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Edward Scissorhands

  • 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 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Dark yet sweet underdog tale for older kids.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, emotional abuse, friendship
updated 11.30.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Role models:

    The neighbors are modern day witch-hunters, but the leading characters, including Edward and his 'foster' family, are soft-spoken, friendly, and open to diversity.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    An inventive take on the ugly-duckling motif, Edward proves once again that real beauty is on the inside.
  • Violence:

    Edward accidentally nips his face, then a little boy's. Edward is beaten with a stick repeatedly, and he stabs an attacker in the chest, causing him to fall out a window to his death.
  • Sex:

    A woman wears figure-hugging outfits and is also seen on top of Edward wearing a lace bra.
  • Language:

    Only three occasions of suggestive talk, one expletive.
  • Consumerism:

    Mom is an Avon lady, but besides the focus on make-up and hair, film is brand-free.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Dad serves Edward a drink, after which Edward gets visibly drunk and sick.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Edward Scissorhands was written by S. Jordan Mattos

Parents need to know that there is sporadic violence in this film. Aside from a woman attempting to seduce Edward wearing a lace bra, sexuality is limited to Fifties-style courting rituals (kissing and hugging). Some of the garish set pieces, like Edward's haunted mansion, and the title character, with mean-looking, scissors for fingers, may be terrifying for young children.

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 how the film is an 'Ugly Duckling' fable about a misunderstood, soft-spoken underdog who does not fit the cookie cutter mold.
  • What is normal?
  • How does conformity play a role in the townspeople's treatment of Edward?
  • Can you think of instances in real life when people have judged others based on their appearances?
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More on Edward Scissorhands

What’s the Story?

Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) is a down-on-her-luck Avon representative shopping around her small, sunny neighborhood for prospective clients. When skewered resources force her to pay a visit to the local haunted house, she meets Edward (Johnny Depp), a recluse living in the attic who shyly appears in a zany 80s punk bouffant and leather getup, with scissors for hands. When the matronly Peg adopts Edward and brings him home for dinner, the whole family must deal with the razor-sharp consequences of Edward's scissorhands; most notably Kim (Winona Ryder), the doe-eyed daughter who becomes Edward's object of affection. At first, the townies welcome Edward with patronizing curiosity, but, after he rejects the advances of the neighborhood hussy, the town shows its true colors. Edward proceeds to get caught at the wrong place at the wrong time and is pursued by the police. Cornered, he is forced to make a choice between staying with the girl of his dreams or returning to his dark palace alone.

Is It Any Good?

The film, lovingly directed by Tim Burton, is a darkly sweet (self) portrait of adolescent angst. We can all relate on some level to Edward's social awkwardness, and Depp's deer-in-headlights self-consciousness is adoring enough to soften the sharpest of pointed appendages. The pastel-colored township cuts a drastic figure against Edward's looming mansion in the distance. Like the best of David Lynch, the film exposes the cynical underbelly of front porch Americana, forcing us to find beauty and truth in the grotesque when we allow what is "good" to run more than skin-deep.

Movie Details

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox, Director: Tim Burton
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/7/1990, DVD release: 11/5/2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, brief language and sexuality.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great and a bit not great

    This is my favorate discriminative film it shows you a lot about the bad people in life the only bit of drinking is when kims ex-boy friend is in his car getting wasted also in a 12 you would expect the s-word and blood and a bit of sexuality

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Dark sci-fi comedy is best avoided for the little ones, but wonderful for tweens and up.

    I love this movie. I think dark comedies are great, because I have a twisted sense of humor. Language is one sh*t and some milder curses. Sexual content consists of one scene where a woman tries to seduce Edward in her lace bra, and some mild suggestive dialog. Violence consists of images of Edward that could scare little kids, Edward being tormented and mentally abused by people, Edward accidentally cuts a boy while trying to save him, Edward accidentally snips himself many times also, Edward impales a guy through his chest and slings him out a windows sending him to his death. I rate this OFF for 7 and under, IFFY for 8-10, and ON for 11 and older.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    a woman is trying to do sex with him

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Not that bad, but not for kids

    theres hardly anything bad, except a bit of poor language are violence (poor edward!) eddie is beaten with a stick a number of times, and pushed around a lot and called a creep. The sex is very mild, and the movie could do about it. the scene is very short, but of course thats what the magical fastforward button is for. But its a great movie, highly underappreciated, even though it's one of burtons best, in my opinion.

  5. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Why do they have to add the silly little things?!

    Without the language and the horrible sex scene, this movie would be wonderful. The movie is still good, but movie makers just put little things in there because they think adults will enjoy it more. Well, what about kids?

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Another great film from a Burton/Depp collabo

    This and "Sweeny Todd" are fantastic movies, this being considerably less violent, although it had potential (think about it, a guy w/ scissors for hands.) You gotta admire the innovativeness of Burton's imiganation and Depp's heart-warming acting. I also thought it was real thought-provoking and relevant to today's circumstances with the media and how we create our own monsters by tearing at one another.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Beautiful and very good, but dark and a bit scary

    My other review did not show up?: A masterpiece! My favorite movie of all time. Beautifully dark and the musical score is haunting and enchanting. Johnny Depp does a FANTASTIC job as a confused misfit of a creation trying to fit in and gain the trust and love of his "adopted" family. Very thought provoking and teaches the lesson of accepting others and loving them for who they are. Some concerns I would have for my siblings would be the occasional swear word (sh----, bas------d, da---, etc.) and some mild violence (a character is stabbed and falls through a window, Edward is helpless as he is brutally beaten, he accidentally cuts himself and a child in an attempt to save him). Also there is a scene in which a woman tries to seduce Edward, which may be confusing and bring up an avoided conversation for little ones. A must see for kids, such a wonderful, lovely movie!

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Tim Burton is at it again!

    This movie may be Tim Burton's best! Not innapropriate at all, but some mild violence included.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Wonderful movie, start to finish. Artsy and heartwarming.

    I was maybe, 8, when I first saw this movie, at a babysitter's house. The thought of a man with scissors for hands may scare parents, but you've got it all wrong! Poor Edward is just an uncommonly gentleman, misunderstood for his appearance. Another Tim Burton/Danny Elfman movie. Wonderful in everyway. The only -slightly- sexual part in the movie is when one of the lady neighbors shows Edward her hair cutting smocks, but it's humorous when he returns to the family and explains what happens. As for drinking, there is a little, but it's almost put out there in a silly, humorous way. It's heartwarming that somebody can love Edward as he is, unique and slightly dark on the outside, but sweet as a kitten on the inside. Not scary in the least, cool storyline, everything. But then again, this movie is just my style. I've loved it since I first watched it. Thank you, Vanessa! For showing me this masterpiece when I was younger!

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Vermont
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative role models

    Possibly the perfect film! =D

    I absolutely love this masterpiece by dark director Tim Burton. It has developed a cult following among older kids, and it remains a dark, romantic and deeply deeply moving lesson about accepting differences. I really cannot stress how incredible this film is... The acting is incredible, Johnny Depp plays a lost, frightened Edward so well that it seems real. The only concerns in this film for me would be sex, violence and themes. The stereotyping of suburbia could go over young children's heads, and the themes are often dark and sad, but it is great! The violence is often gory, but not TOOOOOOO bad... there's only two very bloody scenes. The sex, however, is different. There is references to rape, and Edward is seduced by Joyce. She climbs on top of him, exposes her bra, pushes his head into her breasts and they make out before the chair falls backwards. All of this is done in a comic but sexual manner, and for this reason I would reccomend it for OLDER children (10+) However, this is probably the perfect film: it has everything: drama, comedy, romance, horror, fantasy, action, everything. It's a bittersweet and lovely fable about trying to be accepted. It's beautiful, and I would give it 11 out of 10. A must see for EVERYONE!

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Character Joyce

    The character Joyce (Kathy Baker? has or pretends to have an orgasam when Edward cuts her hair. So I'm not really sure tweens should watch that before they can understand it. Besides that, its a great movie!

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Heartwarming

    It is sad that he was misunderstood and had to fake a death to live!

  15. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title pause for age 12 and give it 4.0

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title pause for age 10 and give it 5.0

    amazing

    i love this movie i almost cried i say 10 and up

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    A heartbreaker for sure.

    This movie was just totally amazing. Like a lot of awkward teens, I could relate to Edward's shyness and lack of social skills; but more then that, anyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite belong will really be touched by this movie. The bittersweet ending was wonderful, and the relationship between Edward and Kim softened even my cynical, unromantic heart. I highly recommend this for anyone with an open enough mind to accept the melancholy feel and quirky sadness of this film. (An unimportant PS: Be careful, Edward's voice may make you melt from the 'aww!' factor.)

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Absolutely beautiful, sad, and hilarious!

    This movie was so amazing! I almost cried at the end; my eyes got teary. Anyway, it's also really funny and an absolute masterpiece. Sex: Isn't a real issue. CSM covers it. Violence: Edward does cut a few people, including himself, but there really isn't violence. Some people chase Edward. Language: There is defintely some swearing. Around ten swear words, including God's name in vain. I really recommend this movie, particularly on Clearplay DVD Player (clearplay.com)

  19. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    dark, beautiful

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Sad, scary, Funny, uh romantic?

    I liked the idea of the snow at the very end. This movie is great, but not exactly for the little kiddies. The end was pretty graphic, but all in all it was a fun movie. check it out.

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