It's actually one of those melodramatic movies with lots of montages. Although I usually find montage quite a cliche', it wasn't enough to make this movie a turn-off for me. It's quite realistic... you know how some parents can get crazy and make really extreme decisions because they love their kids and they want the best for the family? Well, this movie is about that. It's also about the normal path of growing up. Even people with cancer or any other type of termincal illness want to experience life in the same was as everybody else. And they deserve to. although it's really cheesy, I like how the older sister kept a scrapbook containing her fondest memories. It showed that no matter how hard life is, it's beautiful as long as a person makes the most of every moment. Problems make us strong but the good memories make life beautiful.
My Sister's Keeper
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Sad drama has heavy themes about and illness, family.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, growing up, loss
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–15
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of My Sister's Keeper was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that this tearjerking drama explores some heavy themes that younger audiences may find difficult to process without guidance. A teenager is terminally ill, and her march to the end is painful: She vomits after chemo, her hair and eyebrows fall out, and more. The effects of her illness on her family are are similarly heartbreaking to watch. The film also touches on teenage sexuality and drinking and has some fairly infrequent swearing, including "f--k" and "s--t."
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about how a serious illness can change a family's dynamics. Does the movie accurately portray a family in distress? Does it find any bright side in a very sad story? How do movies generally depict terminal illnesses? Is this one any different?
- Families can also discuss the consequences of teenage drinking, which the movie touches on briefly.
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on My Sister's Keeper
What’s the Story?
Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) was a wanted baby -- wanted more than
anything in the world, because she was meant to save the life of her sister, Kate
(Sofia Vassilieva), who's been battling leukemia since she was 2. The girls' mother, Sara (Cameron
Diaz), vows to fend off death at all costs, even if it means using Anna
as Kate’s lifeline; their father, Brian (Jason Patric), supports her but has to tamp down some doubts. And their son, Jesse (Evan
Ellingson), struggles to be relevant in a household where cancer -- and
any potential cure -- reigns above all else. Then, one day, Anna declares
she’s had enough and, with the help of lawyer Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin), fights to be medically
emancipated -- a move that could eliminate Kate’s last hope of survival.
Is It Any Good?
Based on Jodi Picoult’s same-named novel, MY SISTER’S KEEPER is a bona fide tearjerker. Given the subject matter, how could it not be? Director Nick Cassavetes has coaxed amazing performances from his first-rate cast, including Diaz, who surprises with the strength of her rage and melancholy as a mother determined not to see her child die. And the film does well what many other dramas about illness don’t: examine the toll that a prolonged sickness takes on everyone, not just the patient. The sibling relationships are especially nuanced; power imbalances are believably rendered right alongside deep familial love.
What keeps the film from achieving greatness is largely due to its structure. Characters tell their stories one at a time; it moves the plot along, but sometimes a little coercively. (There's a courtroom case embedded in the plotline, so the voiceovers do seem to make sense here. Nevertheless, they drain some of the power.) The movie tells you how to feel instead of taking you there.
Movie Details
Studio: New Line Cinema, Director: Nick Cassavetes
Run time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/26/2009, DVD release: 11/17/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking
Run time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/26/2009, DVD release: 11/17/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, sensuality, language and brief teen drinking
Our Members Say
See all 55 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
The Usual family movie that's gonna make you cry
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Can someone help me?
Can someone tell me what the disturbing images are so that I know? Is it just the girl throwing up after chemo? Is there blood? Can someone please answer these questions I would really appreciate it. I just want to know if I can handle the gross stuff. Thanks!!! I haven't seen it so pay no attention to my ratings...
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
kids
ok ... sadst movie in history of all movies.....i constantly cried great movie though!1
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
Sad movie, but didn't make the cut for me.
I personally didn't like this movie. I thought it was a bit sad, but not enough to make me cry. I watched this with my sister and she loved it, while for me.. not so much. There is lots of mature themes and elements in this movie. It's sad because of the cancer Anna has and how the little girl has to have surgeries just so Anna can live. I think 11 and 12 year olds + can handle My sister's keeper.
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
a very sad movie that is almost a rated R.
I love this movie. I think it is truly beautiful and heartwarming. It is a very sad story though and not for people who well don't like sad movies. This movie is also at an edge of being rated R. it is rated PG-13 for the following reasons: mature theamitic material, some disturbing images, sensuality, language, and brief teen drinking. If they just had pinch or so more of a couple of these things it would most definetly have been rated R. So it's good just keep in mind there are some very disturbing images of a child suffering cancer, a short scene where Kate tries to kill herself by getting drunk and taking to many pills, and there is a couple scenes with teenage sexuality including teenagers lying in bed together naked, and some constant swearing.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Its Amazing,Touching And Awesome.It really helps you understand the stuff that a family goes through when one of them's really ill.A tear-jerking,some sorta comedy movie you dont wanna forget to bring your tissues for. (:
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
A bit boring really but being a guy watching a chick flick it's understandable. It does show girl on guy but they're only lying on top of each other with a sheet on top not actually doing anything. Drug use is shown but only in one stage of her life when she gets a bit depressed 'cause she's got cancer. Language was put in when not necessary like when they take her out of the hospital and her mum sees it and gets mad. Also some needles and stuff in hospital -don't always see the skin though. Overall one that is pretty good and can make you cry if you do that in sad movies but if you don't want anyone to notice eat popcorn while watching 'cause it helps
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Good for mature eleven and twelve year olds and thirteen and older
I loved this film. Perfect if you like tearjerkers with a message. Good for mature eleven and twelve years olds and thirteen year olds and older. Not everyone in this film are role models, but some are.
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I rate this title off for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Very disturbing bad message
it was very well disturbing i think it didnt give a good message and lots of languege i only saw half of the movie but it made me uncomfertable very grafic so if you want your kids to see a good message dont take them to this movie take them to see the Blind Side
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I rate this title off for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Very disturbing bad message
it was very well disturbing i think it didnt give a good message and lots of languege i only saw half of the movie but it made me uncomfertable very grafic so if you want your kids to see a good message dont take them to this movie take them to see the Blind Side
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A brilliant bring-a-kleenex-box movie! Just a few swear words and a very brief scene of teen drinking. 11+
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
an amazing movie
this movie is soooooo amazing and i love it! But there is some disrurbing images of a child suffering cancer.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
I think this movie was touching, indeed. Though some tear-jerking parts seemed to be over-doing it, I still thought this movie was by far, one of the best I've ever seen!
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
I think this movie was touching, indeed. Though some tear-jerking parts seemed to be over-doing it, I still thought this movie was by far, one of the best I've ever seen!
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Okay Movie
I thought the movie was okay because it had some bad parts but overall it was pretty much okay. I think you will enjoy seeing the movie
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Okay Movie
I thought the movie was okay because it had some bad parts but overall it was pretty much okay. I think you will enjoy seeing the movie
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
THere was a sex scence, and i didn't like the mother at all. I thought the the book was much better than the movie. I hated it! Not a good movie at all! Overall not much inapropriate.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
great
great
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
perfect
the perfect film... Just not for young kids.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
9 year olds love it!!!!!!
Sure this movie may sound like a big deal but it isnt. The content isnt that bad and i have to kids in y family who are 9 that watched it and loved it!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 38% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 38% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 31% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 31% | of parents say it's too violent |
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