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

showing: musical
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Fame (2009) (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this remake of the 1980 movie musical Fame has been heavily marketed to tweens and teens on television and online. Although it's rated PG (unlike the original, which was rated R), it feels more like a PG-13 movie, especially in ... read more

Age 12+
Fame (2009)
2

New on DVD

showing: musical
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High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2009, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that the first big-screen High School Musical movie has been feverishly anticipated by the series' tween and teen fans. And they won't be disappointed. It's sweet, age-appropriate fun with very little edge (save for a few scenes featuring ... read more

Age 8+
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
4
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Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this film reverses the standard "hero" model, by focusing on Dr. Horrible, an evil villain bent on world domination who is hoping to win admission to the Evil League of Evil. Though his plans include stealing rare materials ... read more

Age 10+
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
4
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Mamma Mia! (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this lightweight, sun-kissed musical will likely appeal to the teen girls (and their moms) who make up much of the fan base of the Broadway musical it's based on. Language is quite tame overall ("ass" is about as strong as it gets), ... read more

Age 13+
Mamma Mia!
3
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Camp Rock (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like High School Musical before it, this is a cute, upbeat musical comedy that tweens will be dying to see (thanks in no small part to a) Disney's massive marketing campaign and b) the fact that all three Jonas Brothers are in it). ... read more

Age 8+
Camp Rock
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Step Up 2 the Streets (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this dance movie targeting teens -- especially fans of the original Step Up -- is age-appropriate for older tweens. There's little sexual material, swearing, or violence. read more

Age 12+
Step Up 2 the Streets
3
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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this feature-film version of Stephen Sondheim's Tony-winning 1979 Broadway show isn't as family friendly as most musicals (and star Johnny Depp definitely isn't in Pirates of the Caribbean mode). In fact, there's enough blood in this ... read more

Age 16+
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
4
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Across the Universe (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although there's much to like about this Beatles-inspired musical -- it's visionary, it introduces young audiences to iconic songs, and it addresses important social issues -- some of the content is iffy for teens. Characters drink ... read more

Age 14+
Across the Universe
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Once (2007, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that although there's a fair amount of swearing in this endearing indie romance -- particularly "f--k" -- hardly anything else would raise a flag for teens and up. In fact, it's one of the few love stories that doesn't require ... read more

Age 13+
Once
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High School Musical 2 (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this energy-packed sequel to the wildly popular High School Musical presents a fairly sanitized view of teen life -- wrongs are righted in the end, all parties walk away friends, etc. -- it also has plenty of positive ... read more

Age 8+
High School Musical 2
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Hairspray (2007) (2007, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this musical adaptation of the Broadway hit will appeal to tweens thanks to stars like Amanda Bynes and High School Musical's Zac Efron. It's a bit tamer than the John Waters original -- there's less cursing and fighting -- but the ... read more

Age 11+
Hairspray (2007)
4
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Help! (2007, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this movie is replete with playful fighting and slapstick violence, including some "don't try this at home" moments, like when George clings to the roof of a speeding car. There's more than a little bit of insensitive ... read more

Age 8+
Help!
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Funny Face (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that the movie's high-fashion milieu, though satirized, does tend to be a consumerist plug for upscale women's clothing. Female characters are repeatedly objectified (all thin and gorgeous) and exhorted to dress and look their best. Being ... read more

Age 9+
Funny Face
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Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this family-friendly Bollywood film does address some adult problems, including unemployment and poverty. But it does so with a light touch that probably won't be too distressing to kids. The movie's lessons are simplistic but ... read more

Age 10+
Ta Ra Rum Pum
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Viva Las Vegas (2007, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fluffy escapism could pretty much be an advertisement for Las Vegas and the good times Nevada's tourist destination offers, including betting, drinking, and dangerous race-car driving. It's all pretty much harmless here -- if ... read more

Age 9+
Viva Las Vegas
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Dreamgirls (2007, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that tweens and teens who like musicals, American Idol, and Beyoncé will be eager to see this much-hyped Broadway adaptation. Several scenes of drug abuse are used to symbolically link excessiveness, addiction, and depression in ... read more

Age 13+
Dreamgirls
4
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Idlewild (2006, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this film isn't appropriate for kids, who may know OutKast from the hit song "Hey Ya!" It includes stylized and graphic violence, mostly beatings and shootings of male gangsters, with bloody results (a woman is also shot, ... read more

Age 16+
Idlewild
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The King and I (2006, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this film characterizes the ancient Asian culture of Siam (now Thailand) as somewhat backwards and sexist. The king has dozens of wives and hundreds of children, which may bewilder kids. Also confusing, the roles of the main Thai ... read more

Age 8+
The King and I
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Carousel (2006, Rated G)
Parents Need to Know...

that this musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein isn't like their other crowd pleasers such as The Sound of Music and Oklahoma!. The themes are darker and the characters are flawed, especially Billy who beats his wife (not shown), steals, ... read more

Age 11+
Carousel
3
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South Pacific (2006, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that there's some warfare in this movie, set during WWII. Airplanes bomb Navy vessels, and an airplane is hit by enemy fire. There's a machine gun attack on an unarmed man in a rubber raft. Heroes are caught by gunfire behind enemy lines. ... read more

Age 8+
South Pacific
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Save the Last Dance 2 (2006, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that the main characters, Sarah and Miles, sleep together without ever discussing whether they're boyfriend and girlfriend -- but after they've already started to fall in love. Only arms and legs are visible. There's some drinking by ... read more

Age 13+
Save the Last Dance 2
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Hip Hop Kidz: It's a Beautiful Thing (2006, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tale of young hip hop singers/dancers is quite tame. One main character lies repeatedly to her father and there's some kissing between two young characters. Positive messages include pulling together as a team, dedication to ... read more

Age 8+
Hip Hop Kidz: It's a Beautiful Thing
2
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