Space Jam (PG, 1996)

common sense media says

Live-action/animation mix is good fun for kids.


parents & educators say
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 67% say there are positive role models

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has some cartoon violence. The film is likely to impress younger viewers, especially those without any sentimental attachment to the original Looney Tunes cartoons. The characters assemble a basketball team, including Michael Jordan as a member, to defeat a group of aliens who want to enslave them. By standing up against their potential slave masters, the Tunes' efforts are admirable, so the overall message is fairly positive. Jokes about merchandising and Jordan's ill-fated baseball career are thrown in for the older folks, but ultimately, this film will likely fail to hold the attention of many people over the age of 12.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence & scariness: Cartoon violence.
Sexy stuff: Not applicable.
Language: Mild.
Consumerism: Jokes about merchandising.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A special liquid formula is given to the Looney Tunes to increase their basketball skills, but it is shown to really be water having only a placebo effect.

More on Space Jam

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether or not they think the blending of animation and live-action works or not. Would this movie have been better as a completely animated feature?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Made shortly after Michael Jordan's first retirement from basketball and his short foray into professional baseball, SPACE JAM marks an attempt to revive the Looney Tunes franchise by creating a big budget live-action/animation feature riding on the basketball superstar's coattails. Bugs, Porky, Tweety, and other favorite Looney Tune characters assemble a basketball team, including Michael Jordan as a member, to defeat a group of aliens, the Nerdlucks, who are trying to enslave the Tunes as attractions in their outer space theme park.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Space Jam does little to revive the Looney Tunes characters, who pretty much stick to their tried and true (and violent) antics, albeit in a new setting. As for Michael, his athletic prowess need not be proven, but the mix of animation in the basketball sequences tends to trivialize his abilities. With cartoon characters bouncing around every which way and easily slam dunking the ball, Michael's acrobatics seem minor in comparison.

While the film fails on many counts to best utilize the characters at its disposal, it's still likely to impress younger viewers, especially those without any sentimental attachment to the original Looney Tunes cartoons. By standing up against their potential slave masters, the Tunes' efforts are admirable, so the overall message is fairly positive. Jokes about merchandising and Jordan's ill-fated baseball career are thrown in for the older folks, but ultimately, this film will likely fail to hold the attention of many people over the age of 12.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Joe Pytka
Cast: Bill Murray, Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: November 15, 1996
DVD release: October 28, 2003
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: some mild cartoon violence

This review was written by David Gurney
 
 

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What parents & educators say

5
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 67% say there are positive role models
  • 50% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

Swit Swat
kid, 12 years old
 
A great movie that will appeal to the whole family!
Hilarious! A great movie for ages 5 and up! Anyone under 5 might get freaked out. There are some scary monsters in the movie and some flirting too. The famous Bugs Bunny and Lola kiss twice in the movie. And they do it pretty iffy. But besides that there is no real threat that can cause kids to act bad in this movie.

rebma97
teen, 14 years old
 
Pretty silly, but fun
This movie's a crossover between basketball and Looney Tunes. There is a plot, but it's mainly about playing basketball. Even though it's not as good as Looney Tunes, it's still good.

Sgt-Samson
teen, 16 years old
 
An okay movie but could've way way worse than Kazaam .

Sanjay407
kid, 13 years old
 
This is the best cartoon movie ever

Thecoyote
teen, 14 years old
 
Who ya gonna call? SPACE JAM!!!
Bill Murray and Wayne Knight were hailourious. The Looney Tunes were also pretty funny. There is some cartoon violence, and Michael's pretty mutch the only positive role model while (just about) everybody else is either crazy and or mean.

Mr.Jacob
educator
 
Its cartoon violence. We all grew up with it. My kidos 3 and 4 year old at daycare loved this film and never had any problems with it. It does have some semi scary moments with the aliens boss, but nothing terrible. Good messages about helping others, and doing whats right. Now, I personally got bored with it, but the kids asked for it almost everyday.

GoodSSJ
parent of 12 year old
 
A Family Movie
This Movie Is Great For The Whole Family!!!

fruityputooty
parent of 8 year old
 
Funny some good messages
This movie is good for a few laughs and some positive messages about doing the right thing. I didn't like how the teams play to win by hurting each other, and some of the language was not innocent. The music and the messages are good about working your hardest even if you don't expect to win, and the power of believing in yourself.

robinrunner
teen, 14 years old
 
I was a die-hard looney tunes fan a while back and I still am today. Loved this movie!
Basketball heros and cartoon charecters combined takes you on a wild thrill ride as aliens from outerspace enter the looney tune world to abduct favorite charecters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, The Road Runner and many more exciting charecters for an amusement park on Mars. Parents and kids alike will enjoy this. The only issue with it is you see an aliens bare-butt revealed in a basketball game after his pants get torn off.

Marvin Martian
parent of 15 year old
 
5 to adult
Very good 10/10. some mild violence

 
It was awesome!!
One of the best cartoon movie ever created!! I laughed a lot!! It's pretty much good for kids all ages!! I love it, it was a really good movie. I've seen it about 8 times already!

Indiana Jones Man
kid, 10 years old
 
THE WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TERIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HATED THIS SO BADLY I DON'T KNOW WHY I EVEN WATCHED IT. SO PREDICTABLE LAME AND TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE WORST MOVIE IN HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Space Jam Review
The one of the greatest animated movies of all time that is still watched by many is Space Jam. starring one of the all-time best basketball players in the world, Michael Jordan and Wayne Knight in this family enjoying film for all ages. This movie starts off as a retired basketball player, Michael Jordan, who ends up helping out the well-known animated Looney Tunes in a basketball game against the aliens from Moron Mountain. The leader of the Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny, underestimates the smarts of the small aliens and agrees to surrender to the aliens if they win the game. The aliens had no skills in the sport and did not know what it even was so; they went to earth and to a professional basketball game and stole the skills from that time, greatest players. The Looney Tunes seen their incredible transformations in size and skills so, it turned out they needed another player that could help them have a chance and to save their lives from slavery in eternity for the aliens. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a great laugh and the major Looney Tune characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. The good mix of action/animation grabbed a lot of attention and blew minds for many people. A movie I still watch every time I feel like I need motivation to do something or just to enjoy a good movie.

daynajewel2001
kid, 10 years old
 
I think it's a.......YES!!!!!
I love this movie soooo much! it would be a great movie for your kids. The looney tunes are hilarious! But some of the monsters might be a little scary for young kids below 6. there are also a few kissy parts but otherwise you'll love this movie!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age