Bridge to Terabithia Plot

Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 film directed by Gabor Csupo for Disney/Walden Media. It is based on the Katherine Paterson novel Bridge to Terabithia. The film was released on February 16, 2007 and was number two at the box office in the U.S. and Canada over its opening weekend. It was rated PG by the MPAA.

Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) is an aspiring yet shy elementary school boy living in a financially-struggling family. Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb) is the new girl at Jesse's school, just arriving on the school's athletics day. She enters a running event which she wins with ease, despite her classmates calling it a "boys only" race. Jesse is, at first, quite sour about this and wants nothing to do with Leslie, but Leslie's persistence in meeting him soon pays off, with the two becoming friends. Jess shares his secret love of drawing with Leslie; Leslie shares with Jess her love of fantasy stories. Together they venture into the woods, where they swing across a rope and find a tree house on the other side. Here, the two friends invent a whole new world - Terabithia - and it comes to life through their eyes, which they explore together.

Back in "the real world", they both plot against bullies at their school, and Jesse continues to deal with his family going through financial problems. Leslie gives Jesse an unexpected birthday present, an art kit, and Jesse gives Leslie a dog (Prince Terrien) in return, much to both of the children's happiness. Later on, Jesse's music teacher, Ms. Edmunds (Zooey Deschanel), has noticed how good an artist Jesse is and decides to take him on a field trip to an art museum. Jess has an un-spoken crush on the teacher and does not want to share the trip with Leslie, so he goes to the museum alone.

When Jesse returns home, his dad (Robert Patrick) tells him the horrific news: Leslie has died after trying to swing across the rope over a rain-swollen river, only to fall into the river and drown. Jesse suffers much grief, and he and his family visit the funeral together.

Jesse feels overwhelming guilt for Leslie's death, due to the fact that if he had invited Leslie along to his trip with Ms. Edmunds, her death may have been avoided. He is consoled by his father that their intense friendship should be kept alive for her sake. So, Jess re-imagines Terabithia and builds a bridge across the river to welcome a new ruler. He invites his sister, May Belle Aarons (Bailee Madison) to be that new ruler, who is delighted since she was denied every opportunity to enter Terabithia prior. She and Jesse bring back Terabithia in even greater splendor; Jesse the king and his sister the princess. They rule over the free peoples of the kingdom together.

The soundtrack of Bridge to Terabithia has three elements: orchestral music, pop songs, and songs sung by children at school.

The orchestral music was composed by Aaron Zigman:

"Seeing Terabithia"
"Into the Forest"
"The Battle"
"Jesse's Bridge"
The pop songs are sung by a variety of artists.

"I Learned from You" performed by Miley Cyrus. Written by Matthew Gerrard and Steve Diamond.
The song "I Learned from You", which is on the Hannah Montana season 1 soundtrack, is featured during the credits. This song is a different version from the one in the sountrack. This version is only preformed by Miley Cyrus, and doesn't feature her father Billy Ray Cyrus as did the original track.
"Try" performed by Hayden Panettiere. Written by Matthew Gerrard, Robbie Nevil and Mike Krompass.
"Keep Your Mind Wide Open" performed by AnnaSophia Robb. Written by Dave Bassett and Michelle Featherstone.
The song "Keep Your Mind Wide Open" from the film soundtrack, sung by AnnaSophia Robb, is heard on the television early in the film.
"A Place for Us" performed by Leigh Nash and Tyler James. Written by Bryan Adams, Eliot Kennedy, and Aaron Zigman.
"Another Layer" performed by Jon McLaughlin. Written by McLaughlin and Jamie Houston.
"Another Layer" is the music played when Jesse and Leslie's family paint the room.
"Shine" performed by The Skies of America. Written by Rob Bonfiglio.
There are at least three songs the children sing:

"O-o-h Child" by The Five Stairsteps
"Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War
"Someday" by Steve Earle
In the theatrical trailer, the song, "The Poseidon" by Klaus Badelt is used. This song is from the 2006 film, Poseidon.

In an analysis by Boxofficeprophets.com, Bridge to Terabithia had a strong second place opening over the President's Day weekend grossing "a higher-than-expected $28,536,717 from only 2,284 screens: $9,885 per screen average". The opening Friday box office was $6.3 million.