Parents' Guide to

Moonage Daydream

By Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

David Bowie documentary has some language, sex, nudity.

Movie PG-13 2022 135 minutes
Moonage Daydream movie poster: David Bowie with red hair, platform shoes, and wearing a black and white stripy outfit

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Moonage Daydream: David Bowie performs on stage in red and orange light with his foot on monitor
  • Moonage Daydream: Collection of TVs showing different channels
  • Moonage Daydream: David Bowie interviewed on TV wearing white shirt in front of a blue background

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
May 8, 2023
age 16+

Skip this! It is trash!

This movie is one of THE WORST documentaries I have ever seen! I watched the first 20 minutes of it and then pushed the “off” button. It was that bad! It was slow-moving, and all about David Bowie being sexy by being dressed in very sexual ways. The film also had very weird face designs throughout. It was not like your typical documentary with people being interviewed. It just seemed like David Bowie and his live performances with people being too dramatic over seeing him up close. As well as that, the beginning was very slow-moving. People keep saying that this is such a great movie, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who actually likes to watch a great film. It really it is worth the skip.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

MOONAGE DAYDREAM explores the life and work of David Bowie through archive footage of his interviews and music.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Writer-director Brett Morgen takes a relatively light touch to compiling this look at Bowie's life and work. Moving in more or less chronological order, Moonage Daydream shows the emergence of an iconic artist who describes his career in his own words. By putting Bowie front and center, the documentary avoids the norm of having friends and family provide broader perspectives of a the subject's life and work. This isn't a bad thing in itself, but it means the movie is powered mostly by the spectacle of Bowie's performances and reflections in interviews.

There are glimpses of some of the ups and downs of Bowie's career. Like all great musicians, he had periods where his popularity dipped and he struggled to establish the next phase of his impressive body of work. Among the news clips there are some brief, dissenting voices, but Moonage Daydream seems to find these an awkward fit. It is, understandably, more interested in compiling a lengthy mix of classic and never-before-seen footage, with the co-operation of Bowie's estate. Fans will likely welcome this, but those with a casual interest might be left wanting something more concise and comprehensive.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about David Bowie's life and work as depicted in Moonage Daydream. How much did you know about him before you watched this? Did it make you want to learn more? What made Bowie such an iconic figure?

  • Talk about the documentary's discussion of mental health and gender. How was Bowie ahead of his time? Do you think artists find it easier to talk about these topics nowadays? Why, or why not?

  • How was sex portrayed in the film? How did Bowie use it in his art? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • Talk about the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?

  • In what ways did Bowie display curiosity, empathy, and integrity? Why are these such important character strengths?

Movie Details

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