The Cat in the Hat

What’s it about?

Two mischievous young siblings spend a chaotic, adventure-filled day with a talking, human-sized tomcat, leading to all sorts of wild escapades and unexpected twists.

The facts 

• Directed by Bo Welch
• Stars Mike Myers, Spencer Breslin, Dakota Fanning, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston, Amy Hill
• English language 
• Runtime: 82 minutes
• Based on the children’s book The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Compared to the original children’s book and many other film adaptations of Dr. Seuss’s stories, The Cat in the Hat includes themes that may feel inappropriate for younger audiences. Due to certain imagery, stereotyping and adult humour, we recommend thinking carefully about whether this film is the right choice for your whānau.

Suicide themes
In one scene, the Cat is tied to a tree with a rope around his waist, suspended like a piñata. For a moment, the angle of the shot makes the setup resemble a hanging, which may evoke associations with suicide. Children then begin hitting him with bats while he swings around in pain. While the scene isn’t explicitly framed as a suicide reference, the visual could be upsetting for viewers.

Sexual references and mature language

This film contains a number of crude jokes – including double meanings, potty humour, and references to bodily functions and sex. These include:

• In a musical scene, the Cat performs in a costume made of fruit, including a bra and hat. He begins to sing about being neutered, but the lyrics are cut off mid-word before anything explicit is said.
• There is a brief shot that shows the Cat’s rear end, though it's computer-generated.
• The Cat reacts excitedly to a photo of a woman, making cartoonish noises and having his hat comically stretch upward, suggesting arousal.
• The Cat watches a woman (Paris Hilton) dance while wearing a short top and mini skirt, revealing her midriff and cleavage.
• The Cat jokingly refers to a garden hoe as a “dirty hoe,” then quickly apologises and says, “I’m sorry baby, I love you,” before attempting to lick it, until he’s interrupted.
• When asked about his origins, the Cat starts to explain using a parody of “the birds and the bees” talk – “When a Mommy cat and a Daddy cat love each other very much…” – but is stopped before he can finish.

Violence and scary scenes

There are several scenes that may frighten younger audiences, including:

• Conrad is thrown by the Cat (not shown where he lands, but it’s implied he lands safely on a couch).
• In the final scene, a house collapses with children inside, though they come out unharmed.
• The Cat pulls out a large knife, jokingly threatens someone, then cuts his own tail (later seen bandaged).
• The Cat is repeatedly hit with bats by children who mistake him for a piñata — including a blow to the crotch that makes him yell.
• A TV clip shows a brawl in Taiwanese Parliament, with shouting and people throwing punches.
• The Cat jokingly threatens the family dog with a garden hoe, saying “Time to die” — though it’s said as a joke rather than seriously.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content, such as suicide themes lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?