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Mission to Mars

(2000, Rated PG, Comedy, Starring Don Cheadle, Tim Robbins, Gary Sinise)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    So-so sci-fi; may be too intense for some kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 8–11

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Diverse group works well together
  • Violence & scariness:

    Characters in peril, some killed
  • Sexy stuff:

    Mild
  • Language:

    A few strong words
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Social drinking
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Mission to Mars

Parents need to know that characters are in peril and there are a number of tense moments and several deaths, one graphic. Creationists will also be upset by the way the plot develops.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the choices made by the characters, including one who commits suicide to save the lives of others, and about the prospects of space exploration and colonization. And it is worth pointing out to kids who watch today that they are the same age as the characters in the movie, who would have been children back in the year 2000. Point out the brief home movie footage showing two of the characters circa 2000, around 11 years old, and already dreaming of going to Mars, and ask kids what their dreams are, and help them think about what they will need in order to get there.

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Most Recent Reviews

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

    I’m pretty surprised they rated this PG. The language was pretty excessive (even for a PG-13), including the “G” word. Two scenes get pretty disturbing. One person literally flies apart in a wind funnel, and another scene shows a frontal view of a person’s face frozen solid. Definitely no less then PG-13 content.

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