Over the Hedge
Over the Hedge
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This family animated comedy has a lively, playful tone, with likable animals thrown into fast paced suburban adventures and lots of visual slapstick. The main sensitive content comes from repeated physical threats, chase scenes, animal traps, a bear who is treated as dangerous, and a hostile exterminator and homeowner who create real tension at times. Even so, the film stays highly stylized and cartoony, with no graphic injuries and no heavy emotional darkness, although some younger children may still be unsettled by the speed, noise, and repeated peril. For most children, it becomes easier and more enjoyable around age 6, especially if they already handle mild suspense in animated films. Parents of younger viewers may want to watch along and explain that the danger is exaggerated for comedy, while preparing them for scenes involving the dog, the bear, and the traps.
Synopsis
A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating – and learns a lesson about family himself.
Difficult scenes
At the start of the film, the raccoon steals a sleeping bear's food stash, then the bear wakes up and clearly threatens to kill him if he does not repay the loss. The scene is played for comedy, but the bear is large, loud, and physically intimidating, which may unsettle younger children who are sensitive to predator imagery or angry shouting. Several sequences show the animals stealing food from humans and then being chased by a very excited guard dog. These scenes are fast, noisy, and chaotic, with destruction, falls, and frantic movement that many children will find funny, though they may feel stressful for viewers who dislike sudden pursuit scenes. A hostile neighbor hires an exterminator who sets multiple traps in the yard to catch or hurt the animals, including one device described as especially dangerous. The tone remains cartoony and not realistic, but the idea of traps being used against friendly animals can still be upsetting, especially for children who strongly empathize with animal characters. Around the middle of the story, tension grows within the group as the animals argue, reject one another, and say hurtful things out of fear and mistrust. These moments are brief, but they may affect children who are sensitive to group conflict or to seeing a character feel excluded and misunderstood.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2006
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Studios
- DreamWorks Animation
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
1/5
Mild
Narrative complexity
1/5
Accessible
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This family animated comedy has a lively, playful tone, with likable animals thrown into fast paced suburban adventures and lots of visual slapstick. The main sensitive content comes from repeated physical threats, chase scenes, animal traps, a bear who is treated as dangerous, and a hostile exterminator and homeowner who create real tension at times. Even so, the film stays highly stylized and cartoony, with no graphic injuries and no heavy emotional darkness, although some younger children may still be unsettled by the speed, noise, and repeated peril. For most children, it becomes easier and more enjoyable around age 6, especially if they already handle mild suspense in animated films. Parents of younger viewers may want to watch along and explain that the danger is exaggerated for comedy, while preparing them for scenes involving the dog, the bear, and the traps.
Synopsis
A scheming raccoon fools a mismatched family of forest creatures into helping him repay a debt of food, by invading the new suburban sprawl that popped up while they were hibernating – and learns a lesson about family himself.
Difficult scenes
At the start of the film, the raccoon steals a sleeping bear's food stash, then the bear wakes up and clearly threatens to kill him if he does not repay the loss. The scene is played for comedy, but the bear is large, loud, and physically intimidating, which may unsettle younger children who are sensitive to predator imagery or angry shouting. Several sequences show the animals stealing food from humans and then being chased by a very excited guard dog. These scenes are fast, noisy, and chaotic, with destruction, falls, and frantic movement that many children will find funny, though they may feel stressful for viewers who dislike sudden pursuit scenes. A hostile neighbor hires an exterminator who sets multiple traps in the yard to catch or hurt the animals, including one device described as especially dangerous. The tone remains cartoony and not realistic, but the idea of traps being used against friendly animals can still be upsetting, especially for children who strongly empathize with animal characters. Around the middle of the story, tension grows within the group as the animals argue, reject one another, and say hurtful things out of fear and mistrust. These moments are brief, but they may affect children who are sensitive to group conflict or to seeing a character feel excluded and misunderstood.