Tools for this page
Print

The Day After Tomorrow

(2004, Rated PG-13, Action/adventure, Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Emmy Rossum)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Some cool special effects...that's about it.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Diverse characters.
  • Violence:

    Intense peril, many characters killed, dead bodies, brief graphic wounds.
  • Sex:

    Brief non-explicit sexual situation, teen kiss.
  • Language:

    Brief language
  • Consumerism:

    FOX appears many times throughout.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Day After Tomorrow

Parents need to know that this movie has intense peril and violence, with the destruction of much of the world. Millions of people are killed, mostly off-screen, though there are some dead bodies and major characters are killed. There are brief images of grisly injuries. Characters drink, including drinking as a way to dull the sadness. Characters sacrifice themselves, sometimes by killing themselves, to save others. A strength of the movie is the portrayal of men and women of different races with courage and ability and devotion, including a loving inter-racial marriage.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about global warming and research the efforts by scientists and politicians to prevent further damage to the ozone layer. They could also talk about why the librarian wanted to save the Gutenberg Bible and about how all of the characters think about (and rearrange) their priorities in the face of disaster. Would your choice for your favorite vacation be like Sam's? Whose decisions do you approve of and why? The politicians speak of "triage," making the very tough decisions to let some people die so that more can live. How do people make those choices? What do you think about the way they decide to define "win?" What will happen in the weeks following the end of the movie, and what will the world look like a year later?

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about The Day After Tomorrow?
  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 32 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    perfect for ages 9 to 14

    i loved it!!! best movie i have ever seen!

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    perfect for ages 9 to 14

    loved it!!!! the best movie i have ever seen

  3. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    Mature tweens and teens

    Role models: People try and help the survivors with their lives. Sex: Some kissing Violence: Some blood, dead bodies are shown consistantly. Young people have graphic wounds. message: Depressing language: Some language like s--t, d--n, a--, etc. drinking: Little drinking or smoking Connsumerismn: FOX news is shown consistantly in the movie. Is the movie good?: Absolutley

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    good movie

    nuttin that bad. you see some people frozen to death, one girl gets cut on her leg, and a dude is attacked by a refugee wolf. people are whisked away by a tidal wave and tossed in a huge tornado. bout it.

  5. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    A Decent Disaster Movie...Nothing That Good, but Nothing Bad

    Parents need to know that THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW provides a decent movie experience, with implausible moments to the roof but some genuine thrills and chills. That is, if it's appropriate for your kids. This movie has little onscreen violence, but there are heaps of intense peril as all characters are put at the mercy of natural disasters they can't stop. People are frozen, whipped up by wind, and hit by falling debris. You see some frozen corpses as well, but there is only one graphic cut on a woman's leg. It is implied that a husband and wife are going to have sex (unbuttoning her blouse on a couch) but they are interrupted by the storm. There are also some "d**n"s and "a*s"s.

  6. I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0

    Intense and perilous.

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    great movie, but with some violent scenes

    this movie is a great educational thriller. i watched it in science class last year and we looked forward to it everyday. one thing that may bother people is some frozen bodies. the special effects are great, which makes all of the action scenes very realistic, but also might scare some younger viewers. one scene that might scare young viewers is when a helicopter goes down and when the pilot comes out, he freezes slowly until he is all ice. also, some realistic wounds are shown. as for romance, all there is is teens kissing. the only drug reference i can remember is when the men in the lab drink some whiskey. there are a few swears, but the language is not too bad. they refer to fox quite alot, but you dont notice it that much. all of the main characters are good role models, so you dont have to worry about that also. to sum it up, this is a great movie with some violent scenes. i recommend this for people that would understand what is going on (generally ages 8+).

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0

    Awesome movie!!!!!!!! :)

    I liked this movie alot. I saw it when i was eleven and it's one of my fave movies now!!!! But little kids probably shouldn't see it because they wouldn't understand. My little sister kept asking throughout the movie what was going on. But VERY good movie!!!!!!

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    I Loved it!!:)

    This movie is totally clean exept a few sences of intense peril

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    AWESOME!

    omg, im 11 and i watched this movie when i was 10. 'lil kids are probably gonna get freaked out. if ur mature enuf then go for it. i get easily scared and i slept like a baby the nite after watching this.

  11. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 3.0

    Despite what commonsense says, I thought this was a good movie...

    This movie is unique, and has a pretty cool story, I thought. Some great special effects, which add to the movie. Sensitive 11-12 year olds should not be watching this, and I personally reccomend this to all 13 year olds, but non sensitive 12 year olds will do fine as well...

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    AWSOME!!

    I saw this movie first when I was about nine and a half. My friend who had hust turned ten about six months before did not understand most of the stuff in it. I was able to comprehend it all! We are watching it again in my science class (I am in the sixth grade) and we all have been loving it! When there are questions to be asked around the area of where I sit the kids ask me instead of disturbing the teacher. So,I give this movie two thumbs up,well just because it is a great movie to watch and learn things from and to just watch with your family and have a GREAT time doing it at the same time!!

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    sad at parts know thousands have died in the storm dead bodies seen breifly people freaze to death in a mater of seconds helicopter crash where no one dies it is a great movie and the end is not to sad accept the fact that you know that loads of people have died

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great

    What 'commonsense' bonehead rated this? At my middle school (I'm in sixth grade) i saw this ovie in enviormental scince club. This movie is really scary, I did freak out a couple of times, but it says the truth about global warming. 12+

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Fun movie

    This movie exaggerates global warming to extreme points, making an interesting movie. Great special effects.

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Good end of thw world flick

    Some intense peril, no sex, and mild profanity makes this a good family film

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    A Must-See!

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    pretty good

    this was a pretty good movie. i liked it a lot. it is very predictable though.

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    I enjoyed this movie very much. The whole story is very interesting, and seeing a familiure city like New York totally changed was entertaining. It's rather depressing throughout the first half of the movie. Lots of people being killed, etc. I've only seen it once, and it's left me wanting to see it again.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Issue Spotlight

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Rules of the Road for Texting

    Set limits long before they get behind the wheel.

  • Must See TV

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Zany adventures are low on depth but high on imagination.

  • Issue Spotlight

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    The 10 Most Violent Video Games (And 10 Alternatives)

    Our video game experts weigh in.

  • Game of the Week

    LEGO Rock Band

    LEGO Rock Band

    Simplified, no-fail Rock Band with a whimsical story.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name