Parents' Guide to

The Snowman

By Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Charming, wordless, book-based holiday fable for all ages.

Movie G 1982 26 minutes
The Snowman Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • The Snowman Movie: Scene #1
  • The Snowman Movie: Scene #2
  • The Snowman Movie: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 3+

Based on 8 parent reviews

AddyZ
AddyZ Parent of 7-year-old
September 17, 2022
age 3+

Gentle Beautiful Winter Adventure

I love the animation, the music, and magic of this movie.
scarlettthedragonmaster
scarlettthedragonmaster Adult
December 25, 2020
age 6+

we’re walking in the air

the snowman not to be confused with the horror movie is definitely a classic the animation must have took the makers ages and the song walking in the air is so beautiful and so beautifully made it definitely a Christmas watch every year but as most people know the ending quite bitter
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Raymond Briggs' classic picture book, THE SNOWMAN tells the story of a boy's magical Christmas adventure. After the snowman he builds comes to life in the middle of the night, a young English boy and his new friend explore, starting off inside the boy's house and then moving outside after things get a little too warm. Ultimately, they take flight, soaring over the wintry countryside until they wind up at the North Pole, where they join a festive party with Santa and many other snowmen before heading back home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This is a mostly animated tale that blends whimsy, nostalgia, and holiday magic to create a feel-good fable that viewers of all ages will enjoy. There's an extremely brief live-action intro that sets the main action up as a boyhood flashback.

The Snowman's flickering, broad-strokes animation style truly makes the movie look like a picture book come to life, and the story is simple -- and engaging -- enough that the lack of narration and dialogue doesn't matter a whit, especially since Howard Blake's score is so lovely. Even the youngest kids will be able to follow this tale of friendship, curiosity, and the joy of discovery.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether it matters that The Snowman doesn't have any talking. Do you need words to understand what's going on?

  • What do the boy and the snowman learn from each other? Why do they have so much fun together?

  • Although The Snowman takes place at Christmas, it's not about presents. What else is Christmas about? How does your family celebrate the holidays?

Movie Details

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