What age is Ferdinand appropriate for?

Ferdinand is rated PG and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 6+, based on reading the actual screenplay. Young children may be unsettled by the scene where Ferdinand discovers a wall of 53 swords representing bulls killed in the ring, and by the moment he realizes his father never returned from the bullfighting arena.

Does Ferdinand have swearing or bad language?

Ferdinand has Mild language. Characters say 'hell/heck' (3 times), 'damn/dammit' (2 times), 'crap' (1 time), 'wimp' (1 time), 'sucks' (1 time), and 'numpty/dummkopf' (2 times).

Is Ferdinand violent?

Ferdinand has Mild violence. Young bulls headbutt and roughhouse together during playful training, played for laughs with no injury.

Is Ferdinand scary for children?

Ferdinand has Moderate scary scenes. As a calf, Ferdinand escapes the ranch while ranch hands chase him, creating a tense but not frightening sequence.

What is the parents guide for Ferdinand?

Ferdinand (2017) is rated PG. PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 6+. Violence: Mild. Language: Mild. Scary scenes: Moderate. Romance: Very Mild. Substances: Very Mild. Watch recommendation: Fine alone — Content is appropriate for children 6+ to watch independently, though parents of sensitive kids under 6 may want to be nearby during the sword-wall discovery scene and the tense arena finale.

Is Ferdinand OK for Kids?

Name: Ferdinand
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Genre: Animation, Family, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 2017
Duration: 108 min
Cast: John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Anthony Anderson, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning

AnimationFamilyAdventureComedy

PG⭐ 6.7 / 102017 · 1h 48m

Carlos Saldanha

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

Rent

Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Young bulls headbutt and roughhouse together during playful training, played for laughs with no injury.
Ferdinand playfully pushes Angus into a barrel during training in a comedic, cartoonish moment.
An extended escape sequence shows bulls jumping, running, and colliding as they flee, followed by a chase through Madrid streets with vehicles pursuing them and a citywide stampede.
The film references '53 swords on the wall,' implying that many bulls have died in past bullfights, though this is never shown on screen — only discussed as a discovery Ferdinand makes.
The arena climax has Ferdinand facing matador El Primero in a tense standoff that resolves through dancing and dodging rather than actual combat; no one is harmed.
Overall tone is comedic and adventure-driven, with peril implied rather than graphically depicted.

💬Language

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Characters say 'hell/heck' (3 times), 'da**/dammit' (2 times), 'cr*p' (1 time), 'wimp' (1 time), 'sucks' (1 time), and 'numpty/dummkopf' (2 times).
All language is mild, schoolyard-level name-calling and exclamations rather than profanity.
No f-words, s-words, or slurs of any kind are present in the script.

👻Scary Scenes

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

As a calf, Ferdinand escapes the ranch while ranch hands chase him, creating a tense but not frightening sequence.
Ferdinand realizes his father never returned from the bullfighting ring — a quietly startling emotional gut-punch rather than a jump scare.
Ferdinand discovers a wall of 53 swords representing bulls killed in past fights, a genuinely unsettling moment likely to disturb younger viewers who grasp its implication.
Guapo becomes trapped on a conveyor belt heading toward a chop house, a scary sequence that is resolved when he is rescued.
The arena finale, where Ferdinand faces El Primero with a crowd expecting violence, is tense but defused peacefully through Ferdinand's refusal to fight.
All scary moments are resolved safely with no lasting harm to characters.

💕Romance

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Nina, a young girl, forms a caring, innocent bond with young Ferdinand on the farm — friendship rather than romance.
In the final scene, Lupe the goat makes a lighthearted comment calling Ferdinand 'handsome,' a brief comedic crush moment.
No kissing, dating, or romantic relationships between human or bull characters occur; nothing sexual is implied or shown.

🍺Substances

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

The only substance-adjacent reference is when Lupe the goat vomits near Ferdinand, described in dialogue as 'regurgitation.'
This is played entirely for comedic, gross-out effect rather than depicting any drug or alcohol use.
There is no actual alcohol, drug, or tobacco use in the film.

⚡Stimulation

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

A high-energy dance battle between bulls and horses features upbeat music and lively choreography.
An intense escape and chase sequence through Madrid involves multiple bulls, vehicles, and quick action beats.
The arena bullfighting finale combines crowd noise, music, and fast movement, though it resolves peacefully rather than violently.
Sensory-sensitive children may find the chase/stampede sequences a bit much, though nothing reaches chaotic sensory overload.

Ferdinand — Heads Up for Parents

Despite its light animated tone, the discovery of the wall of 53 swords representing bulls killed in past fights is a surprisingly somber and mature moment that may prompt questions from younger children about death and bullfighting.

About Ferdinand

Ferdinand tells the story of a gentle, flower-loving bull who is mistaken for a ferocious fighting bull and swept into the world of Spanish bullfighting. Rather than embrace violence, Ferdinand chooses kindness and non-violence, ultimately winning over a hostile crowd by dancing instead of fighting. It's a family-friendly animated comedy with heart, humor, and light peril.

✅

Fine for kids to watch alone

Content is appropriate for children 6+ to watch independently, though parents of sensitive kids under 6 may want to be nearby during the sword-wall discovery scene and the tense arena finale.

Family Takeaways from Ferdinand

What it gets right

✓The film models conflict resolution through kindness rather than violence, most clearly in Ferdinand's choice to dance rather than fight El Primero in the arena finale.
✓It shows empathy in action through small moments, like Ferdinand comforting Bones about his size and helping Angus find courage to face his fears.

Ferdinand Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The film emphasizes family bonds and loyalty throughout, including Ferdinand's connection to his father and his found family of farm animals who ultimately accept each other on the farm.

Cast:John CenaKate McKinnonAnthony AndersonBobby CannavalePeyton Manning