBYS
Inventive animation with a hopeful heart, but adults should watch first.
Should You Watch It?
THE WILLOUGHBYS is inventive, entertaining, and visually strong. Its characters are fun and unique, and the voice cast adds energy throughout. The story also promotes hope, determination, courage, love, forgiveness, and the importance of children sticking together.
But the film’s family circumstances are dark. The parents neglect their children, and the movie repeatedly presents parents in a negative light. Some scary moments and slapstick violence add to the concern. The film briefly loses sight of its premise and drags, though it soon regains momentum.
Adults may find a poignant, hopeful story about children who discover love and belonging beyond their biological home. For family viewing, however, wait until the adults have judged whether its darker material is right for your children.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFour children are born into the famous Willoughby family, a long line of explorers, scientists, poets, and other heroic figures. Their self-centered parents, however, care more about each other than their children.
Tim, Jane, and their twin brothers decide they must create a new life for themselves. Their plans change when a nanny enters their lives, bringing affection, disruption, and the possibility of a different kind of family.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining and well-crafted animated film. THE WILLOUGHBYS has great animation, imaginative characters, and a strong voice cast, including Ricky Gervais as the sarcastic cat narrator, along with Terry Crews, Maya Rudolph, Will Forte, and Martin Short.
The film loses sight of its premise in the middle and drags a little. Still, it soon regains momentum, and its hopeful themes lead to a happy, poignant ending.
The Worldview
THE WILLOUGHBYS presents a strong moral worldview. It celebrates hope, determination, courage, love, forgiveness, friendship, and the choice to remain united even when a family is deeply dysfunctional. A rainbow serves as a sign of hope, and the story ultimately affirms that loving parents can be found beyond biological relationships.
The film also presents a troubling picture of parenthood. The children’s biological parents are selfish and neglectful, leaving the children to establish a new life for themselves. That premise can distort the goodness of family, even though the film eventually points toward care, forgiveness, and belonging.
At its heart, the movie longs for a home where children are known and loved. Scripture points to the God who gives the lonely a home: “God settles the solitary in a home” (Psalm 68:6).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview extols and promotes some moral and redemptive values, including hope, determination, courage, love, and forgiveness, plus a nanny adopts five children, a rainbow is a sign of hope, four children stick together as a family even though their parents don’t treat them well, and they forgive their parents for treating them badly
Foul Language
No foul language, but a baby throws up and a boy wets himself when he gets scared in one scene
Violence
Some slapstick and other violence includes father kicks his son into a coal room, a scary story in a dream, boy sliding down a bannister slows down and then falls down the last few remaining steps twice, children set traps in their house for people looking to buy their house, these people are shocked by electricity and punched by hidden boxing gloves on springs and fall through a trapdoor covered by a rug, an avalanche falls down a mountain and takes out a train, sheltered boy crossing streets causes several vehicle crashes, people almost freeze to death on snowy mountain, an implied shark attack
Sex
No sex but a married couple kisses many times
Nudity
No nudity, but nanny wears a low-cut dress
Alcohol Use
Adults drink wine
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Neglect, stealing, selfishness, lying, trickery, negative portrait of parents, and dysfunctional family.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The children long for parents who will love and care for them. What does Scripture say God does for the vulnerable and lonely?
Psalm 68:5–6 · James 1:27The story values hope even when circumstances are painful. Where do Christians find lasting hope, and how can we practice hope when life is difficult?
Romans 15:13 · Hebrews 10:23The children forgive their parents for treating them badly. What does biblical forgiveness involve, and what does it not require?
Ephesians 4:32 · Colossians 3:13The children remain together as a family. How can your family show love through loyalty, patience, and practical care?
Romans 12:10 · Galatians 6:2The Final Word
THE WILLOUGHBYS offers adults inventive animation, memorable characters, and a hopeful moral heart. Its dark family premise, scary moments, and slapstick violence make it unsuitable for children and young teens without adult judgment. Our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For a gentler family movie night, see.
