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The Thief Lord

(2006, Rated PG, Drama, Starring Aaron Johnson, Jasper Harris, Rollo Weeks)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Magical orphan drama explores the definition of family.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Family ties make up the heart of this story, especially a tender and loving bond between two brothers, and a bitter and hostile father-son relationship. Though the Thief Lord is the leader of a gang supporting criminal activities, he also acts as a father-figure to a band of runaway children, and his paternal role is endearing.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Several scenes that involve small scuffles as adults trying to subdue and capture runaway kids. A few scenes also feature guns.

  • Sex:

    Some very mild flirting between teens.

  • Language:

    Some relatively tame epithets, such as "skanky old bat," "screw up," and "lying piece of crap."

  • Consumerism:

    The movie is an ode to beauty of Venice, and portrays the Italian city as a charming and magical place.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Thief Lord

Parents need to know that this movie, based on the book by Cornelia Funke, focuses on two orphaned brothers who run away to Venice to escape the reach of a horrible aunt. They are taken in by the Thief Lord, the teenage leader of a band of runaways whose criminal activities support the gang. Some scuffles pit adults against kids.

Read our full review by Will Wade

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about family connections. How do you define "family"? Do you need to be related by blood? Do all blood-relatives look our for you? Also, orphanages are a common element in many classic movies and books about unhappy childhoods. Can you name some? Do any of these books or movies romanticize the experience? If so, how?
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