Garfield (2004) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Garfield, the fat, lazy, lasagna lover, has everything a cat could want. But when Jon, in an effort to impress the Liz - the vet and an old high-school crush - adopts a dog named Odie and brings him home, Garfield gets the one thing he doesn't want. Competition.
Rated PG • 2004 • 1h 20m
Garfield (2004) earned its PG rating for mild thematic elements and slapstick action. The film's primary content concerns involve pet peril; the dog Odie is kidnapped by a cruel TV host, Happy Chapman, who uses a painful electric shock collar to force him to perform tricks. The violence is otherwise cartoonish, with pratfalls and chases, and language is limited to one mild curse word. Themes of jealousy, abandonment, and kidnapping are… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Garfield appropriate for kids?
Garfield (2004) earned its PG rating for mild thematic elements and slapstick action. The film's primary content concerns involve pet peril; the dog Odie is kidnapped by a cruel TV host, Happy Chapman, who uses a painful electric shock collar to force him to perform tricks. The… Read more — free account
Content severity in Garfield
What happens in Garfield, moment by moment
- 0:04 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
- 0:16 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:25 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
Sex and nudity in Garfield
Content is very mild. Jon has an obvious crush on the veterinarian, Liz. Near the end of the film, they share a brief, simple kiss. In one scene, Garfield hides under an elderly woman's skirt, with a brief, suggestive line of dialogue that will likely go over the heads of young children.
Violence and gore in Garfield
Moderate but largely cartoonish. Most violence is slapstick, such as Garfield tormenting a neighborhood Doberman, causing a massive mess in the house, or being chased. More intense scenes involve Odie being captured and put in a cage, Garfield being caught by animal control, and the villain threatening Odie with a shock collar. The climax includes characters being zapped by the collar (glowing effect, no injury) and one man punching another in the face.
Language in Garfield
Language is extremely light, limited to a single use of "damned" by the villain, in the phrase "damned cat allergies."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Garfield
None. There is no depiction of alcohol, smoking, or drug use.
Mature themes in Garfield
The film contains moderate themes of pet peril, jealousy, and abandonment. Garfield's intense jealousy of Odie causes him to lock the dog out of the house, leading to Odie getting lost and then kidnapped. The villain's use of a shock collar is a clear depiction of animal cruelty, which may be disturbing for some viewers. Characters are frequently in peril, such as nearly being hit by cars or being captured.
Scary moments in Garfield
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Garfield yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garfield appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Garfield is best for ages 7+. It's rated PG. Garfield (2004) earned its PG rating for mild thematic elements and slapstick action. The film's primary content concerns involve pet peril; the dog Odie is kidnapped by a cruel TV host, Happy Chapman, who uses a…
What age rating does Garfield have?
Garfield is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 7+.
What is Garfield about?
Garfield (2004) earned its PG rating for mild thematic elements and slapstick action. The film's primary content concerns involve pet peril; the dog Odie is kidnapped by a cruel TV host, Happy Chapman, who uses a painful electric shock collar to force him to perform tricks. The violence is otherwise cartoonish, with…
Is there sex or nudity in Garfield?
Content is very mild. Jon has an obvious crush on the veterinarian, Liz. Near the end of the film, they share a brief, simple kiss. In one scene, Garfield hides under an elderly woman's skirt, with a brief, suggestive line of dialogue that will likely go over…
How violent is Garfield?
Moderate but largely cartoonish. Most violence is slapstick, such as Garfield tormenting a neighborhood Doberman, causing a massive mess in the house, or being chased. More intense scenes involve Odie being captured and put in a cage, Garfield being caught by…
Is the language in Garfield appropriate for kids?
Language is extremely light, limited to a single use of "damned" by the villain, in the phrase "damned cat allergies."
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Garfield?
None. There is no depiction of alcohol, smoking, or drug use.
What mature themes appear in Garfield?
The film contains moderate themes of pet peril, jealousy, and abandonment. Garfield's intense jealousy of Odie causes him to lock the dog out of the house, leading to Odie getting lost and then kidnapped. The villain's use of a shock collar is a clear…
How long is Garfield?
Garfield runs 80 minutes, directed by Peter Hewitt, released in 2004.
Where can I read the full Garfield parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.
Parents also checked these movies for 7-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like Garfield with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More comedy movies with parent guides
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- To the Wonder parent guide
- Sibyl parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- The Layover parent guide
- Grand Piano parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Ruby Red parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Don't Worry, I'm Fine parent guide
- Them parent guide
- Lifted parent guide
- The Night Before the Exams parent guide