Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that The Indian in the Cupboard is a tender and compelling fantasy about friendship and compassion that tweens will thoroughly enjoy. It does have some potentially upsetting moments: the 9-year-old boy grieves when he brings an aging figure to life who subsequently suffers a fatal coronary. Little Bear (the Indian in the title) explains that he is mourning his wife. Both Little Bear and Boone (a cowboy) explain to Omri that it is time for them to find wives and have children. Little Bear and Boone fight before becoming friends and one scene shows a violent massacre of Native Americans on TV, which causes Little Bear to shoot Boone with an arrow, though he later recovers.
Sexual
Content
Brief glimpse of Motley Crue music video "Girls" with gyrating, scantily clad women. Boone makes a slightly lascivious comment. Discussion about Little Bear's need for a wife.
Violence
Little Bear and Boone duel with guns and arrows on their first encounter. By accident, the cowboy Boone is shot in the chest with an arrow, though he later recovers. An older Indian dies from an apparent heart attack when brought to life by Omri's magic cupboard. Omri is accosted by a bigger boy who takes his money. Little Bear must go beneath the floorboards where a rat lives. The rat lunges, but is soon captured. Disturbed by his brothers' presence in his room, Omri lashes out by kicking their pet rat.
Language
"Hell," "damn," and "ass" occasionally used by adults.
Social
Behavior
Little Bear helps Omri learn that friendship, responsibility, and sacrifice are part of being independent.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Not applicable