Nanny McPhee

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2005

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Mary Poppins meets Shrek: a magically ugly nanny tames wild kids through mystical discipline and life lessons in this 2005 British family film.

74%

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Nanny McPhee

movie

PG, 2005

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Mary Poppins meets Shrek: a magically ugly nanny tames wild kids through mystical discipline and life lessons in this 2005 British family film.

74%

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Screenwise Verdict

Nanny McPhee is a solid, well-intentioned family film that delivers good messages about behavior and family bonds. Emma Thompson is great, the magical elements are fun, and the heart is in the right place.

But let's be real: this is a 2005 British period piece that moves at a glacial pace compared to what kids watch today. The 64% Rotten Tomatoes audience score tells the story—it's fine, but not exactly beloved. Modern kids raised on Pixar and Marvel might struggle to stay engaged with the slower storytelling and old-fashioned aesthetic.

If your kid loves Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, or British children's literature vibes, this could work. But if they're used to faster-paced content, you might hear "this is boring" within 20 minutes. It's a perfectly decent movie that time has made harder to recommend without caveats.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-11 who can handle mild scary imagery and emotional themes about loss. Older kids will likely find it too slow and juvenile; younger kids might be frightened by Nanny McPhee's appearance or confused by the period setting.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic family film that models cooperation, discipline, and family unity. The magical nanny uses mystical powers to teach rambunctious children lessons about kindness and working together. The story centers on a widowed father trying to keep his family together, which is emotionally healthy and age-appropriate. Some mild chaos from the children's behavior, but it's framed as something to be corrected rather than celebrated. The tone is warm and ultimately redemptive.

Imaginative

Features a magical nanny with mystical powers, which invites wonder and fantasy. The premise of behavioral transformation through magic is creative, though the execution is fairly traditional British children's literature fare. Not groundbreaking in its imagination—it's essentially a Mary Poppins derivative—but the magical realism elements and the visual transformation of Nanny McPhee herself (she becomes less ugly as the children improve) offer some creative storytelling. Doesn't particularly invite kids to build or create themselves, more of a passive viewing experience.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7, which is reasonable. As a PG-rated family film, it avoids graphic content, though there are some mildly scary moments (Nanny McPhee's initially frightening appearance with warts and a prominent tooth, some slapstick chaos). The premise involves a widower and dead mother, which could be emotionally heavy for very young viewers but is handled gently. No violence, gore, or inappropriate content. Some mild peril and the threat of family separation creates tension but nothing traumatic. The magical discipline methods (like making a child feel what their sibling feels) might be slightly intense but are clearly fantastical.

Enriching

Delivers clear moral lessons about behavior, empathy, cooperation, and family loyalty. The children learn to work together and appreciate what they have. The film explores themes of grief, family bonds, and personal growth. However, it's fairly didactic and straightforward—the lessons are spelled out rather than subtly woven in. Entertainment value is moderate; the pacing can feel slow by 2025 standards, and the British period setting may feel distant to modern American kids. Solid messages but not particularly deep or nuanced.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Clear, positive messages about cooperation, empathy, and family unity that actually land without being preachy
Emma Thompson's Nanny McPhee is genuinely memorable—part scary, part loving, all magical
Handles the theme of a deceased parent with surprising gentleness and emotional intelligence
The magical realism elements (Nanny getting prettier as kids behave better) are creative and visually interesting
Old-fashioned family film quality that prioritizes story and character over flashy effects

⚠

What to Watch For

Nanny McPhee's initial appearance is intentionally off-putting (warts, snaggleteeth) and might scare younger or sensitive kids
The deceased mother backstory and threat of separating siblings creates real emotional weight—not a light romp
Pacing is slow by 2025 standards; kids used to rapid-fire content might zone out during the quieter moments
British period setting and sensibility may feel foreign or boring to American kids who prefer contemporary stories

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Nanny McPhee got prettier as the children behaved better? What was the movie trying to say?"
"The kids were pretty awful to their dad at first. Why do you think they acted that way?"
"If you could have one magical power like Nanny McPhee, what would you use it for?"
"How do you think the kids felt about losing their mom? Why didn't they talk about it much?"

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Nanny McPhee – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise