towards the beginning of this movie, the secenes may be too hard to follow for kids under thirteen. the mother dies almost immediately after haven given birth to a child; who is aging backwards. the movie follows a boy (who appears old) growing into a man (who appears younger as time progresses). As he falls in love with Daisy, they buy a house and there are frequent sex scenes. in the middle of the movie the ship where benjamin is working was attacked ruthlessly. there is gunfire, and at the end of the battle the captain has blood all over him. it was a good movie for kids ages fourteen and up; but if you're younger I wouldn't advise you to see it.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Compelling drama takes on big life questions.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, family relationships, growing up
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–15
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that this moving, memorable film is a compelling exploration of life, death, and the enduring power of love. Despite such weighty subjects, older teens -- whose interest may initially be piqued by star Brad Pitt -- will likely find it engrossing, and even touching. Younger viewers, on the other hand, could be overwhelmed by the mature themes. Expect some sexual innuendo and nonexplicit clinches, swearing (including infrequent use of "f--k"), a sequence that includes a bit of bloody violence, and period-accurate smoking and drinking.
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 the movie's messages. What is it attempting to say about life, love and death? Are these messages relatable, even though the basic premise is pure fantasy?
- Do you think this movie could have been made without advanced special effects and computer techniques? How is this movie different from other Hollywood films, especially those that rely on more obvious effects?
- What do you think it would be like to grow up with the zest of youth masked by an aged body?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
What’s the Story?
Born 80 years old, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) ages backward over time. Weak and wrinkled as a toddler, unlined and unencumbered as a grandfather, his is a life that moves against everyone else's current -- including that of Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), the African-American servant who finds him abandoned on the steps of a New Orleans nursing home and mothers him, and Daisy (Cate Blanchett), the love of his life, who's a young girl when they first meet. As Benjamin hurtles toward the moment when he and Daisy can finally meet as equals in the middle of life, he makes friends, takes to the seas, and falls in love with a British expatriate (Tilda Swinton). But it's Daisy he ultimately seeks, despite the challenges that loom when they must continue their journey in preordained -- and sadly opposite -- directions.
Is It Any Good?
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has a compelling, haunting plot. Watching it is an emotional experience, despite it's meandering pace (it could have -- should have -- been made leaner to make it even stronger). Director David Fincher, collaborating with Pitt for the third time, takes advantage of technological wizardry to move the story forward without letting the tricks overwhelm the story. This isn't a film that stands on the shoulders of special-effects gimmickry.
Like the Oscar-winning Forrest Gump (which also broke ground with its techno wizardry), Benjamin Button has a living, beating heart. A wistful awareness of mortality, and of the clock ticking ceaselessly toward an inevitable end, looms over everything. Benjamin is a splendidly written character, and Pitt plays him tenderly, juggling melancholy and hope, sometimes all at once. And Blanchett is the perfect complement; a tempest who finds her way with grace. Their affair makes for an extraordinary love story.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: David Fincher
Run time: 167 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/2008, DVD release: 5/5/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
Run time: 167 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/25/2008, DVD release: 5/5/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
Our Members Say
See all 42 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Too mature for kids under 13-14
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Best movie ever!
Wonderful film! Very romantic, beautiful scenery, so heartwarming and agonizingly painful! So sweet! My name is Caroline, just like the daughter so that was a plus for me. Wonderful job and great direction. Some violent war scenes, I had to leave the room, but no guns, etc.
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I rate this title off for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
teens
it countins tons of bad scenes i regret that i showed it to my sisters! i didnt know that it wa that bad! so i went out of the middle of the movie':o
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
12 and older would be fine :)
i liked the movie,it's a good movie but it's PG13 but i say 12 and older because since my mom is very extremly strict about watching a PG13 movie, but after my mom watched it, she said it was real good movie and actually let me watch it so i say 12 and older would be fine.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
great film, too much sex.
This movie is obviously a great movie, but also has no business with kids under 10. Too much sex and drinking. Sex is actually one of the main issues of this fil. More than 15 sexually related things happen in this movie. Otherwise, see it, it's awesome!
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
A very long big bore. Not suitable for young teens and young kids.
It takes too long in the beginning to get to the guts of the story. The old woman in the hospital is oftentimes very difficult to understand. The story itself is probably a good one but it takes too long to tell and there are roo many random scenes that do not add benefit. Overall a big bore. The sexual scenes are not too bad... no nudity... but I wouldn't let my 11 yr old watch it. The scenes go just enough over the edge that kids should not be seeing it.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Not just another movie based off a book
If you have the opportunity to read F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button before watching this movie of its namesake, I highly recommend you do so. If not, you should consider reading it as the short story begins and ends far differently than the movie. After reading the short story and then watching the film, I did see where the inspiration for this great movie derived. There's a type of character growth in Benjamin and sacrifices made are far more sympathetic than of the its original story. This movie carried along its characters with thought, humor, and care, something that was more of a dark humor in Fitzgerald's story. The Case Of Benjamin Button is a beautifully done movie, and although it bore my 9-year old niece to sleep, the teenagers were remained curious throughout the movie.
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Trying to hard to be "Titanic"
Benjamin Button is an epic love story, one of two, its just the other one is the highest grossing film of all time. And like Titanic, BB is boring and way to long (almost three hours!!), it only gets memorable when showcasing the huge special effects. I expected more from David Fincher.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
A slow moving movie, but a great storyline.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A movie about a child born old, and jnstead of aging, gets younger. This movie reminded me of both Forrest Gump and Titanic. Now, this film is a slow-moving flick, so kids may be bored by the lack of action in it. Some things to watch out for include primarily sexual scenes. There is some subsatnce usage in this film, and violence shouldn't be a problem. There is a scene where a tug boat is attacked by a German U-Boat, this may be intense to young viewers (8 or younger), but if your child has seen any of the Star Wars films and handled them fine, they should be good. Language shouldn't be much of a concern, but watch out for a 12 year old kid dropping the f bomb towards the end. Finally, we look at the sex/nudity. Towards the end, there is a scene where the main characters are engaging in sexual intercourse, and this is shown from a distance, as it also happens at other places too. An "old" man goes to a whore house, but nothing explicit is shown. Close to the very end, a woman and man have sex, nothing is shown but the woman in her undergarments getting dressed. Overall, this movie isn't the most exciting movie, but if your child has seen either Titanic or Forrest Gump, they should be fine.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
the curious and great case of benjamin button.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was one of the best films of 2008 and is a feat is special effects and has a great story full of adventures for it's key character.
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Lives in OklahomaI rate this title on for age 12 and give it- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
You should think twice before going with a teen.
In the first hour and a half, the main character has sex with three different women. That's just way over the top, and comletely uncalled for. Then you add inappropriate words on top. Way too mature for younger audiences.
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Lives in Texas
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
AMAZING!!!
the best movie i have ever seen
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
Depressing but AMAZING
I am twelve and I just saw the movie today. I was crying and crying and crying and 5 minutes. It was SO SAD! I had to leave the room every now and then because it was SO DEPRESSING! My aunt who is 27 said she felt like jumping off a bridge after she saw it. It is EXTREMELY GOOD though. When you are under 14, you can watch it because it IS APPROPRIATE, but hard to handle. I don't think I should have been watching it, but the overall movie does get an A+! It was very touching and emotional, so if you can take those kind of movies, you will love this.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Very Deep
This is an excellent movie. It really makes you think. While it does drag a bit at points, keep holding on for its fantastic ending.
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I rate this title off for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Mature subjects not suitable for young teens
Mature subjects, long storyline, sexual content, bloody war violence and intense scenes may not be suitable for people aged 15 and under. This is pretty much an adult film. But maybe because of the fantasy element, kids might like it. Parents are cautioned.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
overhyped
Wow. Did I miss something? this was like watching paint dry to me...too long and frankly, the CGI was just creepy
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
amazing!
Best film ever just as good as forest gump and is my familiys best film!
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Lives in FloridaI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 33% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
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