The movie was great, but it can be saddening. 2 cubs die, 1 father polar bear dies, and more, but it is pretty educational and that is just how it actully happened so don't blame the movie directors
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Earth
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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 4, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 6. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Dazzling wildlife docu has a few intense moments.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6–7
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Earth
Parents need to know that this stunning nature documentary portrays how animals around the world are born, live, and, yes, die. Although there aren't any grisly shots of predators ripping apart their prey, there are disturbing scenes in which animals are chased and attacked. In a few cases, the predators win; you see them grip their catch with their teeth, but then the scene quickly changes. Other than those possibly upsetting scenes -- plus another in which an animal dies of starvation and exhaustion -- the film is appropriate (and educational) for kids of all ages. It's worth noting that the movie uses footage from the acclaimed TV series Planet Earth, so if you've seen that, you've seen the images included here.
Read our full review by Sandie Angulo Chen
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the circle of life. Some of the animal death scenes may be upsetting, but they're also part of nature. How do kids feel about seeing some animals attack others? Does it make them feel differently about the predators?
- Were the animals overly humanized, or was it clear that animals aren't exactly like people?
- Families can also talk about how the planet's creatures are all interconnected. How does the changing climate in one part of the world affect animals across the globe?
Our Members Say
See all 34 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
pretty good, but kinda depressing
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
pretty good, but kinda depressing
The movie was great, but it can be saddening. 2 cubs die, 1 father polar bear dies, and more, but it is pretty educational and that is just how it actully happened so don't blame the movie directors
- I rate this title off for age 8 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This movie depressed me for days.
Ok, last year, my fourth grade class went on a field trip to watch this movie. It was awful. I hate it. Violence is present, and hurting, killing, injuring, pain, and all of the other things that our eyes want to start to water when we watch it are highlighted in this movie. It's depressing and saddening. A learning expierence is to scare and make you depressed? No, and that is why I highlighted nothing under "any highlights?" Positive message? More like negative message: It's a dog-eat-dog world. What?! Is that a message? Yeah, it's a cruel world, and we already know that, but, gosh, do we REALLY want to watch a whole 90 minutes about the cruelty of animals? Enemies and hate? Hurting, pain, and DEATH? Really, think about it for a moment. Awful movie. I regret ever watching this.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Not for the sensitive child
Great visuals with beautiful photography. Unfortunately, my 6 and 8 year old were completely horrified by the hunting and killing of prey. They screamed and cried through a great deal of this movie.
- I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
Not So Great
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
A little preparation goes a long way
Don't let the few grim or violent scenes cause you to miss this utterly breathtaking film, but do try to prepare your kids for what they might see. If they cover their eyes during the few brief scenes they can't handle, they won't have to leave the film crying, and they'll be rewarded with some of the most amazing nature photography ever. It's not pleasant to know that some animals have to struggle to survive, but it's all part of the big picture.
- I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
It's sad, but it's life!
My school went to see it for a feild trip. I don't hate it cause it's life. Little kids might be upset cause lots of animals died in this movie. I couldn't help to cry when the polar bear died.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Good Earth Movie
This is a very good movie and teaces kids about taking care of the Earth. Raphael_raphael and Penguinpal, if u c this you are an idiot and there is no reason to rate this off. Especially Penguinpal and your 13 yr old daughter, you are weanies
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Amazing, Stunning movie
Amazing, stunning movie - everyone needs to see this movie to appreciate the planet we live on. What a reminder of the beauty of this Earth, the struggle of the animals to survive, the cycle of seasons and how everything is divinely orchestrated.
- I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
Earth may pull at heartstrings
Earth is the first outing for the disney nature series it is very impressive but may pull on the heartstrings of most viewers expecially younger viewers but other than that dazzling.
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
A great representation of life around our planet
I took my 5yr old son to see this today. He was so mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery, the incredible animals, etc. He didn't like the cheetah because it caught the gazelle but it wasn't upsetting to him. I just simply explained the circle of life and he was fine w/it. I think any younger and they'd lose interest because some parts move a little slowly, but if they're interested in our planet and what goes on in it, this will truly engage them.
- I rate this title off for age 8 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This film is
I was shocked by the level of violence in this film; more actual intense graphic violence than my wife and I ever remember seeing in a film, especially one rated G with absolutely no warning. While the violence is limited to only a few sequences in the entire film, they were so disturbing that my 8 year old had to walk out briefly during a disturbing scene, saying "I don't like this movie." This movie speaks to the importance of some better official designation for films with intense horrific scenes. I can't believe this is rated G.
- I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Warning: if your children are sensitive or easily disturbed, think twice
It depends on your own children, but many will find this frightening and disturbing to watch. The previews showed only the cute, cuddly parts, and so were quite misleading. After an hour and a half, my 13-year-old daughter and I had to leave when the father polar bear was dying of starvation and it was too hard to watch. The movie is very long as well. It's one thing to watch predator/prey interaction, but to have it drawn out in slow motion with overly dramatic music is just more than we could take. There were also very beautiful parts of the movie, however, including a scene of a great white shark, birds of paradise, mandarin ducks, adelie penguins, etc. It's too bad they didn't edit this movie more carefully, tone down the music, and let up on the slow-motion, agonized suffering.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Fabulous!!!
I read these reviews before taking my preschool aged son and almost did not take him. But after some discussion with my husband and then with our son we ventured to the theater. What a wonderful movie! He loved the upclose look at animals! He dealt with the scenes labeled "gory" just fine. I think it was because we talked about them before we went. We knew they were going to talk about the circle of life and prepared him. I am surprised people thought a movie about nature would not have predator/prey scenes. I think the best part of this movie is it opens the door to discussion with kids. I am a school teacher and have been asked questions by students after they see watched the movie.
- I rate this title off for age 6 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not the movie we were expecting
My 6 year old had been looking forward to seeing this movie for months since seeing the beautiful/cute scenes in trailers and commercials. Unfortunately, what was portrayed in the ad campaign was not the movie we saw! There were several very intense scenes of predators and prey which brought my son to tears. After about the fourth one, we had to leave the theater. While I would say the footage is beautiful, the movie itself was a disappointment, especially coming from Disney. The G rating was not appropriate, nor was the content, for young and/or sensitive children.
- I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Your traumatized children may be vegetarians after this movie
I was so excited to see this film with my son and daughter, ages 8 and 10. Much of the footage is remarkably beautiful, but my children were extremely upset by the prey and predator scenes and the scenes of animals losing their way and facing certain death of starvation. We actually had to leave the theater in the middle of the movie. I was really surprised by both the content and my children's response. My kids are not particularly innocent. They can and have watched The Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter, and Star Wars movies. They know that what they are seeing actors and special effects in those films. We were not prepared for the tension and violence of the predator take downs which escalated from a single animal chase, to a chase and kill, to a lion pack mauling an elephant. My kids were crying, yes crying, so we had to get out of there. I tried to explain that all of the animals need to eat and that the predators are necessary for balance and we don't want the extinction of any species... no use. My kids are vegetarians now. Just a warning...
- I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
Excellent Movie for the entire family
This is an excellent documentary that weaves the wonders of nature with the all the realities of survival in the wild. It doesn't sugar-coat ANYTHING, but it does a good job and not showing the gory details of a Lion's kill. While the slow motion sequences of predators catching their pray were masterfully shot and edited to protect the young audiences the older audiences might cringe a little by the inevitable outcome. Overall... this is a must see for the entire family (except perhaps some older teens might find it too dull and slow) . I loved it and I can't wait to see the next Disney/BBS nature documentaries coming soon.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Beautiful, but a bit scary.
Beautifully shot, but scary during the predator/prey scenes.
- I rate this title off for age 9 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Cruel Movie about Death
I am 10 years old. The film makers had the nerv to film a starving father polar bear.The bear was stranded in the water miles from shore and when it finally found land (far away from its home land antartica) filled with walruses, the starving bear tried to get food but was too exhausted from its long swim and could not get any food. When it died they put the death in slow motion.Why? When the guys in the helicopter filmed the starving polar bear that was completly suffering how could thay watch it die without helping? The movie for me was about death and human insensitivity in the face of animal suffering.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
A very educational film for all!
I just saw this movie today, and it's great! Social Message: Not an issue. Consumerism: Uses some footage from Planet Earth. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco: Not an issue. Violence: Animal violence, but no blood or gore. Sex: Not an issue. Language: Suprisingly, there's bleeped-out profanity in the credits. When I heard the bleep, I was like "WTH?", but I laughed, because it was very unexpected. Overall, this is a great movie for all ages to enjoy for generations. After you see this, purchase "Planet Earth", the series where this originated from.
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| 67% | of parents say it's too violent |
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