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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Absolutely! While most movie reviews tell you about how good a movie is (we do that, too), our family movie reviews do more. Common Sense reviews give you what you need to know to make a great choice for your family. They also offer ways to talk to your kids about the movies they see. Our users tell us that our movie reviews even settle arguments about what's appropriate! So read, decide, and enjoy.

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Movies New in Theaters

showing: family and kids
princess_and_the_frog.jpg
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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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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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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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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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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Toy Story 2 (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Toy Story sequel is just as delightful as the first movie. The plot again finds the toys banding together to rescue a fellow toy in peril; the fact that characters are separated from their loved ones could scare or upset the ... read more

Age 4+
Toy Story 2
5
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Toy Story (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that there is separation in the movie -- toys are separated from one another and from their owner (but if your kid made it to preschool without an issue, this should be fine). All of the dynamics behind sibling rivalry are here as well, ... read more

Age 4+
Toy Story
5
cloudy_with_a_chance_of_meatballs.jpg
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this adaptation of the classic children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is bound to attract the 10-and-under set. While there's nothing overtly age-inappropriate in the movie, expect a bit of salty language along the lines ... read more

Age 6+
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
2
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Shorts (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fantasy adventure from Spy Kids director Robert Rodriguez is sure to appeal to kids and tweens. Expect some mild insults -- like "lunkhead" and "this sucks" -- and potty humor, mostly regarding a booger (one ... read more

Age 7+
Shorts
4
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Ponyo (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this stunning adventure from anime master Hayao Miyazaki is one of his most kid-friendly films to date, with strong characters and positive messages. There's little violence, although a few scenes during and after a climactic storm ... read more

Age 5+
Ponyo
4
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G-Force (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this 3-D adventure is sure to attract kids who can't resist talking animals, high-stakes action, and a hefty dose of silly gags and potty humor (especially a constantly farting guinea pig). Expect lots of action and some peril; the ... read more

Age 6+
G-Force
2
more new in theater
1

New on DVD

showing: family and kids
yogi_box.jpg
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
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
Martian_Christmas_DVD2.jpg
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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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
mickeys_magical_xmas.jpg
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
dora_christmas_carol.jpg
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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Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that the third installment in the Ice Agefranchise is likely to appeal to kids (even the preschool set) as much as the first two. Thatsaid, it's the first one in 3-D, so some scenes --  especially the ones featuring dinosaurs -- may be a ... read more

Age 6+
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
3
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Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that the subplot in this Disney movie is about an argument between friends. The two main characters argue and blame one another until they realize that they need to take responsibility for their actions and forgive each other. Younger ... read more

Age 4+
Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
3
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Little Spirit: Christmas in New York (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this heartwarming holiday story is perfectly appropriate for the entire family. There's no worrisome content and plenty of adventure and Christmas spirit to be found in the main character's magical travels and encounters with ... read more

Age 4+
Little Spirit: Christmas in New York
4
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Gotta Catch Santa Claus (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this CGI-animated movie ponders the existence of Santa Claus. The bad guys are an ice monster and his three evil snowmen sidekicks, and these characters, while silly and relatively harmless, threaten Santa Claus and make a lot of ... read more

Age 6+
Gotta Catch Santa Claus
3
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Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there is little to be concerned about in this holiday movie. George creates several messes and engages in semi-dangerous activities, like climbing to the top of a Christmas tree that then knocks down all the trees. In one scene, the ... read more

Age 3+
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
3
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A Christmas Story (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that in one scene, the main character is punished for swearing by having his mouth washed out with soap. He's also bullied and beats up his nemesis, then cries afterward. One child sticks his tongue on a flagpole on a dare and needs the ... read more

Age 8+
A Christmas Story
5
snow_white_new_dvd.jpg
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that Disney's first animated film does contain a few scenes that might frighten young preschoolers. The scenes with the wicked queen are especially creepy, as are the parts when Snow White runs through the frighteningly enchanted forest, ... read more

Age 5+
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
4
Amiserschristmas.jpg
A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that even though this colorful holiday special is suitable for kids of all ages, some very young viewers may find the main characters a little scary. There are also extended scenes of cartoon violence in which characters throw fire balls ... read more

Age 4+
A Miser Brothers' Christmas
2
veggie_tales_nicholas.jpg
Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Giving (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that despite a focus on St. Nick in this DVD's title there are many references to God and Jesus and the Bible, as well as churchgoing scenes, making this Veggie Tales offering best for Christian families. However the message about the ... read more

Age 4+
Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Giving
3
wizard_of_oz_DVD.jpg
The Wizard of Oz (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that the 1939 fantasy contains several scenes that may be scary for very young children, almost all of which involve the green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West and her band of creepy flying monkeys. Most parents who've seen the movie ... read more

Age 6+
The Wizard of Oz
5
monsters_vs_aliens.jpg
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like The Incredibles, this movie is too violent and intense for the youngest viewers. There's gunfire, explosions, widespread destruction, crowds panicking, and some deaths -- including one in which a good guy picks up a gun and ... read more

Age 7+
Monsters vs. Aliens
4
mickey_xmas_dvd.jpg
Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that in September 2009 "Mickey's Christmas Carol" became available on DVD as part of the Classic Short Films Animation Collection. Other shorts in the collection include "Pluto’s Christmas Tree," "The Small ... read more

Age 4+
Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol
3
winnie_the_pooh_seasons.jpg
Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that the age of innocence is alive and well in the Hundred Acres Forest. There are some mildly perilous moments -- falling from heights, mostly -- that end safely. The notion that everyone celebrates Christmas is a given, so parents who ... read more

Age 3+
Winnie the Pooh: Seasons of Giving
4
verrybrave.jpg
A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that spooky music and exaggerated voices are the only potentially frightening elements of this Halloween-themed collection of short films. Witches, ghosts, and robbers all make appearances, and while their presence might raise tensions ... read more

Age 4+
A Very Brave Witch and More Great Halloween Stories for Kids
4
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B.O.B.'s Big Break (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this short animated film that comes packaged with the Monsters vs. Aliens DVD combines the same goofy characters with conflict and cartoon violence that might be disturbing to very young children. Two creatures attempt to blow up ... read more

Age 7+
B.O.B.'s Big Break
3
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