Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons spends the summer determined to be the fastest kid at school, but his plans change when Leslie Burke moves in and speeds past everyone on the track. She's different in almost every way, yet an unlikely friendship quickly forms. They invent Terabithia, a wild imaginary realm they rule as king and queen, filled with invented monsters and challenges that mirror their real lives. Through their games they find courage, comfort, and a private place to test ideas, settle rivalries, and dream beyond their small town limits. Their bond reshapes how they see family, school, and themselves, while both learn more about bravery, loyalty, and growing up. They also face family pressures and school expectations that test their loyalty.

Directed by Gábor Csupó and released in 2007, the film adapts Katherine Paterson's beloved novel. Jeff Stockwell is credited among the writers, and the movie stars Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb in the lead roles and also features Zooey Deschanel.

At the box office the movie attracted family audiences and performed respectably for a literary adaptation. Its mix of everyday drama and imaginative sequences helped it reach readers of the book and new viewers both domestically and abroad across markets.

The film's vivid fantasy scenes, especially the rope-swing entrance to Terabithia and the creatures the children encounter, stuck with audiences. Teachers and parents often reference it when discussing childhood imagination, friendship, and coping with loss, and it's remained a touchstone for family films blending realism with fantasy and classrooms alike.

Critics gave generally positive reviews, and the film holds a 7.304/10 vote average from 5,082 voters in user ratings. Reviewers praised the lead performances and the film's honest look at friendship, social differences, imagination, and the emotional costs that come with growing up. Audiences often highlight Robb and Hutcherson's chemistry.