Conan the Barbarian

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Conan the Barbarian Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Gruesomely violent sword-and-sorcery tale is terrible.

R 2011 102 minutes
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 11 reviews

Kids say

age 16+

Based on 8 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this extremely violent sword-and-sorcery tale -- which was inspired by Robert E. Howard's 1930s pulp stories, as well as 1970s comic books and two Arnold Schwarzenegger movies from the 1980s -- is in no way a kid-friendly comic book adaptation. There's tons of gruesome blood and gore, including severed heads and body parts, stabbings, bashings, slayings, violence aimed at women and children (including an unborn baby), and many other brutal acts, all of which are even more intense when seen in the movie's 3D version. Conan is motivated by revenge and relies on all of this violence to solve his problems. Women in general are treated like props; several are shown topless for long moments, and there's what amounts to a softcore sex scene. Language is infrequent but includes one use of "s--t," and the heroes drink something alcoholic (mead?) when celebrating.

Community Reviews

Spyraker
Spyraker Adult
November 19, 2019
age 18+

More faithful doesn’t equal better.

Yes, it’s Conan. The adult sword and sorcery hero back again. Unfortunately it’s an incarnation that’s closer to the author’s books in setting and Mythos, but has none of the strength, maturity or grit of the Schwarzenegger film that is looser in setting and Mythos to the books. Everything is weaker here in my opinion and less interesting as a result. The plentiful gore and violence lacks impact, too. From the cut out cartoon villain to Conan himself. From brooding and often unpredictable barbarian in the 80s original, to a swashbuckler that’d be more at home in Pirates of the Caribbean or Star Wars. Or Game Of Thrones. Wink to the actor there. It’s not a badly shot film and looks good for sure but its so paint by numbers and unexciting, offers nothing new and doesn’t look or feel half as epic as it should. Many fans lauded the 80s original as capturing the physique, tone, strength and spirit of Conan even if wasn’t too faithful to the stories, with sweeping vistas and epic music. Conversely, many fans lauded the more faithful approach but lamented the loss of tone, strength and spirit along with a less than epic feel. I know which I prefer. Once again, if nudity, gore etc aren’t your thing, don’t even put in the disc. Film is subjective and this may be your gig. I just don’t think it’s friendly fare for under 18s.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Frankie3211
Frankie3211 Adult
October 4, 2019
age 18+

One dumb close-in camera action scene after another

How brainless can a movie get? This move seems like one mindless close-in action scene following another. Not even epic action scenes. If you're look for story, fantasy world creation, interesting characters, good dialog, etc for the components of good movie -- they're not here. I was playing the video game Conan Unconquered (a fun co-op survival RTS tower defense game) so I wanted to see the move. Not even interesting, epic action scences like Lord of the Rings. Just close-in camera on fighting and gore. I couldn't stand to watch this movie to the end, even with low expectations. This movie is guilty of assaulting viewers with dumbness. I wouldn't want kids to get used to this low standard of a movie (and also the tons of excessive violence). Thank goodness Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is available as something good for me to watch now (as I write this). It is the opposite of this movie: great story, great fantasy world, epic plot, great characters, great dialog.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the Hyborian age of swords and sorcery, Conan is born during a bloody battle. As a boy, his village is slaughtered by the evil Khalar Zym (Stephen Lang), whose goal is to collect all the pieces of a powerful mask. Years later, when Conan has grown into a man (Jason Momoa), he seeks his revenge. Meanwhile, Khalar Zym and his sorceress daughter (Rose McGowan) are hunting for a "pureblood," Tamara (Rachel Nichols), whom they need to help them complete a terrifying ritual. Can Conan find and stop the bad guy and rescue the girl before it's too late?

Is It Any Good?

Directed by Marcus Nispel, this movie (which would be more aptly named Gron-an the Barbarian) is terrible, terrible, terrible. It starts with stale dialogue, which is delivered badly by all the actors. (Momoa tries for a steely gaze, but he winds up with a silly leer.) The lazy, ridiculous story would have been rejected by the pulps. The action sequences are clunky and incomprehensible, not to mention poorly paced, and the 3D effects are like flat images in a pop-up book.

That could have been the worst of it -- and indeed, that's plenty to make audiences howl with unintentional laughter -- but Nispel goes even further. He has delivered perhaps the most gruesomely violent movie of the year; it's extreme and horrifying. Last, though hardly least, is the movie's despicable treatment of women as props and women and children as the targets of brutal violence. Even the Schwarzenegger movies were better. Don't be conned by this Conan.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's extreme violence. Is it shocking? Why did the filmmakers choose to go over the top? What makes it more extreme than what you see in other fantasy/action movies?

  • Is Conan a role model? What positive traits does he show? What negative ones? Are viewers intended to admire him?

  • If you've seen earlier Conan movies, how does this one compare? Is it more extreme? Why do you think that is? Is it the filmmaker's decision or a reflection of how culture has changed?

Movie Details

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