Honey I Shrunk The Kids – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Honey I Shrunk The Kids

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1989

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kids get accidentally shrunk to ant-size and must survive the backyard jungle while Dad frantically searches—'80s effects included.

6.4/10

76%

6.3

→

Honey I Shrunk The Kids

movie

PG, 1989

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Kids get accidentally shrunk to ant-size and must survive the backyard jungle while Dad frantically searches—'80s effects included.

6.4

76%

6.3

Jump to

Also rated on

6.4/10

76%

6.3

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

This is a nostalgia trip for parents who grew up in the '90s, and the premise genuinely holds up—reimagining your backyard as a dangerous wilderness is still cool. The problem? It's 1989, and it shows. The pacing drags, the effects look quaint, and kids raised on modern blockbusters may struggle to stay engaged.

That said, if your kid can handle some legitimate scares (that scorpion scene is no joke) and appreciates a slower build, there's real imagination here. It models sibling cooperation, creative problem-solving, and has wholesome family dynamics. Just don't expect it to compete with their usual watch list—this is more 'rainy Sunday afternoon with low expectations' than 'movie night main event.'

The WISE score reflects both its genuine creative merits and the reality that it's a 35-year-old movie that feels every bit of its age.

Age Fit

Best for kids 7-12 who can handle some genuine scares and slower '80s pacing. Younger kids may find the peril too intense, while teens will likely find it dated and corny.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic family adventure with positive sibling dynamics and neighborhood cooperation. Kids work together to survive their predicament, and the father desperately searches for them. Some mild peril and tension, but overall emotionally healthy with themes of family bonds and perseverance. The tone is lighthearted despite the danger.

Imaginative

The core concept—shrinking to insect-size and experiencing the backyard as a vast, dangerous wilderness—is genuinely creative and sparked playground imagination for a generation. Everyday objects become massive obstacles, a Lego brick is a building, grass blades are trees. The film invites kids to reimagine their own world from a different scale.

Safe

Generally safe for family viewing with some caveats. There are moments of genuine peril (giant insects, lawn mower scene, near-drowning) that can be intense for younger or sensitive kids. A scorpion attack is particularly scary. No gore, nudity, or inappropriate content, but the tension and 'almost deaths' are real. PG-appropriate but parents should know it has legitimate scares.

Enriching

Sparks curiosity about scale, science, and problem-solving. The kids must use ingenuity to survive (riding a bee, building shelter). There's a light science-inventor thread, though not deeply educational. More entertainment than enrichment, but does encourage creative thinking about perspective and resourcefulness. The father's scientific mishap offers a 'be careful what you invent' angle.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The premise is genuinely imaginative—seeing the everyday world from insect-scale perspective sparked countless backyard adventures for '90s kids
Encourages sibling cooperation and resourcefulness as the teens work together to survive
Wholesome family dynamics with a well-meaning (if bumbling) inventor dad trying to fix his mistake
The practical effects and miniature sets, while dated, have a tangible charm that CGI sometimes lacks

⚠

What to Watch For

Several legitimately scary moments: a scorpion attack, the infamous lawn mower scene, and near-drowning that can frighten younger or sensitive kids
The pacing and effects are very 1989—modern kids raised on Marvel and Pixar may find it slow or 'old-looking'
Some mild peril throughout as the kids face giant insects, getting swept away, and almost being eaten
The 93-minute runtime might feel long for kids used to faster-paced content

Conversation Starters

"If you were shrunk to the size of an ant, what in our house would be the most dangerous? The most fun?"
"The kids had to work together even though they didn't all get along at first—what made them start helping each other?"
"What would you try to invent if you had a science lab like the dad? What could go wrong?"
"Which was scarier to you—the scorpion or the lawn mower scene? Why?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic