A family heads to a secluded beach vacation. They speak vaguely of the passage of time in a way that parents often do with their children, as mom mentions how she can’t wait to hear her daughter’s singing voice when she grows up. Shortly thereafter, it’s revealed that mom may not be able to do that because she has a tumor and this could be a “last trip,” either because of her physical health or the health of her crumbling marriage. The passage of time changes at different points in your life, but especially when you see your kids growing up too fast and when you worry you might not be able to witness the bulk of their journey. When M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old,” based on the book by Pierre-Oscar Lévy and Frederick Peeters, is playing thematically with those feelings and allowing itself to be surreal and scary in the process, it truly works. When it feels like it has to nail down specifics, such as in a disappointing final stretch, it crosses that median line into the silly lane. The mysteries of aging are something everyone considers—“Old” taps into those considerations with just enough style to engage before stepping back from its own edge.
The family in the opening scene consists of Guy ( Gael García Bernal ), Prisca ( Vicky Krieps ), Trent ( Nolan River ) and Maddox ( Alexa Swinton ). The resort manager tells them about a secluded beach where they can avoid the touristy crowds, and they’re taken there by none other than Shyamalan himself in maybe his most meta cameo (after all, he’s the director, assembling all of his players on the sandy stage). Guy and Prisca’s clan isn’t alone. They’re joined by a doctor named Charles ( Rufus Sewell ), his wife Chrystal ( Abbey Lee ), his mother Agnes ( Kathleen Chalfant ) and his daughter Kara ( Mikaya Fisher ). A third couple joins them in Jarin ( Ken Leung ) and Patricia ( Nikki Amuka-Bird ). All of the travelers meet a mysterious traveler at the beach when they arrive in a rapper named Mid-Sized Sedan ( Aaron Pierre ). And why is he bleeding from his nose? And is that a dead body?
From their arrival, the beauty of this beach, surrounded by steep stone, feels threatening. The waves crash and the rock wall almost seems to grow taller as the day goes on. When they try to walk back the way they came, they get faint and wake up on the beach again. And then things get really weird when Trent and Maddox are suddenly significantly older, jumping about five years in a couple hours. The adults figure out that every half-hour on this beach is like a year off of it. As the kids age into Alex Wolff , Eliza Scanlen , and the great Thomasin McKenzie , the adults face their own physical issues, including hearing/vision problems, dementia, and that damn tumor in Prisca’s body. Can they get off the beach before 24 hours age them 48 years?
What a clever idea. Rod Serling would have loved it. And “Old” is very effective when Shyamalan is being playful and quick with his high concept. “Old” doesn’t really feel like a traditional mystery. I never once cared about “figuring out” what was happening to this crew, enjoying “Old” far more as surreal horror than as a thriller that demanded explanations. Having said that, it sometimes feels like Shyamalan and his team have to pull punches to hold that PG-13. I wondered about the truly gruesome, Cronenberg version of this story that doesn’t shy away from what happens to the human body over time and doesn’t feel a need to dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’.
The actors all seem like they would have been willing to go on that more surreal journey. Most of the ensemble finds a way to push through a script that really uses them like a kid uses sand toys on a beach, moving them around before they wash away with the tide. Stand-outs include Sewell’s confused menace, McKenzie’s palpable fear (she nails that the best, by far, understanding she’s in a horror movie more than some of the others), and the grounded center provided by Bernal and Krieps.
A director who often veers right when he should arguably go left, Shyamalan and his collaborators manage their tone here better than he has in years. Yes, the dialogue is clunky and almost entirely expositional regarding their plight and attempts to escape it, but that’s a feature, not a bug. “Old” should have an exaggerated, surreal tone and Shyamalan mostly keeps that in place, assisted greatly by some of the best work yet by his regular cinematographer Mike Gioulakis . The pair are constantly playing with perception and forced POV, fluidly gliding their camera up and down the beach as if it’s rushing to catch up with all the developments as they happen. Some of the framing here is inspired, catching a corner of a character’s head before revealing they’re now being played by a new actor. It’s as visually vibrant a film as Shyamalan has made in years, at its best when it’s embracing its insanity. The waves are so loud and the rock wall is so imposing that they almost feel like characters.
Sadly, the film crashes when it decides to offer some sane explanations and connect dots that didn’t really need to be connected. There’s a much stronger version of “Old” that ends more ambiguously, allowing viewers to leave the theatre playing around with themes instead of unpacking exactly what was going on. The conversation around Shyamalan often focuses on his final scenes, and I found the ones in “Old” some of his most frustrating given how they feel oppositional to what works best about the movie. When his characters are literally trying to escape the passage of time, as people do when their kids are growing up too fast or they receive a mortality diagnosis, “Old” is fascinating and entertaining. It’s just too bad that it doesn’t age into its potential.
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.
- Gael García Bernal as Guy
- Vicky Krieps as Prisca
- Rufus Sewell as Charles
- Alex Wolff as Trent Aged 15
- Nikki Amuka-Bird as Patricia
- Brett M. Reed
Writer (based on the graphic novel "Sandcastle" by)
- Frederick Peeters
- Pierre-Oscar Levy
- M. Night Shyamalan
Cinematographer
- Mike Gioulakis
- Trevor Gureckis
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| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/5 | (2023) | In Sayen, Witt combines the eco-thriller with a story that pays tribute to the Mapuche people who have lived in oppressive conditions for centuries. | Posted Oct 18, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (2023) | We get it. Capitalism and corporate greed are terrifying. No question about that, so why not focus on the satirical aspects exclusively? | Posted Oct 18, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (2023) | Yet at a little over 90 minutes long, the film somehow outstays its welcome as the hilarious premise devolves into a series of scenes where we see young women being clawed to their death by the furry menace. | Posted Oct 18, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (2023) | But the film's message becomes diluted and harrowing to absorb by the fact we're watching a Black man being tortured for being too good at what he does. | Posted Oct 18, 2023 | |
| 3/5 | (2023) | Still, the film's shift from a dark comedy into a hopeless drama might be too much for viewers still reeling from the effects of a pandemic that's still ongoing. | Posted Oct 11, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (2023) | At almost two hours long, the film could have done with some trimming, especially scenes involving overlong pranks that aren't as funny or interesting as they think. | Posted Sep 25, 2023 | |
| 3/5 | (2023) | Director Yûichi Fukuda does a wonderful job of not merely revising the fairy tales, but leading us to rethink the perspectives from which these characters can be seen. | Posted Sep 22, 2023 | |
| 4/5 | (2023) | Pithy and straightforward, yet never sensationalist, this 80-minute wonder is designed for true crime fans who will most likely spend hours obsessed about what really happened in the case. | Posted Sep 22, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (2022) | Unfortunately the mawkish melodrama and the clichéd star-crossed lovers theme is boring, with neither the characters nor the story having much depth. | Posted Apr 05, 2023 | |
| 4/5 | (2022) | It's quite the gender role reversal from what usually plays out in most Indian households every day. To watch this man be soft and vulnerable -- far removed from the ideas of toxic masculinity -- is a thing of beauty. | Posted Apr 05, 2023 | |
| 3/5 | (2023) | The show's stunning but dangerous setting offers a different kind of drama. Even players with exceptional survival skills crumble under the harsh conditions, and predicting who will or won't make it keeps the suspense high. | Posted Mar 22, 2023 | |
| 2/5 | (1997) | The basic premise that the vibrant life-loving Gunner would enjoy the company of Sonny is a non-starter and since the entire story hangs on that bond, little that follows really works. | Posted Mar 14, 2023 | |
| 4/5 | (2021) | The sailor scouts struggles with insecurities and the truth of their deepest desires make them well-rounded and relatable. Even the villains get some complexity with "twist reveal" backstories. | Posted Feb 15, 2023 | |
| 4/5 | (2020) | It's hard to watch children face such intense peril, but it's easy to root for the young characters who face challenges with wit and strength. | Posted Jan 11, 2023 | |
| 4/5 | (2004) | The subject of feminism is a juicy subject to pick apart here, and in retrospect, the audience is left with some questions. | Posted Jan 11, 2023 | |
| 1/5 | (1983) | Directed by Sylvester Stallone (who even has a cringeworthy cameo), you can spot the crumbs of a Rocky movie that just don't belong. | Posted Dec 21, 2022 | |
| 2/5 | (1999) | The General's Daughter's attempt to present an expose of sexism in the military is clumsy at best and as subtle as a chainsaw. | Posted Dec 21, 2022 | |
| 4/5 | (2022) | The story handles sensitive topics with care, and the characters' life choices for the future are all portrayed positively – even when that means not going to college or taking nontraditional career paths. | Posted Dec 15, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1990) | You would hope today's lens would be more scrupulous on portrayals of women and people of color, and more original in its stylistic choices, which now look like a roll call of cliches. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1981) | But in terms of pure nostalgia and its sense of fun, Victory has aged surprisingly well as a boys' own adventure played out by the alpha males of its day. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1991) | A little less hamfisting would have made this a cosier watch, but hey, subtlety was never on the menu. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1998) | Brilliantly understated performances, flashes of wit and a heartbreaking true story aren't quite enough to make this movie memorable. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1989) | Instead here lies the rare relish of seeing bonafide comedy legends Murphy, in his first directing jaunt -- he also wrote it -- and Prior play father and son. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 4/5 | (1966) | The excellence in this movie lies in Caine's exquisite performance. | Posted Dec 14, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (2021) | Overall, this wholesome movie is a fine pick for family movie night during the Christmas season, as long as you don't have high expectations. | Posted Dec 07, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (2022) | Although some sequences are insufferable, we must recognize the director's ambition, the mastery of setting a scene, and the excellence of the actors, cinematographer Darius Khondji, and production designer Eugenio Caballero. | Posted Nov 15, 2022 | |
| 3/5 | (1997) | Exhausting in its globetrotting action yet tiresome with cliches, the film takes an almighty swing but only grazes the knuckles of being a film with lasting sustenance. | Posted Sep 28, 2022 | |
| 2/5 | (2020) | Satirical drama full of violence, cursing, sexual innuendo. | Posted Nov 09, 2020 | |
| 2/5 | (1993) | Comic strip-based comedy has peril, scary villain. | Posted Aug 14, 2019 | |
| 5/5 | (1995) | Classic, heartwarming fantasy will rivet kids. | Posted Aug 09, 2013 | |
| 3/5 | (2013) | Exciting sci-fi action and warm father-son bonding. | Posted May 31, 2013 | |
| 3/5 | (2013) | Action-packed Star Trek sequel has good story, characters. | Posted May 18, 2013 | |
| 4/5 | (2012) | Game-themed movie mixes potty humor with strong messages. | Posted Nov 02, 2012 | |
| 4/5 | (1988) | A winning, mature comedy about sex and baseball. | Posted Jun 21, 2011 | |
| 3/5 | (2005) | Unique, mild glimpse into nomadic Mongolian kids' lives. | Posted May 06, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1983) | Suspenseful, poignant wilderness film; a few gross scenes. | Posted Apr 05, 2011 | |
| 3/5 | (1996) | Some sexy stuff in dated, but entertaining '80s comedy. | Posted Mar 29, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (2009) | Enchanting fantasy turns teen into sweet, selfless princess. | Posted Jan 25, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1974) | 1970s CD about gender is still relevant and fun. | Posted Jan 25, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1995) | Appealing family comedy with old-fashioned feel. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 3/5 | (2005) | This animated WWII story may not engage all kids. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 3/5 | (1999) | Oprah Winfrey presents a three-hanky weepfest. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 5/5 | (1939) | Even decades later, one of the best family films ever made. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 5/5 | (1987) | Witty, winsome fairy tale for the whole family. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1961) | Hayley Mills rocks in her dual role as twins. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1988) | Baby dinosaur buddy flick that started the series. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 2/5 | (2005) | Kids will love the 3-D aspect of this movie. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1960) | Good intro for kids reluctant to watch old movies. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 1/5 | (2004) | These babies need a time out. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 | |
| 4/5 | (1992) | A smart, smooth technological thriller. | Posted Jan 01, 2011 |
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The 45 Best Commonsense Media Reviewed Kids Movies Streaming
April 14, 2020 By Michelle Yannaco
There’s never been a better time to cozy up with the family on the couch and settle in for a good movie. These movies for kids come highly recommended by Common Sense Media, an organization trusted by parents and educators for objective ratings on family movies, TV shows, books, and more.
Click each title and open the “Get It Now” tab to find out where the movie is available to stream.
Inside Out age 6+ • 2015 An outstandingly original, heartfelt story from Pixar about growing up and learning to handle your biggest emotions.
Shaun the Sheep Movie age 5+ • 2015 A sweet little adventure that’s fine for almost all ages, with positive messages about teamwork, friendship, and acknowledging and fixing your mistakes. There’s no actual dialogue — just animal noises, exaggerated gestures, and evocative music.
Zarafa age 9+ • 2015 An enchanting animated story (in French with English subtitles) about an orphaned African boy’s journey to find his place in the world and to protect a young giraffe for whom he feels responsible.
The Good Dinosaur age 7+ • 2015 Pixar’s lush animated prehistoric saga that successfully melds Finding Nemo and E.T. — has stunning visuals, moments of clever humor, strong messages about loyalty and bravery, but many scenes of danger, trauma, and peril that are likely to frighten younger/more sensitive viewers.
Finding Dory age 6+ • 2015 The sequel to Pixar’s 2003 classic Finding Nemo. This time, instead of a parent searching for a child, the story revolves around Dory looking for her family.
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon age 5+ • 2020 A stand-alone stop-motion sequel to Shaun the Sheep Movie brimming with positive messages — teamwork, friendship, and inclusiveness — and with a sci-fi twist.
Steven Universe: The Movie age 10+ • 2019 Like the show, the movie’s content is aimed more at tweens and teens than young kids; Steven himself is now aged up to 16. There’s frequent cartoonish violence; parents may want to watch along with kids — and may be surprised to find depth and emotional intelligence in this uplifting movie.
Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection age 5+ • 2015 An impressive, wide-ranging collection of 12 short films, including Frozen Fever, the follow-up to Frozen, and Tangled Ever After, the follow-up to Tangled.
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The Book of Life age 7+ • 2014 A refreshingly original animated film that takes viewers to the underworld and back. It’s also an invitation to explore and learn more about Mexican culture, from the details of the Day of the Dead celebrations to legendary creatures like Chupacabras.
Big Hero 6 age 7+ • 2014 An unconventional origin story that focuses on the power of brotherhood, friendship, and using your gifts to help others.
Paddington age 6+ • 2015 After an earthquake destroys Paddington’s home and kills his uncle, the orphan bear stows away alone on a ship with only his red hat, beat-up suitcase, and jars of marmalade with him in the hopes that someone will help him once he gets to London.
Song of the Sea age 7+ • 2014 A beautifully hand-drawn animated adventure about Irish myths and legends. This is a powerful movie about the importance of sibling relationships, about accepting everything you feel, about literally and figuratively finding your voice, and about doing everything possible to protect the people you love.
An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success age 6+ • 2015 the live-action film promoting the 2015 Doll of the Year, Grace, an ambitious girl who’s passionate about baking. Kids will relate to navigating sibling and stepfamily conflicts, learning how to take criticism, and keeping a positive attitude about setbacks.
Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins age 3+ • 2015 The origination story of the Sodor gang as interpreted from the first two books in the Rail Way Series.
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Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle age 3+ • 2015 George rockets into space on a one-monkey mission, then goes on to the jungle to save the day. The film is fast-paced and family-friendly fun with many positive messages about friendship, trying new things, and working together.
Descendants age 8+ • 2015 Blends the continuing story of many fairy tale favorites — and favorite villains — as it follows new relationships forged between their teenage kids.
The Peanuts Movie age 4+ • 2015 A sweetly nostalgic, mostly gentle take on the characters from the beloved comic strip.
Boy and the World age 7+ • 2015 A Brazilian animated adventure with virtually no dialogue — but you don’t need words to follow this beautiful story of a young country boy searching for his father in the big city so his family can be reunited.
Zootopia age 8+ • 2016 a clever, fast-paced animated Disney film set in a world of walking, talking, clothed animals that live peacefully together, having supposedly evolved past nature’s rules of predator versus prey.
The Great Gilly Hopkins age 9+ • 2016 An unfriendly foster kid finally opens up to others after being placed with a devout older woman who’s already fostering a little boy. This is ultimately a story about how family is more than blood and how even the loneliest, hardest-to-like person can find a place to belong.
The Jungle Book (2016) age 9+ • 2016 With its blend of live-action and photo-realistic computer-generated effects, this action-packed adventure — which was inspired by Disney’s 1967 animated musical — tells the story of young Mowgli, the orphaned “man cub” raised as a wolf and hated by the jungle’s most vicious predator, tiger Shere Khan.
The BFG age 7+ • 2016 While there are scares enough to keep the littlest audience members away (or at least with their eyes firmly covered), this tale about discovering friendship and family in the unlikeliest places also offers sweetness, humor, and heart — as well as themes of courage, empathy, and perseverance.
April and the Extraordinary World age 9+ • 2016 a subtitled (or English dubbed, depending on which version you see) French animated adventure inspired by graphic artist Jacques Tardi. The steampunk alternative-history adventure takes place in a France overrun by pollution because the all energy is steam- and coal-powered.
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The Secret Life of Pets age 7+ • 2016 A clever, engaging adventure about what our dogs, cats, birds, and other domesticated creatures get up to when we’re not around.
Pete’s Dragon (2016) age 7+ • 2016 A throwback to Disney movies of the past: wholesome, sweet, fun, and exciting. That said, the “exciting” part includes plenty of peril and danger, as well as some sad moments.
Kubo and the Two Strings age 9+ • 2016 Two Strings is an adventure from LAIKA Animation, the studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, and Corpse Bride. Like those films, it has more darkness and edge than many average kids’ movies and is best suited for tweens and older, rather than the preschool and early-elementary set.
Long Way North age 8+ • 2016 A beautifully made, hand-drawn animated film set in late 19th-century Russia. It follows an aristocratic teenager as she goes in search of her grandfather, whose presumably failed quest to find the North Pole has left her family in disgrace. Although some of Sasha’s choices are a bit iffy, her courage and perseverance pay off, and ultimately the movie has strong messages about loyalty and doing what’s right instead of what’s convenient or easy.
Phantom Boy age 10+ • 2016 An animated French crime thriller and adventure (released in both subtitled and English-dubbed versions) that offers strong role models, as well as positive messages about the power of teamwork, friendship, family, and courageous acts of kindness and goodwill.
Moana age 6+ • 2016 An animated Disney adventure about a Polynesian island chief’s daughter who sets off on a quest to save her people that offers positive messages of self-discovery and empowerment.
Storks age 6+ • 2016 An animated love letter to the realization that the time parents have to share with their children is brief, sweet, and to be cherished. Corporate greed and insensitivity are raised (and portrayed negatively), but overall, this is a clever, action-packed comedy with messages about teamwork, perseverance, and compassion.
Odd Squad: The Movie age 5+ • 2016A A feature-length addition to the math-based TV series from the Fred Rogers Company that follows an all-kid mystery-solving agency with serious number skills. Teamwork, problem-solving, and the value of perseverance are standout messages.
The Lego Batman Movie age 7+ • 2017 Clever, creative, and funny, with nonstop action this film little darker/edgier than its predecessor — there are tons of bad guys, battles, explosions, bombs, weapons, destruction, and general mayhem. But because it’s all made out of Legos, there’s zero gore.
Wonder age 10+ • 2017 Parents need to know that Wonder is an earnest, emotional family drama based on R.J. Palacio’s award-winning novel. It centers on a young boy with a genetic facial difference who meets both cruel bullies and good friends as he attends school for the first time.
Cars 3 age 6+ • 2017 Cars 3 is part of Pixar’s popular movie franchise about a world of talking, human-like vehicles. The characters learn key life lessons, and there are positive messages about the importance of finding wise, supportive mentors; the idea that that no matter how old you are, you always have more to learn; and the fact that regardless of your gender or what you look like, you should be allowed to compete and reach for your dreams.
Coco age 7+ • 2017 A vibrant Disney/Pixar film that explores the traditions of the Day of the Dead, a child’s desire to become a musician despite his family’s wishes, and the power of unconditional love.
The Lego Ninjago Movie age 6+ • 2017 The Lego Ninjago Movie — based on the popular Lego Ninjago TV show and toy line — is appropriate for most kids, packing plenty of laughs along with clear (if not particularly deep) messages of empowerment, acceptance, and courage.
Wonderstruck age 9+ • 2017 Based on author-illustrator Brian Selznick’s award-winning novel, which follows two deaf 12-year-old characters — one in 1977 and one in 1927 — as they run away from home to New York City to look for family members and eventually end up at the American Museum of Natural History.
Ferdinand age 6+ • 2017 An animated movie based about a bull who prefers flowers and friendship to aggression and fighting. The movie has strong messages of nonviolence, respect for Ferdinand’s principles, and the friendships that can develop between creatures who are very different from each other.
Paddington 2 age 6+ • 2017 continues the story of Paddington bear, who now happily lives with his adopted English family, the Browns, in a London neighborhood that’s grown incredibly fond of him.
Incredibles 2 age 8+ • 2018 Incredibles 2 picks up immediately after The Incredibles, following the Parr family as they again use their powers to rescue the people of their city.
Mary Poppins Returns age 6+ • 2018 As she did before, the flying, singing, lesson-imparting Mary arrives to help the Banks children — this time, the three kids of a now grown-up Michael, whose wife died a year before the movie starts and whose family home is in danger of repossession.
Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie age 7+ • 2017 The continuation of the story of Arnold Shortman from the ’90s Hey Arnold! series. It picks up after the events unfolded in the series and in the episodic special The Journal, in which Arnold came by his father’s journal that held clues to his parents’ whereabouts.
Mary and the Witch’s Flower age 8+ • 2018 An anime adaptation of Mary Stewart’s 1971 children’s fantasy novel The Little Broomstick. Fans of the Harry Potter series will see similar themes here — the discovery of a previously unknown magical world, a prestigious magical school, a special child who must defeat evil, and more — though all with a girl main character.
Ralph Breaks the Internet age 8+ • 2018 The sequel to Disney’s hit video-game comedy Wreck-It Ralph– tells a strong friendship story within its framework of video game characters, popular websites, and social media platforms.
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Showing a Movie in Class? Help Your Students Develop Active Viewing Skills
Topics: Tech & Learning News & Media Literacy Digital Citizenship
Have students write their own movie review with this fun lesson plan and worksheet.
The words "movie day" probably evoke fond memories from our own childhoods: Teachers rolling out the TV/VCR cart; the classroom lights flickering out; everyone scooting their desks to get a better view or a seat near a friend; and, if we were lucky, maybe even the smell of freshly microwaved popcorn. Today, when it comes to watching movies in school, the technology has changed (no more squinting to see a tiny TV in the corner!), but our students love movie days just the same -- if not more.
There's magic in the shared experience of seeing a great story unfold on the screen, together, in the same room.
Sometimes showing a movie in class is just the right call. Some movies can help illustrate big, complex ideas. Others help us explore detailed topics in ways that just aren't possible otherwise. And the best movies help us enrich students' learning about the much wider world outside of our classroom's walls.
And to top it off, classroom movies are a great way to help students practice their media literacy skills. Active viewing is a skill that doesn't always come naturally, but it's something all students can practice and learn. And in today's media-saturated world, kids need all the help they can get when it comes to different ways of thinking about what they're seeing on screens of all sizes.
Movie Review Lesson Plan: Help Your Students Become Active Viewers
Use this lesson plan and worksheet to help your students practice their active viewing skills, no matter what movie they're watching! We've designed this lesson and activity for middle school, but it could also be great for upper elementary or even in a high school class. Feel free to adapt this lesson (and the included Google Doc movie guide) to suit your specific needs.
| Tip! Even though the site is aimed at parents and families, it can be a very helpful guide in selecting the right movie for your classroom. You know your curriculum, your students, and community best! Guess what? You're okay! Check out our article for more information about how U.S. copyright law applies to movies in classrooms. |
Prep for teachers
Objective: Students will be able to build active viewing skills and write a movie review.
- First and foremost, preview any movie before you show it in class. It might sound obvious, but this is such an important step! You'll be able to see if the movie's appropriate, but also whether it's a good fit for your students' learning. You'll also be able to find some key scenes to discuss (see below for some tips on this).
- Make a copy of the Write a Movie Review! handout. Before distributing to your students, feel free to customize the handout to your class's needs. (Note: You'll probably want to add a bit more space for students to write in their answers.)
- Review the lesson plan and talking points below (including the active viewing definition) for yourself before class starts.
| Tip!
Looking for some examples? Check out our SEL movie guides for the movies , , and where we've already listed some important scenes for discussion, along with time stamps for each. Keep in mind that we've provided a LOT of examples for these films. You might end up with fewer -- anywhere from two or three to more than a dozen scenes is just fine! Do what feels reasonable for yourself, and what's best for your students' learning. |
In the classroom
Essential question: How can active viewing help me write a movie review?
Hook (5-10 minutes)
Before you start the movie, ask students if they've ever seen or read a movie review -- if so, where did they see it? Was the review from an expert, a journalist, or professional movie reviewer? Or maybe was it written and posted online by an everyday viewer sharing their opinion? Some students may have already written their own movie review somewhere!
Then ask students: What makes an expert's movie review different? Are they just going on a "gut feeling"? Or are they doing something that makes their reviews better or more informed?
After entertaining students' ideas, explain that, when professional movie critics rate and review a movie, they usually go on a lot more than just a gut feeling. They're doing something called active viewing . They're not just saying if they thought the movie was good or bad. Professional movie reviewers also explain -- in detail -- why they thought it was good or bad (or somewhere in-between).
Hand out the Write a Movie Review! graphic organizer
Give students copies of the Write a Movie Review! handout (or if you're using the digital version, copy and distribute them online). Explain to students that they'll be watching a movie in class, but also practicing their active viewing skills at the same time. By the end, they'll have everything they'll need to write their own review of the movie.
Active viewing, defined:
Ask your students: What do you think "active viewing" means? As a class, review the elements that help define active viewing that appear at the top of the graphic organizer.
Active viewing means:
- Watching with a purpose
- Paying attention
- Taking notes
- Asking good questions about what you're seeing
And it also means doing these things before, during, and after you watch.
| Tip! Depending on how much scaffolding your students may need, consider adapting the handout to remove these elements so students can fill in the blanks on their own as you review in class. |
Before you watch:
Help students jot down some key information about the movie before you start watching. Ask them to think about why these things might be important in thinking more deeply about the movie.
You can also preview the rest of the handout with students before you start the movie -- mainly the "While You Watch" section, so they know what to look for while watching.
While you watch:
Start the movie and enjoy! Be ready to pause at key scenes so students have a bit of time to process, or even discuss, what they're seeing. During these pauses, you might even encourage students to think about whether they'd like to choose the scene as something to write about (or draw!) on their handout.
As you pause, reflect, and discuss, you might even consider rewinding and rewatching a particular scene. Some scenes in movies are truly worthy of a second look for students, especially in light of something that comes up in discussion that some students may have missed or want to see again.
After you watch:
Give students some time to process and think about what they've just seen before diving into any discussion or reactions. The "After You Watch" questions on the handout are a great start, but feel free to bring up any other relevant questions specific to the movie you're using. Be sure to give students plenty of time to look back at their notes and reflect.
Encourage students to wait before giving the movie their star rating. Remember: Active viewing takes place before, during, and after the movie. Ask them to resist the urge to judge the movie before they've considered all of the active viewing questions, saving the star rating for last. This way -- just like a professional movie reviewer! -- they'll have fully considered the movie before giving it their official star rating.
Writing Extension!
Students can revise the notes they've taken on their handout, turning it into an actual, written movie review! Better yet, encourage students to share their reviews with an authentic audience -- classmates, families, or even online!
|
has thousands of movie reviews written by kids! As an option, have students consider posting and sharing their reviews online with us! Note: Be sure to follow your school or district's policies about students sharing content publicly online. Also, keep in mind that students will need to create accounts on Common Sense Media in order to share their reviews. Students under 13 years old will need a parent's or guardian's consent and help to create an account. But it's a good idea for all students -- even those over 13 -- to talk with their parents before creating new online accounts on any site. |
Image courtesy of Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action.
I'm the Director of Marketing for Common Sense's Education platform. Prior to my work at Common Sense, I was an editor and classroom teacher. I'm an advocate for the creative, thoughtful, and responsible use of technology, and I thrive on sharing his knowledge, experience, and perspectives with others.
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You're ready to put The Wolverine into the DVD player, then suddenly you wonder if this movie will be a problem for your 8-year-old. Well, will it?
If you're a parent with a family who loves movies, you've probably realised that you need to be able to get some reliable information on those movies before you show them to the family. But navigating the various movie sites to find child-friendly titles can be a chore.
Today we'll explore a few of the best movie review sites for kids so that you can choose the best go-to site for your family's needs. We'll also show you the best ways to get drip-fed some useful information about new movie releases too. Then you can line up your Netflix list and get watching!
Common Sense Media
The Common Sense Media site has a unique way of showcasing their film reviews. Latest releases are shown in a list just with a poster, quick one-sentence blurb, age rating, and star rating. If you click through, you get to see a short video review of the film, featuring a few short clips from the film with a voice-over review. This really is great, as you can see for yourself the sorts of characters that are in the film. The reviews are also very comprehensive, letting you know if there is any educational value as well as covering the usual parental worries - and they're not afraid to tell you if they just don't like it much! If you can't watch the video for whatever reason, you can usually click through again to a text version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eQ3UqV4cs4
The site is easy to browse with best of lists and the like. They also cover books, games, music, and more. Common Sense Media can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube , or via their mobile apps .
Plugged In is a family review site for movies, TV series, games, books, and music. It is seriously well worth a visit if you want to be certain about the suitability of any given entertainment for your child.
The reviews are very detailed, and categorised into positive elements, violent content, sexual content, and more. Their summary icons are limited in order to be simple to understand. This site is available to follow on Facebook, Twitter, or via their Focus On The Family apps.
Movie Guide
Movie Guide is focused on movies and reviews in general, and doesn't set out to have family-focused reviews. However, it has summary pages with information that families would need to make a decision. Each review page has an easy-to-read chart showing language, violence, sex, and nudity levels. It also starts the review with a very brief paragraph on potential issues families might have with the film content.
Follow Movie Guide reviews via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, RSS, or on YouTube .
Kids In Mind
Kids In Mind have very wordy reviews, focusing on three major areas of concern for parents: Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, and Profanity. Each film has an easy-reference chart showing the severity of content in these areas, but the review proper has a lot more information available.
Follow Kids In Mind on Facebook or via their iPhone or iPad app. Also, iPad users should check out our guide to watching videos on the iPad and Android users should read up on our list of tablets you would let your kids use .
Box Office Mom
The Box Office Mom site appeals to parents as it gets straight to the answers you really want to know. In the full review, each of the following points is also elaborated on, so you can find out more detail if you're still unsure.
Each film has entries for:
- Rating (Her star-rating guide)
- Release Date
- MPAA Rating
- Best Age Group
- Sexual Content
- Violent Content
- Crude or Profane Language
- Drugs and Alcohol Content
- Will it Appeal to Kids/Teens?
She seems to cover any and all movies that teenagers will bug their parents about. So, there are a few R rated movies in the mix, some of which get a big NO, while others could possibly be viewed by mature 17-year-olds.
You can also browse the site by genre, box-office favourites, or DVD favourites. If you want updates on her new reviews, you can subscribe using RSS, Facebook, and Twitter.
Kids Pick Flicks
The Kids Pick Flicks site has a good point: Why should kids care what a 50-year-old man has to say about movies? To turn that around, they offer a site full of reviews by kids and teenagers.
This, I feel, is an awesome way to find out for sure if your kids will even be interested in certain films. It's also a good way to get your kids interested in reading about movies -- or maybe even reviewing them themselves. In fact, many of the teenage writers on this site seem to have a real talent for writing movie reviews, and could easily line up a good career in it later, I'm sure.
The site is searchable or browsable by DVD reviews or more recent movie reviews. It's worth adding to your RSS feeds.
Raising Children Movie Reviews
The Raising Children site has a lot more than movie reviews, but their movie review section is definitely worth a mention. When browsing their list of movies, you can see prominent icons which let you know what sort of movie it is and what age groups it is recommended for.
The symbols make it easy to see:
- Frightening scenes
- Inappropriate language
- Disturbing, upsetting or confusing scenes
- Sexual references or sex scenes
- Violence or scary scenes
- Age recommendations: Not recommended for / parental guidance recommended for / or suitable for.
As Raising children is an Australian site, all recommendations have been made in conjunction with the Australian Council on Children and the Media. Obviously, clicking through to the film will give you more information on the story, themes, violence, disturbing scenes, sex scenes, product placement, coarse language and ideas to discuss with your children. The last section could be really valuable as a learning tool for your family.
The Dove Foundation
The Dove Foundation covers both movies and books, aiming to showcase the sorts of things that are good for family viewing. Each review comes with a small graph that shows the severity of each of the major worry points for parents: Sex, language, violence, drugs, nudity or other issues. The reviews themselves are brief and focus on what may be worrisome for the parents. The site looks a little outdated, but the content is still very good!
Movies With Kids
As a parent, I wholeheartedly recommend using all of these sites to make decisions. Some of them will obviously gel more with your family's needs more than others, but each of them offer great information about the films out today. I suggest downloading all of the apps and following all of the Facebook pages, as this way you'll get a drip-feed of useful information about the latest films and will have an app on hand to check when you need it.
If your kids also like to play Roblox, make sure you help them stay away from free Robux scams , too.
Image Credits: Little girl Via Shutterstock
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Common Sense Media reviews thousands of movies, TV shows, music, video games, apps, web sites and books.Based on developmental criteria, the reviews provide guidance regarding each title's age appropriateness, as well as a "content grid" that rates particular aspects of the title including educational value, violence, sex, gender messages and role models, and more.
Read Movie and TV reviews from Common Sense Media Editors on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics reviews are aggregated to tally a Certified Fresh, Fresh or Rotten Tomatometer score. ... Good intro for ...
These movies for kids come highly recommended by Common Sense Media, an organization trusted by parents and educators for objective ratings on family movies, TV shows, books, and more. ... which follows two deaf 12-year-old characters — one in 1977 and one in 1927 — as they run away from home to New York City to look for family members and ...
See all partnerships. Common Sense is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to make the digital world healthier, safer, accessible, and engaging for kids and families.
Common Sense is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive. Common Sense Media is the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents trust our expert reviews and objective advice.
Common Sense Media has thousands of movie reviews written by kids! ... Also, keep in mind that students will need to create accounts on Common Sense Media in order to share their reviews. Students under 13 years old will need a parent's or guardian's consent and help to create an account. But it's a good idea for all students -- even those over ...
Common Sense Media. The Common Sense Media site has a unique way of showcasing their film reviews. Latest releases are shown in a list just with a poster, quick one-sentence blurb, age rating, and star rating. If you click through, you get to see a short video review of the film, featuring a few short clips from the film with a voice-over review.
Ratings and Reviews for Families: Movies, TV, Books, Games, Podcasts & Apps (Common Sense Media) About Dr. Cross. Cori Cross, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), she is a former executive board member of the Council on Communications and Media and is an official AAP ...
We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in order to make the best choices for their children. Through our education programs and policy efforts, Common Sense Media empowers parents, educators, and young people to become knowledgeable and responsible digital citizens. For more information, go to:www.commonsense.org.
Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. Go to commonsensemedia.org for age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites and books. Share
Our review: Parents say Not yet rated Rate movie. Kids say (1 ): Director Ken Loach is known for tackling social issues head on, without turning away from bleakness or sugarcoating injustice. As with his previous films, The Old Oak doesn't oversimplify the complexities of its characters, nor does it lean so far into idealism as to tie things up ...
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Watch Common Sense Media's video review to help you make informed decisions. ... Skip to main content Common Sense Media. Movie & TV reviews for parents. Use app. For Parents; For Educators; Our Work and Impact; Language: English. English Español (próximamente) - volver al inicio. Search Or browse by category: ... Old. age 14+ Compelling ...
Terrific film has incredibly realistic violence. No Country for Old Men is a very symbolic and differential film from others, however it is extremely violent. VIOLENCE: At the beginning, a man is strangled with metal hand cuffs violently for a very extended time. They drop the floor, the man still strangling the other, until eventually the ...
The official subreddit for YourMovieSucks.org. Common Sense Media is the Worst Movie Reviewer. The parent's guide at IMDb is more exhaustive and detailed than anything on Common Sense Media. I can't believe that the Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation donates to them. Honestly I don't see the point in common sense.
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