Big Fish – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Big Fish

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2003

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Tim Burton's visually gorgeous tall-tale about a dying dad whose wild stories finally help his skeptical son understand him—tissues required.

8/10

76%

→

Big Fish

movie

PG-13, 2003

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Tim Burton's visually gorgeous tall-tale about a dying dad whose wild stories finally help his skeptical son understand him—tissues required.

76%

Jump to

Also rated on

8/10

76%

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Big Fish is genuinely good—visually stunning, emotionally intelligent, and thematically rich. Burton made something beautiful about storytelling, mortality, and understanding your parents as flawed, fascinating humans.

That said, it's not an easy watch for families with younger kids. The cancer/death theme is omnipresent, there's brief nudity, and the pacing is 2003-deliberate, which means modern kids raised on TikTok and Marvel might find it draggy. But for the right age (12+) and the right moment (maybe not right after a family loss), it's genuinely enriching.

The 89% audience score tells you this resonates—people remember it fondly. It's one of Burton's most emotionally mature films, trading his usual gothic darkness for something warmer and more hopeful. If your teen is ready for thoughtful, slower cinema that asks real questions about truth and memory, this delivers.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12-16 who can handle death themes and appreciate slower, more contemplative storytelling. Younger kids will be bored; older teens might find it a bit sentimental but could still connect with the father-son dynamics.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Tim Burton's fantasy-drama balances whimsy with genuine emotion, exploring father-son relationships and the power of storytelling. Models reconciliation and understanding, though some emotional intensity around death and strained family dynamics may be heavy. The fantastical tall tales are told with warmth rather than cynicism, celebrating imagination and love even when imperfect.

Imaginative

Exceptionally creative blend of magical realism and Southern Gothic storytelling. Features giants, witches, circus performers, a town called Spectre, and impossibly large fish—all woven through a dying man's embellished life stories. Burton's visual style is distinctive and dreamlike, inviting viewers to consider how stories shape our understanding of people and truth. The central conceit—separating fact from fiction in someone's life—is inherently thought-provoking.

Safe

PG-13 territory with some significant caveats. The entire narrative revolves around a father dying of cancer, which is emotionally heavy and present throughout. Contains brief nudity (a woman in a bathtub, tastefully shot but visible), some adult themes including infidelity subplot, and a few intense/scary moments (the witch's glass eye showing deaths). No graphic violence or gore, but the death theme is pervasive and could be triggering for kids dealing with loss. Common Sense Media's age 12 recommendation seems appropriate.

Enriching

Rich thematic content about storytelling, memory, father-son relationships, and how we construct identity through narrative. Raises meaningful questions about truth versus myth, the stories we tell ourselves, and reconciling with parents as flawed humans. Strong performances (Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Billy Crudup) and Burton's visual storytelling offer aesthetic education. The emotional payoff—son finally understanding his father through stories—provides genuine insight into empathy and acceptance. High audience scores (89% RT, 8.0 IMDb) suggest it resonates emotionally.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely beautiful exploration of how stories shape relationships and memory—kids learning to see parents as full humans will get a lot from this
Burton's visual imagination is firing on all cylinders: giants, magical towns, impossible fish, circuses—it's a feast for the eyes
Strong emotional payoff that models reconciliation and empathy without being saccharine
High audience ratings (89% RT, 8.0 IMDb) suggest it genuinely connects across ages
Celebrates imagination and storytelling as meaningful rather than dismissing them as lies

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire movie is about a father dying of cancer—it's not graphic but it's constant and emotionally heavy
Brief nudity (woman in bathtub, tastefully shot) and some adult relationship complexity including infidelity subplot
Some scary/intense moments for younger viewers (witch's glass eye, dark imagery)
Pacing is deliberate and contemplative—2003 storytelling rhythm may test patience of kids raised on Marvel

Conversation Starters

"Do you think it matters whether all of Dad's stories were true? Why or why not?"
"What's a story about our family that might sound made-up but is actually real?"
"Why do you think Will was so frustrated with his dad's storytelling?"
"If you could tell one 'tall tale' about your own life, what would you exaggerate?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Big Fish? Put this WISE score on your site