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: science fiction
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2012 (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that director Roland Emmerich's 2012 is an intense, violent disaster movie, with billions of anonymous characters getting killed during massive scenes of destruction (earthquakes, tsunamis, and more). Although the tone is mainly exciting, ... read more

Age 13+
2012
2
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The Fourth Kind (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi thriller from director Olatunde Osunsanmi mixes supposedly real footage of alien abductees with re-creations played out by actors (including Milla Jovovich and Will Patton). That mix makes it hard to know what to believe, ... read more

Age 14+
The Fourth Kind
2
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Pandorum (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that the intense violence in this dark, scary sci-fi movie is apparent in every scene, even if it's not specifically presented in terms of fighting or gore (though there's plenty of those, too). There's a constant, unrelenting feel of ... read more

No Kids
Pandorum
3
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Surrogates (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that Surrogates pushes the limits of its PG-13 rating. Yes, it's set in a futuristic world and most of the violence and mayhem is directed at robot "surrogates," but the images are still disturbingly bloody and destructive ... read more

Age 14+
Surrogates
2
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District 9 (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this gritty, buzzworthy sci-fi epic filmed in South Africa (and produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson) is full of extremely realistic, bloody violence, including severed limbs, lots of bodies, piles of high-tech ... read more

Age 15+
District 9
4
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Terminator Salvation (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this installment of the Terminator series is the first to earn a PG-13 rating instead of an R, it's still extremely violent. There's not much actual blood, but there's plenty of broken flesh, bruises, and batterings. The ... read more

Age 13+
Terminator Salvation
2

New on DVD

showing: science fiction
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Ben 10: Alien Swarm (2009, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this live-action film based on the popular Ben 10 animated series follows the adventures of a secret team that combats evil alien invaders. Hero Ben Tennyson is older here than in the last live-action Ben 10 movie, but Alien Swarm is ... read more

Age 9+
Ben 10: Alien Swarm
3
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Star Trek (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this slick, upbeat sci-fi adventure isn't much more violent than the earlier Star Trek movies, there's a heightened feel that gives it a little bit more edge. While the action is (mostly) bloodless, it's also intense; expect ... read more

Age 12+
Star Trek
4
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Alien Trespass (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this spoof was made as a loving tribute to '50s B-movie sci-fi -- and, as such, has the same squeaky-clean feel and mild peril of those films. There's some sci-fi violence, but since it's being perpetrated by a guy in a rubber suit, ... read more

Age 10+
Alien Trespass
2
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Race to Witch Mountain (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this new take on Disney's classic Escape to Witch Mountain is scary -- the destruction of the world is at stake, and the main characters are in constant peril. And, for a PG-rated film, it has more violence and intense moments than ... read more

Age 8+
Race to Witch Mountain
3
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Mutant Chronicles (2009, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a review of the movie in theaters and not the Director's Cut that's available on DVD. This violent sci-fi action movie is bloody, gory, and grim. A man kills a wounded comrade in arms at point-blank range; skulls are ... read more

No Kids
Mutant Chronicles
1
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Push (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi thriller about a group of psychic "supeheroes" stars Dakota Fanning and features lots of special-effects violence. Guns and other weapons are used, people are attacked with blasts of telekinetic force, bloody ... read more

Age 14+
Push
2
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Knowing (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this grim sci-fi thriller is about global catastrophe and disaster, which could be very upsetting for kids. There are scary presences, spooky music, dead parents, and children in danger throughout the movie, and it really stretches ... read more

Age 13+
Knowing
2
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Howard the Duck (2009, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that though this PG film derives from a Marvel Comics superhero spoof, it's in sort of a no-duck's-land of an audience demographic, with the animal-costumed main character and childish sci-fi (and rock and roll) attitude mixed with ... read more

Age 11+
Howard the Duck
1
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Hulk Vs. (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is a violent cartoon double-feature of long short subjects (or short features) featuring Marvel comics characters, not a live-action epic. It presumes the viewer has in-depth knowledge of the Marvel Universe; newcomers to Hulk ... read more

Age 14+
Hulk Vs.
2
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Babylon A.D. (2009, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi action movie takes place in a bleak, ruined dystopian future. It's quite violent, with explosions, shootings, strangling, and more. There's also extensive discussion of nuclear attacks, genetic engineering, and refugee ... read more

Age 14+
Babylon A.D.
1
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Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this movie is not a direct continuation of the Resident Evil live-action movies. It's a computer-generated feature that carries over none of the established characters, although place names and overarching background story will be ... read more

Age 16+
Resident Evil: Degeneration
2
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The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that the second X-Files movie (which is a stand-alone story, not a continuation of the series' core conspiracy) is more likely to appeal to adult fans of the '90s TV show than to teens, though some may still be interested. Be warned that ... read more

Age 14+
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
2
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Waterworld (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this post-apocalyptic epic postulates a semi-barbarous future where everything is traded and bartered -- including sex. The heroine is glimpsed naked from the rear as she tries to use her body to bribe the hero (he declines the ... read more

Age 13+
Waterworld
3
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008, Rated PG)
Parents Need to Know...

that this CGI film is much tamer than the most recent live-action Star Wars movies, but it's still full of non-stop animated action, including weapon use (lightsabers, blasters, etc.) and several urban warfare sequences. The sci-fi ... read more

Age 8+
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
2
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this action-packed sequel includes a plethora of scary monsters and supernatural creatures and extensive fantastic violence, including shootings, superhuman fist-fights, and grisly deaths at the hands of nightmarish creatures. That ... read more

Age 13+
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
4
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Dark City (2008, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that there is brief female nudity in a subplot about a helpful prostitute/single mother, though no sex results. She gets murdered for her troubles in helping out the hero, and there are several bloodied corpses plus fantasy violence in ... read more

Age 14+
Dark City
4
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Jumper (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi action adventure with Star Wars' Hayden Christensen features lots of violence that appears to have little effect on victims. The teleportation process causes abrupt ruptures in space and time and sometimes rams jumpers ... read more

Age 13+
Jumper
2
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Minutemen (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV Disney movie is heavy on social mishaps. Characters are frequently (and needlessly) bullied, though many of the victims are rescued by the heroes, who go back in time to prevent the incidents. Some of the bullies ... read more

Age 8+
Minutemen
3
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Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2008, Rated R)
Parents Need to Know...

that this violent sci-fi action sequel is loud and gory, with multiple exploding chests and heads; lots of mangling, penetrating, and acid-burning; bloody injuries; screaming children; and gross-out assaults. There's a bit of cleavage, a ... read more

Age 15+
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
1
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Ben 10: Race Against Time (2008, Rated NR)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like the animated series it's based on, this made-for-TV movie features a hefty amount of violence -- which, in live-action form, could be even more upsetting to young viewers. Frequent clashes between good and evil characters ... read more

Age 8+
Ben 10: Race Against Time
3
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I Am Legend (2008, Rated PG-13)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this cerebral action thriller is quite clean when it comes to language and sexual content, it deals with intense subjects like the fall of mankind and the fight for survival. It's not for kids who get scared, since it gets ... read more

Age 13+
I Am Legend
3
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Common Sense Media's movie reviews and ratings for all ages are based on child development principles. We give you trustworthy information so you can pick what's best for your family. We may know media, but you're the expert on your kids.

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