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Cars

(2006, Rated G, Family and kids, Starring Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Owen Wilson)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Pixar comedy is full of four-wheeled fun.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Characters learn to appreciate one another's differences; some race and ethnic stereotypes.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Car falls off his transport truck, briefly faces "gang" of cars; rip-roaring chase through small town leaves road torn up.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Chaste flirting between boy and girl cars.
  • Language:

    Use of the word "hell."
  • Consumerism:

    Movie features products renamed for cars to consume; movie tie-in products include Disney toys, Goodyear tires, NASCAR, and McDonald's Happy Meals.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Cars

Parents need to know that the car characters do some pretty raucous racing, careening off walls, trees, and each other. A group of The Fast and the Furious-style vehicles briefly threaten another car. Cars argue with one another, lose their tempers, and look sad or lonely. There's some innocent flirtation between boy and girl cars. Some mild language -- at least one use of "hell." At 116 minutes, it's on the long side for animation and may be too much for some really little kids. But stick around for the closing credits!

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the relationship between the old cars and the newer ones. They have different values. How does the film set up a choice between the current era (selfishness, commercial and celebrity culture run rampant) and a more ethical-seeming past (Doc embodies patience, skill, and dedication to community)? How does Lightning learn to appreciate and also, conveniently, enhance that simpler life?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Cars?
  •  I think this movie is

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See all 148 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great movie for all ages.

    This is one of the few animated movies we have come across that has almost no scary moments. There is a scene where two cars are chased through a field by an angry piece of farm equipment (made to look like a bull) and that's pretty much it. Well loved by my child and her cousins.

  2. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    My 3yr old's favorite movie!

    Great movie for parents and kids. My 3 year old loves it and it is much less scary than Nemo to her. The car races are load with crashes which would be only thing to watch out for.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Love it! very good, tells positive messages, love the characters, humor that all ages can laugh at! very good, Highly reccomended

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Love it! very good, tells positive messages, love the characters, humor that all ages can laugh at! very good, Highly reccomended

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Love it! very good, tells positive messages, love the characters, humor that all ages can laugh at! very good, Highly reccomended

  6. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    My son's favorite movie, of course, by also my GIRLS' FAVORITE

    Only iffy words I heard were "stupid" and "moron". Depends on your rules. Some homes may accept their children using these words, but some children aren't allowed to say them, much less call someone by one of these names. We choose to address the issue if they begin to use the words, because it is a GREAT MOVIE.

  7. I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    My least favourite pixar movie, it was a chore to sit though this one. Why so popular? It's about talking cars for crying out loud! How can you care for those types of characters?! Can't believe they're making a sequel.

  8. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    loved it!

    a funny movie every kid will love.

  9. I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Says The Word Hell In It And A O.K. Very Little Kids

  10. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great for ages 3 and UP!

    This is the only movie we let our son watch because it is the only one we have found that isn't violent AND no parents die. The messages about friendship and working together are great.

  11. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 2.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative role models

    OK for older ones, not for lttle ones.

    A bit too old for little ones. Some sexual undertones in the messages. Some stuff goes right over the head of my 4 year old.

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great Movie!

    I love this moveie. It may be called a movie for little kids, but I would watch it again any day.

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Great movie

    This is one of my daughter's favorite movies. The main character learns that thinking only of himself makes for a lonely life and working with and thinking of others helps build strong communities. The movie is fun to watch for kids and for grown-ups. My only objection is a couple of times they say idiot, otherwise it's a great film.

  14. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Help others even if it means giving up what you want

    My son can not get enough of the movie, and the lesson Lightning learns is sooo positive. If we watch it at bed time and the kids have to go down before its over I sometimes catch my self not wantting to stop the movie.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 4.0

    One scary part...

    There is one scene that could be a little scary for younger viewers - Frank, a big farm machine, bursts out of a hedge and chases Lightening and his friend. It is only scary because it comes so suddenly and Frank is depicted as a red, raging bull.

  16. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I love it

    This movie is awesome! I liked that part when the 4 cars took out the car.

  17. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    pixar please make an edit

    the movie should be rated pg due to the uses hell

  18. I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    this movie was the best animated movie of 2006. i loved it.

  19. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 4.0

    Good Movie

    I have four children 3-8 and they all enjoyed this film

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Pixar can do no wrong. Emotional, fun, funny, and visually superb anything I've seen outside of the Pixar studio.

    Two uses of "Hell". That is the extent of the iffy content in this movie. Previous Pixar films had more peril and frightening moments, but less language that this film. This one has little to no peril, but an ever so slight amount more than the others. I believe that this is the tamest Pixar yet, and is appropriate even for your youngest. This is actually my favorite Pixar so far. It is touching, heart warming, and visually stunning. Pixar is the best animation studio in the world, but the reason their films are the best is not because of their high quality visuals, but because of their great storytelling. People young and old can enjoy this movie. I reccomend it to everyone.

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