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The Queen

(2006, Rated PG-13, Drama, Starring James Cromwell, Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Death of Diana causes crisis for British royals.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The royal family's resentment and dislike of Diana appears here to be unreasonable; Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth have a tense relationship, competing for "public" support.
  • Violence:

    Allusions to Diana's fatal Paris car crash (archival shots of the tangled-up car, with police inspecting the scene); Diana's young sons and Charles cry at news of her death; the royals hunt stags (using guns); a dead stag (killed off screen) appears bloody and decaptitated.
  • Sex:

    Tabloid shots of Diana with her fiancé (illustrating photographers' intrusiveness); Diana appears in an archival TV interview complaining that there were "three people" in her marriage to Charles.
  • Language:

    Brief profanity: one "f--k," plus one each of "bugger," "hell," and "Oh, Christ."
  • Consumerism:

    British tabloids on frequent display.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Minor drinking (wine with meals).
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Queen

Parents need to know that this movie probably won't show up on kids' radar. It's really for the adult royal watcher. But if you decide to watch with your kids, know that the movie includes brief allusions to Princess Diana's car crash, preceded by the assembled press throng. There's a lot of discussion of the funeral, as well as archival TV imagery of the public mourning sites (flowers and artifacts left at estate and palace gates). Diana's sons and some on-the-street interviewees appear in tears. The movie features hunting scenes in which the royals "stalk" stags and shoot at them; one dead stag (killed off screen) appears hanging headless and draining blood, with its severed head on a table waiting for treatment. One use of "f--k" near beginning of film.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the tensions between traditional royal propriety and "modern" media representations. How does the film argue that this crisis -- the frenzy over Diana's death -- caused a shift in that relationship, since the royal family had to accommodate public sentiment rather than have subjects to follow their lead? How is the conflict between old and new explored in the relationship between the queen and Tony Blair (in this version of events, he embodies "modernization")? How accurate do you think this version of events really is?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    A Riveting and Intellectual Film...Watch it!

    THE QUEEN is, of course, the Queen of England. The story: The Queen of England (Helen Mirren is a revelation)has to deal with new 'radical' Prime Minister Tony Blair (brilliantly played by Michael Sheen). Later she must react to Diana's death and overcome her dislike of her daughter-in-law to maintain her public image and the respect of her people. Lanaguage is the only thing bad in this film, except for some thematic elements. It's rated PG-13 for "brief strong language" as any film that drops the F-bomb has to be. Blair's wife whispers a quick "f*ck off", and that's really the only thing bad in the movie. Your kids won't probably want to see it because of its lack of action and deliberate slow pace. But if you bring it home for family movie night, they just might walk away fufilled. Highly reccommended.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Emotionally charged drama for ages 12 and up.

    The Queen is a gripping, emotional drama that is made for adults. Not that it's very innapropriate, but that most kids will be very bored by the lack of action and the slow pace. One instance of the f word at the very beginning is the only thing innapropriate in this film. A brief shot of a decaptitated deer carcass may disturb younger viewers as well. So, if this movie is good for your child, he or she may be interested, but The Queen's best bet is for you.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in District of Columbia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    A must-see movie.

    I absolutely LOVED it!!!!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Good

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0

    Wonderful Movie

    I enjoyed this movie. I remember exactly where I was the moment the news of Princess Diana's accident was reported on the radio. It was interesting to see the event from the Royal's point of view. I don't recommend this movie for young children, not only because they won't understand the story, but because there is a disturbing scene showing a deer hanging upside down with its head cut off -- important to the movie, but may be scary to younger children.

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Helen Mirren is the Queen

    The Queen won't be everyone's cup of tea, because it is a deep, complex, intelligent film; a character study rarely seen today, and thus many will find it boring. But Helen Mirren puts on an acting clinic. Her perfect, emotionless posture displayed earlier in the film allows for the slightest wrinkle of an eyebrow to mean so much emotionally. Peter Morgan's script excellently explores themes of change, loyalty and tradition. The score brilliantly honors its subject without being flashy. Michael Sheen gives a strong and unfortunately overlooked performance as Tony Blair. If you are a fan of "artsy" films, you will have a jolly good time, but if you gave Spideman 3 a 5 star rating, you aren't worthy of The Queen.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    A fantastic and moving portrayal of a monarch!

    This movie carries the a great story and fabulous acting, all without a lot of sex, violence, and langauge. The main thing parents might be concerned about is the mention of Diana and Charles' various affairs.

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Learned so much

    I have lived in London and remember vividly when Diana died, but I still learned so much from this movie. It is very well acted.

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    A very good film, deserved all the Oscar nominations it got.

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Well done film!

    I liked Helen Mirren. Very good acting.

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

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