Bridge To Terabithia review

Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Don’t be duped by the trailers: Bridge To Terabithia is no Narnia knock-off. If it’s flights of fancy you’re after then there’s plenty to goggle at, but at heart this is an intimate coming-of-ager anchored in the awkward realities of tween-hood. Based on Katherine Paterson’s ’70s tome, it stars Zathura moppet Josh Hutcherson as misfit middle-schooler Jess, whose gloomy life (bullied in class, ignored at home) brightens up with the arrival of tomboy Leslie (AnnaSophia Robb). Friendship blossoms, cemented by woodland larks in a made-up world spiced with magical (alright, CG) riffs on the pair’s daily woes. Smart, sprightly and sensitive, this is like a junior-edition Heavenly Creatures , complete with ace chemistry and tragic twist. Ignore a few sappy songs and you’ve got a winningly grown-up kids’ flick. Icing on the cake? The Weta-powered trips to Terabithia fizz with Jacksonian flair.

The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine. 

Latest in Fantasy Movies
Milla Jovovich in In the Lost Lands
Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin's In The Lost Lands could get an on-screen sequel, and Martin is apparently keen too
Dave Bautista in In the Lost Lands
Dave Bautista says playing a vampire is "at the top of my list" after starring in Resident Evil director’s werewolf fantasy In the Lost Lands
Sean Astin and Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood gives unexpected answer on what movie should be removed from cinematic history: "There's nothing pure about it"
Dave Bautista in In the Lost Lands
Dave Bautista says "I always look to Clint Eastwood" when approaching a western role: "He's always going to be my gold standard"
Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich in In the Lost Lands
After the successes of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich talk pressures of starring in the first George R.R. Martin movie
It looks like the new Lord of the Rings movie Hunt for Gollum has been delayed by a year
Latest in Reviews
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX gaming mouse standing upright on a wooden desk
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 DEX review: "a force to be reckoned with"
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again season 1 review: "There have been far worse Marvel projects, but few as disappointing as this"
RTX 5070 Founders Edition and Asus Prime OC graphics card standing vertical on woodgrain desk next to plant and monitor
No, the RTX 5070 isn’t an RTX 4090 rival, but I’d still call it a solid 4K GPU for under $600
The two characters in Split Fiction dressed in fantasy gear each with a dragon on their back
Split Fiction review: "Cements Hazelight as the master of co-op games"
Acer Nitro V 14 gaming laptop on a wooden desk
Acer Nitro V 14 review: "a solid value proposition… if you can find one"
Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard in a desk setup
Alienware Pro Wireless gaming keyboard review: "a nostalgic return to mechanical form"