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Spartacus

(1950, Rated NR, Drama, Starring Jean Simmons, Laurence Olivier, Kirk Douglas)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Thrilling epic is too intense for the youngest.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A theme of the movie
  • Violence:

    Very intense battle scenes, fights, crucifixions, also (off-screen) suicide
  • Sex:

    Implied nudity, slave women are treated as commodities, provided to male slaves as a reward, implication of homosexual advances by Crasus to Antonius
  • Language:

    None
  • Consumerism:

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

    None
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Spartacus

Parents need to know that this movie has intense battles, crucifixions, and an off-screen suicide. There's implied nudity and implied homosexuality. Slave women are given to men as rewards.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why it was important for the Romans to spread the rumor that Spartacus was of noble birth. What did Biatius mean when he said he had found his dignity? How was he changed? What did it mean when Gracchus responded that "dignity shortens life even more quickly than disease?" Why did Crassus say he was more concerned about killing the legend than killing the man? Why did each of the slaves claim to be Spartacus?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Can You Say Classic?

    An excellent movie that I had know idea what was in it (except for the "I'm Spartacus" line), I first watched "Spartacus" in Latin class as a freshman. It was highly entertaining, and I must say, excellently done. The makers of "Spartacus" carefully censored the sexual situations, which there are maybe two, and nothing is shown that might cause worry. The violence is pretty bloddy for a movie of that time, but wouldn't go past a PG-13 rating nowadays.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Fantastic Historical Epic made in the 60's

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