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Science of the Movies

(Rated TV-G, Educational, Starring Nar Williams, Where to watch: Science Channel)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fun but jargon-heavy peek behind your favorite film scenes.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The host does a good job explaining technical lingo in a way that average viewers can understand. The show encourages learning and curiosity by investigating the science behind the cutting-edge technology used in filmmaking and explaining how the same technology is used in other fields.  
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Some film clips include scenes of laser battles and weapon use, but there’s no injury or bloodshed. 

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    No marketing, but lots of movie titles -- like Terminator 3 -- are mentioned during interviews with the people who worked on them.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Science of the Movies

Parents need to know that while there's no iffy content in this investigative series about the secrets behind movie visual effects, the technical subject matter is pretty advanced even for today's tech-savvy kids. While the host does a good enough job of translating computer jargon into layman's terms that tweens will get something out of the show, the series is clearly aimed at grown-up movie buffs.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about science and technology. Are they always as interesting and exciting as a show like this makes them seem? Does seeing a show like this make you more or less interested in science overall? What major scientific breakthroughs do you think could happen in your lifetime? Do science and scientific experimentation have any limits? If so, what are they?

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