Handpicked by Our Editors

Matilda
Age 8+
5

Matilda

Why We Recommend It

Clever Matilda handles bullying kids and berating adults with fantastical solutions that bend slightly dark and surreal.

Read our full review
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Movies New in Theaters

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The Princess and the Frog (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that Disney's newest hand-drawn feature is the studio's first to feature an African-American heroine, Princess Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose). The story -- which is set in New Orleans' French Quarter -- is a spin on the classic fairy ... read more

The Princess and the Frog
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Old Dogs (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this family comedy from the director of Wild Hogs promises lots of sight gags and physical humor, usually at the expense of stars Robin Williams and John Travolta. Williams plays an older bachelor who discovers that he has spirited ... read more

Old Dogs
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Planet 51 (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this animated alien comedy earns its PG rating with a fair bit of sexualized humor -- including jokes about anal probing and penises which may go over younger kids' head (though middle schoolers won't be duped -- in fact, they'll ... read more

Age 7+
Planet 51
2
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Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (an unofficial remake of 1992's Bad Lieutenant), is far too dark and depraved for kids, even most teens. It centers on a post-Katrina New Orleans police lieutenant/junkie (Nicolas Cage) who ... read more

No Kids
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
4
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The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that the second installment in the hugely popular Twilight saga is darker and a bit more violent than the first movie, but not enough to make it inappropriate for teens, especially those who've read the books. That said, the relationship ... read more

Age 13+
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
3
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The Blind Side (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this formulaic but uplifting family sports drama -- which is based on the true story of football player Michael Oher -- centers on messages about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. That said, it ... read more

Age 12+
The Blind Side
3
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Red Cliff (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that director John Woo's rousing battle epic based on Chinese history definitely has plenty of violence (spraying blood, martial arts, etc.) and other war-related themes, as well as one notable sex scene. But there are also strong ... read more

Age 15+
Red Cliff
5
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2012 (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Roland Emmerich's 2012 is an intense, violent disaster movie, with billions of anonymous characters getting killed during massive scenes of destruction (earthquakes, tsunamis, and more). Although the tone is mainly exciting, ... read more

Age 13+
2012
2
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Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Wes Anderson's dry, offbeat adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's story Fantastic Mr. Fox is fine for most grade-schoolers but also has some themes and humor that will go over kids' head. The story features a lot of ... read more

Age 7+
Fantastic Mr. Fox
4
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Pirate Radio (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that, though Pirate Radio is about rebellion of every stripe, it's ultimately a good-natured film filled with good-hearted characters who will appeal to mature teens (as well as parents who cherish rock 'n' roll). The movie's events are ... read more

Age 16+
Pirate Radio
3
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The Messenger (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that The Messenger is an intense but thoughtful drama about a wounded Iraq War veteran who's been assigned the very difficult task of informing people of their loved ones' deaths. It's a grim subject that certainly won't appeal to ... read more

Age 17+
The Messenger
4
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Uncertainty (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this indie movie -- part thriller, part drama -- may prove too offbeat and experimental for teens, even though it stars (500) Days of Summer's Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It asks some big questions about family and relationships but ... read more

Age 15+
Uncertainty
2
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Disney's A Christmas Carol (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that, unlike The Polar Express, this Robert Zemeckis adaptation of a classic holiday tale is too intense both visually and in content for families with very young children. At its heart, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a ghost ... read more

Age 8+
Disney's A Christmas Carol
3
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The Fourth Kind (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi thriller from director Olatunde Osunsanmi mixes supposedly real footage of alien abductees with re-creations played out by actors (including Milla Jovovich and Will Patton). That mix makes it hard to know what to believe, ... read more

Age 14+
The Fourth Kind
2
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The Box (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Cameron Diaz thriller from the director of Donnie Darko is based on a macabre premise: that human beings would rather win money than protect a stranger's life. It's too confusing and intense for tweens and young teens, and, in ... read more

Age 13+
The Box
1
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Gentlemen Broncos (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this comedy from the folks behind Napoleon Dynamite -- which co-stars Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement -- is pretty light on sexuality and swearing (particularly for a PG-13 movie), it's quite uncomfortable to watch. ... read more

Age 12+
Gentlemen Broncos
1
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Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this powerful indie drama based on the novel Push by Sapphire is a harsh, raw depiction of a Harlem teen’s brutal life that may be too intense for many viewers, even older teens. The main character is abused in every way imaginable ... read more

Age 17+
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
4
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The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this offbeat war comedy based on the same-named book by Jon Ronson could be a magnet for teens intrigued by both the loopy humor and stars George Clooney and Ewan McGregor. Drug use -- presented in a humorous context -- plays a key ... read more

Age 15+
The Men Who Stare at Goats
3
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Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this hugely anticipated Michael Jackson concert movie is age-appropriate for King of Pop fans in the older tween range and up. Expect a few of Jackson's standard suggestive dance moves (there's plenty of crotch-grabbing, for ... read more

Age 10+
Michael Jackson's This Is It
4
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Astro Boy (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this animated robot superhero adventure based on the 1960s anime series Astro Boy is age-appropriate for elementary-schoolers. It has fairly sophisticated themes (grief, loss, and war), as well as plenty of cartoon action violence -- ... read more

Age 7+
Astro Boy
3
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Motherhood (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Uma Thurman dramedy offers a fairly unvarnished look at parenthood that will appeal much more to moms and dads (who will be able to relate to the subject matter) than to their kids. Teens who do opt in will find some humor in ... read more

Age 15+
Motherhood
3
more new in theater

New on DVD

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Ben 10: Alien Swarm (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this live-action film based on the popular Ben 10 animated series follows the adventures of a secret team that combats evil alien invaders. Hero Ben Tennyson is older here than in the last live-action Ben 10 movie, but Alien Swarm is ... read more

Age 9+
Ben 10: Alien Swarm
3
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Yogi's First Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this musical cartoon from 1980 (re-released for the 2009 holiday rush) is a fun one for kids and adults (unlike more recent kids-only My Little Pony and Mickey Mouse fare). Yogi does have an ardent admirer in the form of Cindy Bear, ... read more

Age 4+
Yogi's First Christmas
4
Expired.jpg
Expired (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mature indie dramedy revolves around a tentative, troubled romance between adults and probably won't have too much appeal for kids, or even many teens. It's fairly explicit about sex, with one main character using Internet ... read more

Age 16+
Expired
3
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Gone With the Wind (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this epic drama, which is widely considered one of the top movies of all time, would never be rated G by today's standards. The film centers around the Civil War-torn South and includes several scenes of war-related violence, such as ... read more

Age 10+
Gone With the Wind
5
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Star Trek (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this slick, upbeat sci-fi adventure isn't much more violent than the earlier Star Trek movies, there's a heightened feel that gives it a little bit more edge. While the action is (mostly) bloodless, it's also intense; expect ... read more

Age 12+
Star Trek
4
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My Sister's Keeper (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tearjerking drama explores some heavy themes that younger audiences may find difficult to process without guidance. A teenager is terminally ill, and her march to the end is painful: She vomits after chemo, her hair ... read more

Age 14+
My Sister's Keeper
3
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Bruno (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mockumentary from comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is even edgier and more sexually explicit than his previous outing, Borat. It's full of intentionally shocking material, including a startling amount of nudity (both male and female ... read more

No Kids
Bruno
3
up.jpg
Up (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is the second Pixar movie (after The Incredibles) to receive a PG rating, mostly due to a few potentially frightening scenes involving a band of trained talking dogs trying to get rid of the protagonists, some moments where ... read more

Age 6+
Up
5
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The Ugly Truth (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this R-rated comedy is much crasser than star Katherine Heigl's last romcom, 27 Dresses. It's heavy on sexual references and scenarios (Jell-O wrestling, vibrating underwear, etc.) and light on sweetness. The characters are ... read more

Age 15+
The Ugly Truth
2
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The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this raunchy comedy is packed with over-the-top, crude language and sexual jokes/innuendo from beginning to end. No bodily function is left unreported; no serious issue is safe from the lowest forms of humor. Expect a constant stream ... read more

Age 16+
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
3
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Spread (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mature Ashton Kutcher dramedy is an interesting take on beautiful L.A. and all its associated ugliness -- but it's definitely not for kids. Expect lots of fairly graphic sex scenes (including naked breasts and buttocks), some ... read more

No Kids
Spread
2
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My One and Only (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this 1950s-set comedy starring Renee Zellweger is fairly light and frothy in tone, it takes on mature themes like adultery, single parenthood, and divorce's effects on children. In addition to plenty of irresponsible ... read more

Age 14+
My One and Only
3
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A Martian Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there are several images of violence that appear throughout this animated holiday movie. Some are distanced by appearing on a watched TV -- such as images of war, hockey fights, and a gun shooting -- and some are enacted by main ... read more

Age 5+
A Martian Christmas
2
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The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this action-packed remake of the gritty, same-named 1970s thriller is intense and violent and not meant for young kids. The fast-paced story is accompanied by heaping doses of realistic, bloody (expect lots of gunplay ... and ... read more

Age 16+
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
3
Food.png
Food, Inc. (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this documentary is a hard-hitting exposé on the food industry, especially the elite group of powerful corporations behind most of the food on supermarket counters. Most teens may not be interested, even though the documentary is ... read more

Age 13+
Food, Inc.
4
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I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a review of the movie shown in theaters and not the unrated version with an alternate ending available on DVD.Parents also need to know that this deplorable teen comedy targets teens especially since it stars Heroes ... read more

Age 14+
I Love You, Beth Cooper
1
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Aliens in the Attic (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this alien adventure comedy stars Disney Channel and Nickelodeon veterans like Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) and Austin Robert Butler (Zoey 101),so expect tweens and younger elementary schoolers to be interested.There's a ... read more

Age 8+
Aliens in the Attic
3
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G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this relentless action adventure inspired by the '80s cartoon/toy line is filled with extreme (albeit minimally bloody/gory) violence. Kids will want to see it because they're the ones who play with the toys, but there's no end to ... read more

Age 13+
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
1
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Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that though this feature is hailed as a full-length movie, it is actually a collection of shorts, some of which can be found on the Mickey's Christmas Carol DVD. The pace is almost manic, bringing to mind a sugar rush, and some sword ... read more

Age 4+
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse
2
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Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this addition to the Dora collection features a multi-ethnic cast of traditional Christmas characters. Santa speaks some Spanish and has brown skin. Dora and her friends celebrate Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve, with a table of baked ... read more

Age 3+
Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure
3
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Whatever Works (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tepid Woody Allen comedy tackles mature themes like threesomes, homosexual relationships, and infidelity, though there's little actual nudity or explicit sexual content. The main character tries to commit suicide (played ... read more

Age 15+
Whatever Works
2
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