Charlotte's Web

Critics Consensus

Kids will be entertained by the straightforward plot and cute animals, and adults will be charmed by how quiet and humble the production is, a fine translation of E.B. White's genteel prose.

79%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 146

62%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 379,935

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Movie Info

E.B. White's classic children's story comes to the screen in this live-action adaptation with an all-star voice cast. Fern Arable (Dakota Fanning) is a young girl growing up on her family's farm. When a sow gives birth to some piglets, Fern's father (Kevin Anderson) intends to do away with the runt of litter, but Fern has become attached to the little pig and persuades her father to let him live. The pig, named Wilbur (voice of Dominic Scott Kay), becomes Fern's pet, but when he grows larger, he's put in the care of Homer Zuckerman (Gary Basaraba), a farmer down the road. Fern is still able to visit Wilbur regularly, and it soon occurs to both of them that pigs tend to have a limited life expectancy on a farm, and that unless something unusual happens, Wilbur will eventually becomes someone's dinner. Charlotte, a friendly spider, hatches a plan to make Wilbur seem special enough to save by weaving messages about the "terrific" pig into her web, and she soon persuades her barnyard friends to join in her plan. Charlotte is voiced by Julia Roberts, while the other actors who provide the voices of the animals on Zuckerman's farm include Robert Redford, John Cleese, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi, Kathy Bates, Cedric the Entertainer. Thomas Haden Church, and André Benjamin. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Julia Roberts
as Charlotte
Steve Buscemi
as Templeton
John Cleese
as Samuel
Oprah Winfrey
as Gussy
Cedric the Entertainer
as Golly
Kathy Bates
as Bitsy
Reba McEntire
as Betsy
Robert Redford
as Ike
Thomas Haden Church
as Brooks
André Benjamin
as Elsyn
Dominic Scott Kay
as Wilbur
Sam Shepard
as Narrator
Abraham Benrubi
as Uncle
Dakota Fanning
as Fern
Louis Corbett
as Avery
Julian O'Donnell
as Henry Fussy
Essie Davis
as Mrs. Arable
Kevin Anderson
as Mr. Arable
Robyn Arthur
as Teacher
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
as Mrs. Zuckerman
Gary Basaraba
as Homer Zuckerman
Nate Mooney
as Lurvy
Nicholas Bell
as Minister
Beau Bridges
as Dr. Dorian
Teague Rook
as Well Dressed Man
Julia Zemiro
as Bystander
Denise Kirby
as New Teacher
Robert Plazek
as Ball Thrower
Joseph Lotesto
as Young Boy
Michael Roland
as Mayor
Don Bridges
as Announcer
Ian Watkin
as Fair Official
Joel McCrary
as Sheep Group
Brian Stepanek
as Sheep Group
Bradley White
as Sheep Group
Maia Kirkpatrick
as Joy the Baby Spider
Jennessa Rose
as Aranea the Baby Spider
Briana Hodge
as Nellie the Baby Spider
Jane Sibbett
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Critic Reviews for Charlotte's Web

All Critics (146) | Top Critics (45)

  • If you can identify all the voices before the credits roll up, you are a better man than I.

    Feb 9, 2007 | Rating: 3/5

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • It's hard to go wrong with a cute liddle piggy.

    Feb 9, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Andrew Pulver

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • Adult audiences tend to find [Dakota Fanning] rather shrill - witnessing [her] at full shriek is like being attacked by a colony of bats. For this reason, Charlotte's Web is probably one for youngsters only.

    Feb 9, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Wendy Ide

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • If they'd stopped yammering for just a few minutes, White's heartbreaking ending might have retained its poignancy. As it is, it's little more than a blessed relief.

    Feb 9, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Neil Smith

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • Youngsters will warm to the barn's talking animals and perhaps even shed a tear at the sight of a spider shuffling off the mortal coil. Arachnaphobes, though, are advised to approach with caution.

    Feb 8, 2007 | Full Review…

    Derek Adams

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Any tears you may shed will be wholly earned.

    Feb 3, 2007 | Rating: 5/6 | Full Review…

    Joshua Rothkopf

    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (146)

Audience Reviews for Charlotte's Web

  • Jan 30, 2012
    Fun for children and the overly sentimental parents, it's charming in places and the whole family will enjoy it. That being said, as a film it is cliched and really brings nothing new or innovative to an already simplistic story. Worth a worth with kids that haven't seen it before or young enough to want to watch it again but with a slow story and little substance, it's harder to watch repeated viewings as an adult.
    Chris B Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2011
    A worthy adaption of the classic book
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Nov 30, 2011
    Acceptable and Innocent
    Rodrigo R Super Reviewer
  • Jun 30, 2011
    Being a near lifelong fan of Charlotte's Web, I have to give this acclaiming credit for being just a great adaptation of the book. However, there really isn't a wrong way to tell this story. Whatever devices you use, it comes out basically the same, but its still a lot of fun. In this case, the typical star-powered cast, visual pleasers, and great camerawork were said devices. Little Dakota Fanning I will say does make the perfect Fern, its a story where someone like her just belongs.
    Jackson W Super Reviewer
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