My 11year old thought this was the worst movie he had ever seen. I agree, it was weird and often didn't make sense. Don't waste your time.
Where the Wild Things Are
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Sometimes-dark adaptation focuses on friendship, loneliness.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, friendship, growing up
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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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 Where the Wild Things Are was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parents need to know that director Spike Jonze's adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are isn't appropriate for younger kids, even those who adore the book (there's a big difference between looking at a beautifully illustrated children's story and watching a live-action movie full of sights and sounds that will probably scare the average 4-year-old). The movie explores mature themes of loneliness, insecurity, and fear of change, both within Max's human family and the one he finds on his adventure. The island that Max lands on can be a scary and dark place, and the Wild Things themselves aren't above threatening (repeatedly) to eat Max, as well as becoming hot-headed and destructive (and when a Wild Thing gets destructive, it can be quite intense). The movie also has a slower, dreamier feel than many other kids' movies, and relationships and storylines aren't always neatly resolved. There's some mild language ("damn," "stupid") and a quick glimpse of Max's mom and her boyfriend drinking wine and kissing, but otherwise the PG rating is due mostly to Max's occasionally frightful time with the mysterious Wild Things.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about what makes Max scared and angry. Why does he get mad at his sister and his mom? What does he want from them? What does he learn about families from his time among the Wild Things?
- Each of the Wild Things has a personality, opinions, and concerns. Are the Wild Things symbolic of different character traits? Kids: Which Wild Thing was the most relatable?
- How does the movie compare to the book? How did the filmmakers change the story? Does an adaptation have to to translate exactly what's in a book to be faithful? How do you think the movie might be different if it were meant for younger kids?
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More on Where the Wild Things Are
What’s the Story?
Director Spike Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers' adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are fleshes out Maurice Sendak's protagonist Max (Max Records) to provide a reason behind his wolf suit-wearing mischief. He's an imaginative kid with boundless energy. But when his mom (Catherine Keener) doesn't seem to have time for him, he snaps, tries to bite her, and runs away. Suburban woods lead him to a sailboat that heads straight to a mysterious island inhabited by Wild Things. Unlike in the book, each movie Wild Thing has a distinct name and personality: There's insecure Carol (James Gandolfini), sarcastic Judith (Catherine O'Hara), sweet Ira (Forest Whitaker), misunderstood Alexander (Paul Dano), wise Douglas (Chris Cooper), and loving KW (Lauren Ambrose). Max persuades the Wild Things not to eat him by claiming he's a king with special powers. At first ruling the island a joy -- "let the wild rumpus start!" -- but as time passes, Max begins to disappoint the dysfunctional monsters, and he eventually grows fearful that they'll realize he's just a boy pretending to be a wolf pretending to be a king.
Is It Any Good?
Usually, beloved children's books are adapted with a kiddie audience in mind, but Where the Wild Things Are isn't for the Happy Meal set. It's a leisurely paced, literary film that makes you reflect on the exuberance and sadness of being a child. The Wild Things are indeed a wild bunch -- they smash things and claim to have eaten all of their other kings -- but they're also a broody, sarcastic, touchy clan wrestling with jealousy (Carol hates that KW is friends with two owls, Terry and Bob), isolation (Alex feels ignored), and misunderstandings (KW wants everyone to get along). It's not all rumpus-making, sleeping in a pile, and dirt-clot fights for King Max.
Visually, the film is beautifully simple, whether it's a heartbreaking close-up of a teary-eyed Max or an expansive shot of the Wild Things' island. It's amazing how perfectly Sendak's monsters come to life and how perfectly newcomer Records plays the spirited and vulnerable Max. He truly shines, especially acting opposite Keener, Gandolfini, and Ambrose. And the excellent voice cast, who actually rehearsed together, makes you forget you're watching CGI-enhanced 9-foot puppets. The movie's evocative soundtrack, composed by Carter Burrell and Karen O. (frontwoman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) switches from playful to eerie to jubilant to frightening, and it's a spot-on accompaniment to Max's journey. This isn't a movie you cuddle with the kids over, the way you do with the book. It is, however, an artful, touching text on the magical but at times lonely nature of childhood.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: Spike Jonze
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/16/2009, DVD release: 3/2/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/16/2009, DVD release: 3/2/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language
Our Members Say
See 254 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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Kids ages: 11
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it- My concerns are:
Not a good movie
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Kids ages: 2, 5, 9
I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Adults who know better might stomach this one
The darkness of Max's selfishness is never frowned upon. His mother is framed as a weak when Max's disrespect is condoned. I would not let me kids(9,5,2) see this movie.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
HORRIBLE
This movie is very disturbing, violent, and sad. Do not see this movie!!!
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Kids ages: 3, 9
I rate this title off for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
I saw it, it s boring. I was deceived. I even returned the movie where I bought it. A little boy that has hanger, run away from home and arrive to an isle where monsters fights between them and have same complexe as him...made me think...the teletubies. The psyco... behing it is.. the boy will understand he s hanger and will finally go back home. There is too much hard fighthing beetween monsters. Also the bad message is that yes child run away from home you might meet monters on an island!!!
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
Troubling movie, will resonate better with parents
This movie had a lot of violence in it. Not shootings or really bad language, but the movie's tone and moodiness lent it a more realistic violent tone. The Wild Things are not nice characters. I can see the connecting being drawn of how the wild things are supposed to relate to the main character's feelings, but the movie came off dark and brooding for a kids movie. Kids four and younger won't be troubled because they won't understand so much, as be scared by the creatures themselves. Younger kids will find the movie strange and a little unsettling. The main character treats his mother poorly and her response is not helpful in making any role models in this movie positive. The kind of movie you have to discuss with kids 10+.
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Kids ages: 11, 14, 15, 17
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
Not good for young kids or those with traumatic backgrounds
The scenery is beautiful, if you can ignore the violence! There is a scene where one character actually rips off the arm of another. Granted these are monsters and not "real," but for the rest of the movie the one armed character walks around with a stick in place of his arm like a snowman! The relationship between the son and mother is not loving at all. In the book the mom brings him dinner even though he's been "bad." In this book the mom is much less understanding. Overall this movie had none of the charm and positive messages of the book.
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Kids ages: 7
I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
This movie was nothing like what I expected. I grew up with the book and love the book. The family life of Max was filled with drama and misbehavior (more than I'd have expected). The "wild things" were scary and violent. I do not recommend it for children.
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
The Book was Better
It was an ok movie. It wasn't the best because I'm mostly in to computer animated movies. This was way too emotional and gory. I mean, does anyone want to see and kid inside a monster's stomach? My final verdict, watch at your own risk.
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
would not recommend
They turned a cute book about a kid's active imagination into a terrifying set of hallucinations by a sociopathic and possibly schizophrenic little boy. He bites his mom, destroys his sister's things, runs out of the house into the street and woods, attacks his clearly upset dog with a FORK, and various other horrible things that weren't in the book. The movie is scary and I would definitely not let most kids under their tweens watch it.
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I rate this title off for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This is not a kids movie, this is a dark movie
I'm 19 and this felt like one of the most violent movies I had seen in a long time. Not because I don't want PG-13 or R rated movies, but because the violence was directed at the child in the movie and being put into his world made you feel terrified at times. Most of the time this feels like watching a movie about a violently abusive husband. Many of the characters have uncontrollable anger issues which break out unexpectedly. The movie constantly switches from happy, almost joyous scenes to angry or scary scenes. All of the characters get hurt repeatedly, especially intentionally, by other characters. As a movie, I loved it, the metaphors, language, and meaning behind all the scenes would spark tons of mature discussion about all kinds of topics. It's also very beautifully and seamlessly done. Not a movie I would ever take kids to see though. I feel like the PG rating is a terrible misnomer. Just because the violence is mostly on the Wild characters, the rendering makes them feel just as real as the human ones. Animation has advanced, the ratings of what counts as "cartoon violence" should too.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Adult film, childrens book.
Well obviously it's a childrens book. The movie isn't. The movie was basically based for adults. For adults who read the book when they were little, and how they were at that age; wild, angry, or even lonely. So, parents or teens stop hating on this film but this is one of the most AMAZING films I've seen ALL year. Props for the director & producers & actors, they did GREAT! To adults stick to books or PG movies:)
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
One of the best movies of the year
Very well made movie, great acting, heart warming, and a great adaptation of the book!
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I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
What. In. The. World....
This is the WORST movie I have ever seen in my intire life. Someone was on something when they made this movie (excuse my language) but this is just stupid. The first thing you see is the boy screaming while choking the heck out of his dog. A teenager lands on him and makes him cry, he trashes his sisters room, bites and screams at his mom, runs away on a boat, goes to an island that is runned by weird things and one of them (Carol) was distroying the huts for no flipping reason. All they do is punch and scream through most of the movie, and Carol gets so upset once he ripped a guys arm off!! I couldn't finish the movie because it was so horrible! Do not let your kids see this, it will rot their brains, litterily. Do not waste any second of your life on this movie.
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Kids ages: 8, 13, 16
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Our teenagers (13 and 16) left and we ended up turning it off before it was over for our 8 year old. Very disturbing, I thought, although my husband says it was just like he felt at 9 years old. Lonely and sad and aggressive? Wow.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
horrible
my mom and i watched this movie she said she wanted to see but at the end she said something like i wish i would have trusted the reviews
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Kids ages: 8, 11
I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Just a dark, confusing, violent movie. Nothing particulary good about it. The message is confusing even to an adult at times. At one point Carol rips of the arm of one of the other Wild Things and sand pours out. He later tries to make it up by sticking a branch on in place of the missing arm. My family was ready for a nice story that expanded on the book, and instead we found it difficult to follow or understand, dark and with no real plot. The only message my 8 and 11 year old got from it was that no matter how horribly you behave your mom still loves you. All the characters were pretty one dimensional. All in all we all hated it.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
Occasionally dark adaptation of classic kids' book is only OK
Almost every kid in the world has read and/or heard about the classic book Where the Wild Things Are. It has become one of the most beloved books of all time. Now, finally, there is a film adaptation. Like the book, it focuses in on Max, a 9 year-old boy with a giant imagination. One day, he sails off to an imaginary island that is inhabited by made-up creatures called the Wild Things. Max soon befriends them, and takes a special liking to Carol, a hulking gentle giant whose actions seem to mirror Max's. Unlike the book however, this film deals with messages about loss, lonliness, and sorrow. A depresssing sense of hoplessness abounds throughout. Not exactly something for the younger set. But this adaptation is also a beautiful portyal of friendship, love, and togetherness that Max soon learns after his journey. Where the Wild Things Are isn't a great movie, but director Spike Jonze definetly made something he can be proud of. The special effects are astounding, the acting is first-rate, and the story more or less stays true to its literary roots. As mentioned, this is a dark and somewhat unsettling viewing experience, so I only recommend it to kids 10 and up.
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Kids ages: 7, 9
I rate this title off for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
12+ but not younger
Dread and depression isn't what I'm looking for to watch with my kids on a Saturday night. Not for the young.12+ If watched, make sure parents that you are right there to explain, feelings, fear, and behavior.
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I rate this title iffy for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
Ok for 9 and up, a little too scary for the younger crowd
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Ratings at a Glance
| 48% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 45% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 35% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
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