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The Incredibles

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Incredible! But action too much for youngest kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Diverse characters, strong females.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Frequent, intense (but not graphic) peril, characters killed, reference to suicide.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Edna Mode smokes a long cigarette.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of The Incredibles was written by Nell Minow

Parents need to know that this PG movie is more violent and scary than the previous G-rated Pixar films and may be too intense for younger kids. While the violence is low-key and not graphic, even comic, it may be upsetting for some kids. There is also a reference to attempted suicide. The hilariously bossy fashion designer smokes long cigarettes.

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 what superpowers they would most like to have and why. What would your uniform look like? Why did Violet begin to wear her hair back after she used her superpowers, and what made Syndrome so angry?
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More on The Incredibles

What’s the Story?

Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), a superheroine whose limbs and torso can stretch the length of an Olympic swimming pool, pauses for just a second on the way to saving the world to check out her rear end in the form-fitting super-suit. Seems that after three kids, there's a bit of stretching there that doesn't have anything to do with superpowers. Her super-strong husband, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), finds that if he isn't careful throwing evil robots around, he can throw his back out, too. Everyday life is challenging enough for these superhero parents, especially with a young baby, a super-speedy son, and a middle-school daughter who can create force fields and make herself invisible. Cleverly these super-powers resemble some familiar family roles -- powerful dad, stretched-thin mom, hyperactive jock son, shy and awkward daughter -- and add resonance to this story of family who sticks together, no matter what.

Is It Any Good?

What is most incredible and most engaging about THE INCREDIBLES is how, well, credible it is. Writer-director Brad Bird and the brainiacs at Pixar have climbed the Mount Everest of animation and created human characters as vivid and believable and utterly endearing as any who have ever appeared on film -- animation, live-action, and everything in between. In a witty prologue, we see the superheroes being interviewed. As Mr. Incredible leans toward the TV camera, he gets slightly out of focus. It must have been tempting to take advantage of the endless precision of computer images to keep the edges sharp. But this is a movie that is clever and confident enough to permit a little imperfection in pursuit of perfect believability.

The action sequences are superbly staged, inventive, and exciting, especially the fights with a many-tentacled robot, and when the Incredible family is joined by the very, um, cool Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), who can create ice out of the water molecules in the air. It's also a very funny movie, hilarious at every level, from school-age snickers to good-natured teen snarkiness to subtle grown-up laughter. Bird himself plays the funniest character in the film, the supersuit designer Edna Mode. Most of all, though, the movie has wisdom and tons of heart. It's a smart, fresh, and funny movie about the real superheroes: families who stick together.

Movie Details

Studio: Buena Vista Pictures, Director: Brad Bird
Run time: 105 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/5/2004, DVD release: 3/15/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for action violence

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Incredible movie!

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    One of Pixar's best for the 9+ area

    This is my favorite Pixar movie and one of the best superhero movies. But some explosions, killing, and a scene at the end where the villain is sucked into a jet propeller, along with a lot of general fighting, make this better for the 9 and up age category. It's a great movie!

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Another smash hit... for mature kids

    good for kids who don't freak out at action and violence and shooting (i loved it) some mild violence, frequent fighting between family members (but quite normal and it irons out in the end), and some alcoholic drinks make a little screen time, but this is hard to catch and most kids will not notice it. the first time i watched i couldn't figure out what the automated captain was giving him!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    The Incredibles

    This is one of my family top favorite movie of all time. What are common sense talking about?? Too violent and intense?? Come on! it's not too violent and intense for the whole family. My 4 and 6 years old brothers LOVE it and they were NOT scared at all. This movie is one of the best family movie ever, you have to watch this with your family! You have to go buy this movie NOW!

  5. I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    13+

    any these language "s..ual" and "stupid" and "suck it" aren't age appropriate for under 13. NOT FOR CHILDREN 12 & UNDER!!!STAY AWAY UNDER 13.

  6. I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    incredible!

    I was surprised at this movie. It's one of the very few pixar movies that wasn't completely stupid. Why can't all pixar movies be as cool as this?? WHY!?!?!?

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    i liked this movie it was funny and teaches a good lesson

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    a kds action hero movie with an adult twist

    this movie isnt educational nor does it have a clear posiative message but it is fun for younger kids the parents do kiss often and the girl at the end of the movie the girl gets a date i have 6 brothers 4 brother and 4 sisters and all ept the baby love it she finds it scary but then she is 1 their is drinking and smoking and people dying and world domination so i dont agree with the upper movie review at the top of the page but it is a little kids movie so.

  9. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Be Prepared to Hug Your little ones during some scenes

    I think the Omnitroid scenes might have been scary, but with, appropriate humor, and mild action after that, the movie is fine for kids 4 and up.

  10. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 3 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Fine for 7+, but probably not okay for kids any younger

    The movie is entertaining - fine for my 7 year old. But the beginning of the movie is pretty intense with shooting and a car chase. My 3 year old has watched it, but I wish she hadn't.

  11. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    My favorite movie of the decade

    Don't laugh, but Brad Bird is one of the great filmmakers of this era. The Incredibles is unbelievable and Ratatouille definitely right up there --- such great characters, great writing, two such different movies that are so amazingly satisfying.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Perfect for almost any one.

    I liked it but it did have some violence in it that some people might not like but it isn't gory or any thing. It just uses some weapons.

  13. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    An all-time classic

    The combination of real characters, James-Bondy main storyline and wonderful animation make this one of our family's all time favorites

  14. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

  15. I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    As, dare I say, incredible, this movie is, many things little ones shouldn't watch are snuck in. 1) A man attempts suicide and sues the person who stops him. 2) In one scene, it is repeatedly stated that a girl is "hungry" for a guy she has romantic feelings for. This would bother me less if the character in question was not a teenager no older than fourteen. 3)Word of warning: A married couple are made to appear as if they are on the verge of divorce after only one argument. This could open up discussions about arguments between parents. 4)A major plot point is a woman believes her husband is having an affair. You might want to explain what this means with their kids beforehand. If they are not old enough to understand that, they should not see this movie. 5) Not to nitpick, but a police officer immediately pulls out a gun when he sees two men he thinks are robbing a jewelry store. A real police officer would first talk to the robber, and if that didn't work, use pepper spray. It is only at that point that he would pull a gun.

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    A GREAT MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    this movie is good there is a lot of things blowing up but it is computer cartons so it is not so scary. It is about a family of super heroes that are retired. But the father gets mixed up in a bad persons plan to wipe out super heroes so he with all his inventions to be the best super hero that ever lived .

  17. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Go watch it!

    Hi, I'm ten years old and I think this is film is the best! There is a tiny bit of cartoon violents but no one gets really gets hurt.So if you like a good piece of action and a hole lot of fun this is the perfect movie for you!

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Best Pixar movie ever! Great morals, role models, storyline, and animation! ell done Brad Bird! Maybe not so suitable for younger ones.

  19. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models

    For kids age 8+ to see WITH their parents

    IF a 5+ age child sees this they will see the violence, question (silently or aloud) the passionate kissing and butt pinching. When did saying 'totally wicked' become a good thing? There is a part where the mom tells the kids that violence is real and they need to be careful. Weird that this would be put in the movie which is filled with references to sex, bad words, violence, et cetera. My husband and I like it, but as I look for good examples for my kids, I realize the little details that the movie company put in this, do make an impact.

  20. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    NOT IFFY

    ONLY IFFY FOR VIOLENCE

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