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Armageddon

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Rollercoaster thriller with deaths; not for all kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 10–13

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    None
  • Violence:

    Intense
  • Sex:

    Father enraged when he discovers his daughter in bed with her boyfriend
  • Language:

    Some strong language
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Yes

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Armageddon was written by Nell Minow

Parents need to know that there are a few sexual references (one major conflict is that the main character's daughter is sleeping with one of his men) and some strong language, but it is the intensity of the action that is the real cause of the PG-13 rating. Parents should also note that several major characters die. The age recommendation above is only for kids who enjoy that kind of roller-coaster style excitement.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about some of the moral questions that arise as people have to take risks and make sacrifices for the greater good.
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More on Armageddon

What’s the Story?

Meteors rain down on the planet and panic sets in as officials realize that an enormous asteroid is heading straight toward Earth. In a last-ditch effort, NASA official Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton) brings in crack oil driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) to help in a plan in which the team travels by space shuttle to the oncoming asteroid and uses a drill to plant a nuclear bomb there, destroying it before it hits Earth. In a subplot, Stamper brings in A.J. Frost (Ben Affleck) -- who's romantically involved with Stamper's daughter Grace (Liv Tyler) -- to join the mission.

Is It Any Good?

The summer thrill ride movie is becoming as much of a 4th of July tradition as the picnic and the fireworks, and the 1998 version is Armageddon, the second movie of the year about a meteor headed toward earth. While the plot line is predictable (think "Dirty Dozen" crossed with The Right Stuff) and concocted almost by recipe (take one tough but loveable hero -- Bruce Willis in his Die Hard mode -- and add in a loveably diverse group of misfits, then wisecracks to taste and just a touch of sentiment and a dash of young love for seasoning), the 10-14 year olds in your household (and the 10-14 year old in many of us) will find that it delivers as a summer explosion movie.

Movie Details

Studio: Touchstone Pictures, Director: Michael Bay
Run time: 150 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/31/1969, DVD release: 1/14/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and intense action, sad deaths

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Armageddon

    Loved it. Bruce Willis is an amazing actor.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Iffy For Mid Teens

    It's pretty long and boring for some people, and the endingis very tragic, but the special effects are amazing! For some reason, Bruce Willis got the Razzie Award for "Worst Actor" in this movie, but I think he did an amazing job! The soundtrack is also amazing! The language is pretty strong: "f*ck" is used twice, "godd*mn" is used about fifty times, and "sh*t" is used a few times. It's also extremely violent, but it's not bloody in any way.

  4. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title pause for age 17 and give it 1.0

    I am not into violent movies.

    To violent for me.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Too violent

    no one can handle this

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    a beautifly filmed kinetic action film

    Michael Bay's Armageddon is simply a great action movie. It has some of the best cinemotography and editing of all time.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title pause for age 11 and give it 3.0

    Great Hero Movie

    They should make more movies like this.

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title pause for age 13 and give it 5.0

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

  10. Parent Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

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