Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
English-language remake includes extreme violence and sex.
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Why Age 18+?
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 33 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a deeply intense and graphic portrayal of mature themes, particularly violence and sexual assault, that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While many commend the filmmaking, performances, and suspenseful narrative, numerous reviewers highlight the disturbing content, stressing the need for mature viewers and suggesting discussions afterward to unpack the heavy themes presented.
- graphic content
- mature themes
- intense performances
- viewer discretion
- discussion encouraged
- dark narrative
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say this film contains extremely graphic violence and sexual content, particularly disturbing scenes of rape that make it unsuitable for younger audiences; reviews consistently advise that it is more appropriate for mature viewers. Many praised the acting and cinematography while acknowledging the slow pace and unsettling themes, emphasizing the need for parental discretion before allowing teens to watch.
- graphic violence
- explicit sexual content
- strong performances
- parental discretion
- mature audiences
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is invited to meet retired tycoon Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) after losing a libel suit. Under the guise of writing a memoir, Vanger hires Mikael to find out what happened to his niece, who mysteriously disappeared many decades earlier. Meanwhile, a troubled, asocial young computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who supplied information on Mikael for the libel case, has been dealing with problems of her own. Mikael discovers her identity and tracks her down, and the two take a liking to each other. They form an unlikely team in the search for the missing girl -- but little do they know that their search will uncover a series of murders leading back 40 years.
Is It Any Good?
This is little more than good pulp that's wrapped up in history, the Holocaust, and Nazism to give it depth and presented in a 158-minute package to give it weight. Fortunately, director David Fincher is highly skilled at this kind of thing, having turned in the similar films Seven (1995) and Zodiac (2007). His chilly, precise filmmaking knows how to tease while still looking head-on into a dark, bloody abyss.
Fincher takes time to build the mystery slowly, showing the numbing amounts of research as well as details like freezing-cold cabins and bad vending machine coffee. Every bit of excitement here is mirrored by something either mundane or rotten. (This isn't a glamorous mystery.) For the English-language remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-- which uses all the same character names and locations as the original -- superb casting choices were made all the way down the line, with Craig and Mara superbly commanding the screen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo's extreme violence. How much of it is actually necessary to tell this type of story? Would the film have as much impact without it?
How does the movie portray sex? Are the consequences for the characters' decisions regarding sex realistic? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values relating to sex and relationships.
Are these characters compelling, despite their questionable behavior? If so, why? Are they heroes? Are they role models?
How does the English-language version differ from the Swedish version? Did this version need to be made?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 20, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : March 20, 2012
- Cast : Christopher Plummer , Daniel Craig , Rooney Mara
- Director : David Fincher
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : Columbia Pictures , Sony Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 158 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity, and language
- Last updated : February 20, 2026
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