Dickens & Rumi
Cover of The Borrowers

film

The Borrowers

1998

The four-inch-tall Clock family secretly share a house with the normal-sized Lender family, "borrowing" such items as thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. However, their peaceful co-existence is disturbed when evil lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will granting title to the house, which he plans to demolish in order to build apartments. The Lenders are forced to move, and the Clocks face the risk of being exposed to the normal-sized world.

Ages 7+Source checked

Why this age? Mild fantasy danger, chase sequences, threatening villains, and family separation themes may unsettle younger children; violence is mostly comic and consequences are limited. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age7+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Violence2/5
  • Alcohol or drugs1/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Ordinary household goods are part of the plot, but the film does not strongly promote real products or purchasing.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Mild insults and occasional name-calling typical of family films.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Very light friendship-based connection between the young human and Arrietty.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Some scenes of characters being hunted, trapped, or facing destruction of their home may cause minor distress.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

No significant substance use.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Comic fantasy peril includes chases, falls, threats, traps, and confrontations; violence is mild and rarely causes lasting harm.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters face powerful adversaries and serious threats to their home with persistence, ingenuity, and loyalty.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The miniature world, inventive uses of household objects, and problem-solving strongly encourage imaginative play and curiosity.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may prompt curiosity about household systems and perspective-taking, but teaching is incidental rather than an intent.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Strong theme of cross-species kindness between a human boy and the borrowers.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Emphasizes family loyalty, cooperation, resourcefulness, home, and standing up to exploitation and greed.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters exhibit bravery, resourcefulness, and protectiveness toward their family.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in The Borrowers would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Borrowers, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community reactions

What families noticed

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

Where to watch or buy

Buy or rent on AmazonFind on JustWatch

As an Amazon Associate, Dickens & Rumi may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Report an incorrect rating