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The Butterfly Effect
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. So very bad.
Why We Rated This 
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Butterfly Effect
Parents need to know that this movie has extreme graphic violence. Characters are severely wounded and killed, including children. A character commits suicide and an animal is tortured and killed. Children are also molested (off-camera) and there are references to prison rape. The movie includes nudity and very explicit sexual references and situations, including bondage gear, prostitution, and references to multiple orgasms. Characters smoke (including children), drink, and use drugs (bong shown, character is an addict, cocaine mentioned). Characters use very strong language, including hate speech.
Read our full review by Nell Minow
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about moments when they could have made a different choice and how that would have affected the lives of others around them.
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Excellent but EXTREMELY Disturbing
Wow. This was absolutely not for anyone under 17. Why? Well, I want you to think of the most disturbing content imaginable (pedophiles abusing children so much that they grow up only to kill and then be killed, murdering a mother and child by blowing them up, burning a dog to death, a child impaling another child, a child beating an older man, a child beating other children with a board, a father trying to suffocate his own child, suicide, arms being blown off, children going insane, a skull growing abnormally throughout the film, a pre-rape followed by two graphic stabbings, a little girl being blown up, a little boy purposely impaling his own hands, prisoners beating a newcomer, and a man beating another man to a pulp and then that man beating the attacker to death with a metal pipe; also more) and put them in this movie. Now, add graphic sex, nudity, and language and you've got Butterfly Effect. Excellent but EXTREME.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
great!
This movie may be vulgar, swear-y, and sexual, but it gives a good glimpse into the real world. This man's paranoia and mental problems aren't completely realistic, but they show how some people go through horrible things and the choices that you make can change yours and other peoples' lives.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
I love this movie.
How can you say this isnt appropraite for kids?!! This is one of my favourite films in the whole wide world I watched it when I was thirteen and wasnt affected by it all. It's just such a good movie and depriving your child of seeing this would just be wrong. - appropriate for 13 and up :)
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
just great
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great Movie!
This used to be my favorite movie (Then came Cloverfield) and i have to say that i was 12 when i watched this. I didn't get the urge to go do drugs or have sex or anything. Its a movie and parents need to understand that a movie IS A MOVIE. Overall its a great movie and very original with its plot i highly recommend it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
ok first let me say this, its a good movie. i loved it. but i think that the stuff in its bad. they show female nudity, brief when showed, but its though out. the violence, well i don'y remember, there is one drug scene, and alot of bad words, and graphic sex talk, but i think anyone 14 and up should see it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Not completely bad
This is a really good movie, I don't know why it only got one star. Sure, Ashton wasn't the best choice, but he didn't do a bad job either. Also, be sure your kids aren't around. Lots of violence and language. Animal torture and child porn. Ewww.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
It had potential
The story had such potential, the ending was actually excellent but inbetween something happened. There was dark, disturbing scenes of just about every evil thing you can imagine. The acting was superb but left me with a yucky feeling inside.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Was it really good or was it really bad?
I have yet to decide, but it's possible it could be both, which is why I'm giving it a neutral three stars. The first time I saw this movie I can see how to support both arguments. On one hand the acting was rancid by Kutcher, although not as terrible as CSM may make it out to be. Direction can get tedious every now and then, and it gets a bit repetitive to see Kutcher wake up in some bed with a hemorrage every time he changes something. However, the pluses were that the plot is highly intriguing and near the end little twists pop up, despite the fact that they were a bit obvious about halfway through the movie. Then again I thought "Seven"'s ending was way too obvious, which is ironic seeing as the younger characters viewed that movie within the movie. If you get into movies as I do, then you really feel sad for the main character as the movie progresses, and I admit that I partially cried at the end, since I think we can all take the result of what happened and insert it into our own lives, mainly if you have lost someone very close to you. As far as content goes, it deserves its rating from the language mostly, but there is some violence and sexual activity/dialogue present at times. I have to disagree that the movie was either dark or disturbing however, but I understand that that is all purely based on one's tolerance to subject matter in movies. So if you think the movie sounds interesting, I reccommend it with reservations, because I realize there are many bad things in the technical standpoints for the movie, but the plot was enough to draw me in.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
This movie is as original as it gets!
No offense, but how could you not appreciate this movie? How can you so this movie is so bad its good? I can't believe it! This movie has stuck with me since it came out in theaters years ago. Brilliant storyline, brilliant acting (surprisingly), and AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ENDING!!! THE ENDING WAS AMAZING!!! I ALMOST CRIED!!! The movie was fast paced and wonderful. This movie is down right dark, with disturbing violence and sexual themes. I remember I was I think 12 or 13 when I saw it with a friend and my Mom, and we considered walking out after a kid burned a dog alive. But I'm glad we stayed, because the movie is better as a whole, and the ending completes it so perfectly. You can't go wrong here.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
An awesome movie
This movie is a really good movie no matter what the critics say. It has an original plot and keeps your attention throughout. Though this movie does contain strong language, scenes of brutal violence,some drug use, and sexual material (including references to child molestation, protitution, sexual activities, and some nudity, including a full frontal scene)it is nothing that will leave a mental scar on a child or give them ideas to do things (except for the fact that as a kid ashton kutcher smokes). But, as I am 12, I think anyone 12 and up that knows right from wrong should be allowed to see this movie. It is an outstanding movie that I absloutly loved.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
see it if your 12 or older, you'll thank me, i promise
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
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