Bride of Chucky
Grisly, tongue-in-cheek sequel isn't for kids.
Parents say
Based on 18 reviews
Kids say
Based on 80 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Bride of Chucky
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that teens will want to watch Bride of Chucky because of its affiliation with a long-running horror franchise beginning with Child's Play. The film is filled with over-the-top violence and gore and is permeated with sexual innuendo. Characters curse, runaway from home, dress scantily, practice voodoo, have sex, and kill one another. Additionally, one character is coded as gay in a very stereotypical way.
Community Reviews
Love this movie, I’ve watched it twice
Report this review
NOT for children under 18.
Report this review
What's the Story?
The first Child's Play told the story of a doll possessed by the spirit of serial killer Charles Lee Ray. In BRIDE OF CHUCKY, Chucky's former girlfriend, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly) resurrects the plasticized love of her life using Voodoo for Dummies. When she finds out that Chucky (Brad Dourif) had never intended to marry her, Tiff locks up the pint-sized psychopath and buys him a bride doll as a joke. Of course, Chucky escapes and transfers Tiff's spirit into a wedding-gown clad doll. The pair set off to try to transfer their spirits into full-sized bodies, leaving a trail of carnage.
Is It Any Good?
In movies like this one, viewers see the horror genre begin to implode, and it is definitely fun to watch. Horror film franchises, much like the supernatural killers they focus on, often just won't die; Bride of Chucky is the fourth installation in the Child's Play series, and it will not be the last. Nonetheless, not all sequels are bad, and this one successfully takes the low road to self-parody. Self-referential to an extreme, the movie pokes fun at itself and the entire horror genre.
As Tiffany, Jennifer Tilly demonstrates her ability to play a campy role to the hilt – obsessing about marriage and Martha Stewart while committing acts of unspeakable violence. The film's over-the-top plotline is echoed by a visual aesthetic that often seems to borrow from John Waters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Bride of Chucky's place within the horror genre and the stereotyping of gender and sexuality. What makes Chucky change his mind and decide to marry Tiffany? Why is Tiffany so fixated on marriage?
The film is self-referential and often campy, with gore being taken to a cartoonish extreme. How does an excess of blood and gore serve to undermine the horror? How does the film make the characters' bad behavior humorous?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 16, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: March 23, 1999
- Cast: Jennifer Tilly, John Ritter, Katherine Heigl
- Director: Ronny Yu
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong horror violence and gore, language, some sexual content and brief drug use
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Scream
Teen slasher parody has strong violence and language.
-
Scary Movie
This movie will only frighten you with its crudeness.
-
Poltergeist
One of the all-time great haunted house movies.
For kids who love scary movies
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate