 James Berardinelli of ReelViews called "Bridge to Terabithia" "easily the best family feature of the early year".Ann Hornaday of "The Washington Post" praised the script for being "utterly recognizable and authentic", and thought Robb and Hutcherson were "perfectly cast".Hornaday wrote that although the final five minutes succumbed to "oversweet sentiment", viewers would remember the film's "warmth and respect with which it pays homage to first love".