Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

Year: 2010

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: English

Director: Susanna White

FantasyComedyFamily

Magic returns as Nanny McPhee arrives at a farm where a harried mother holds the house while her husband fights overseas. She finds the children locked in a battle with two spoiled city cousins who have just moved in. With a flying motorcycle, a living statue, a piglet and a baby elephant, Nanny uses enchantments to teach five new lessons.

Whimsical
Happy ending
Moderately emotional
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

Set during World War II in Britain, the story follows a nation at war and a family adapting to its pressures. Evacuees arrive from the city, and air-raid warnings punctuate daily life while rationing and financial strain test the household. The narrative weaves personal resilience with the broader backdrop of a country mobilizing for endurance. The ending frames a return to calmer days as the war’s shadow begins to lift.

Location

Green Farm, countryside village, London

The Green family operates on a working farm in the British countryside, a bustling hub of chores and daily routines. The farm and nearby village become buffers against the war’s disruptions, hosting evacuated city relatives and coping with scarcity. London’s War Office presence intrudes on the countryside, reminding viewers that conflict reaches far beyond the hedges and fields.

❄️ Rural 🏡 Farm life 🗺️ Evacuation

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:11

Main Characters – Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)

Meet the key characters of Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal)

A tireless matriarch trying to hold the farm, shop, and children together. She blends practicality with warmth, learning to trust Nanny McPhee’s unorthodox methods as a way to steady the household and protect her family’s future.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family 💪 Strength 🏡 Farm life

Rory Green (Ewan McGregor)

The war-absent husband and father, sent to fight in World War II. He returns with a bandaged arm, his absence shaping the family's fears and hopes as they wait for him, while his homecoming helps restore balance to the household.

👨‍👧‍👦 Family 🛡️ Protector

Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson)

A magical, unorthodox guardian who arrives mid-crisis to restore order with humor and gentle discipline. Her influence softens the children’s stubbornness and rebalances the household dynamics, leaving a lasting sense of practical enchantment.

🪄 Magic 👶 Caregiver

Phil Green (Rhys Ifans)

Isabel’s brother-in-law whose schemes threaten the family’s stability. He manipulates family finances and plots to take advantage of the situation, exploiting fear to try and secure his own gain.

🃏 Deceit 💰 Gambler

Norman Green (Asa Butterfield)

The perceptive younger boy who believes his father is still alive and pushes for truth. His determination and imaginative thinking bridge the gap between fear and hope, guiding the family toward eventual clarity.

🧒 Innocence 🧠 Cleverness

Megsie Green (Lil Woods)

The feisty younger sister who creates distractions and schemes to protect her family. Her resourcefulness helps the children delay decisive moves and keep the household together during a tense moment.

👧 Youth 🐦 Resourcefulness

Celia Gray (Rosie Taylor-Ritson)

The city cousin who brings snobbery and urban habits into the countryside. Evacuated to the farm, she gradually adjusts and contributes to the family’s unity through shared challenges.

👩 City life 🧭 Evacuation

Cyril Gray (Eros Vlahos)

A quick-witted boy who accompanies his sister to the farm and forces adults to confront neglect and distance. His bold, curious nature drives him to seek answers at the War Office with Nanny McPhee.

🧭 Curiosity 🏛️ Upper class

Vincent Green (Oscar Steer)

The baby of the family whose presence and simple trust provide warmth amid the chaos. His siblings’ actions and Nanny’s guidance ultimately help restore a sense of safety.

👶 Baby 🧸 Comfort

Lord Gray (Ralph Fiennes)

Cyril and Celia’s father, stern and distant at first but capable of quiet humanity when confronted with his burdens. His role becomes pivotal as he faces the consequences of deception and works toward truth.

🧔 Authority 🕰️ Distance

Agatha Rose Doherty (Maggie Smith)

The continuity figure from the first film, appearing in baby form to anchor the family’s legacy. Her presence links past and present, underscoring enduring family ties and care.

👵 Legacy 🕊️ Gentle presence

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:11

Major Themes – Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010)

Explore the central themes of Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👪 Family

The Green family is the emotional anchor of the story, showing how love, teamwork, and discipline help them endure hardship. Nanny McPhee arrives to guide the children toward better behavior and cooperation without erasing their warmth. The kids’ ingenuity and loyalty fortify the household against financial worries and parental absence. Family bonds are portrayed as a source of strength that can weather deceit and danger.

🕵️ Deception

Phil Green’s greed and the forged telegram threaten to fracture the family’s fragile equilibrium. Truth surfaces through careful observation and the involvement of trusted adults, including the War Office investigation. The children’ s persistence, aided by Nanny’s influence, exposes lies and leads to accountability. Restoration of trust becomes the film’s central corrective force.

✨ Magic

Nanny McPhee’s practical, unobtrusive magic reshapes attitudes and tempers. Her presence softens stubborn hearts, restoring order and hope without relying on spectacular feats. The magic is gentle and temporary, designed to reinforce family ties and resilience. It leaves a lasting impression about the power of kindness and structure in times of crisis.

⚔️ War & Courage

War intrudes on rural life, with air-raid warnings, bombs, and the looming prospect of loss altering daily routines. The farm becomes a refuge where courageous acts—great and small—keep the family together. Bravery is shown in practical decisions, communal defense, and steadfast love rather than grand gestures. The film frames resilience as collective effort in the face of danger.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:11

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