Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody violence and strong language in horror crossover.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Alien vs. Predator
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 18 parent reviews
Based on 107 kid reviews
Kids say the film is entertaining yet controversial due to its violence and gore, which some reviews deem inappropriate for its PG-13 rating, while others find it suitable for children aged 10 and up. Though it presents an engaging crossover of two iconic franchises, opinions vary greatly on the film's execution, pacing, and overall quality.
- violence concerns
- age suitability
- entertaining crossover
- mixed reviews
- pacing issues
- gore level
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, billionaire industrialist Weyland (Lance Henriksen) funds an exhibition to Bouvetøya Island in Antarctica, where a mysterious structure has been detected beneath the ground. Keen to get to the discovery before anyone else, he ignores warnings from expedition guide Alexa (Sanaa Lathan) that the team of scientists and archaeologists is unprepared. Soon, they find themselves trapped inside complex ancient ruins and in the middle of a violent battle between two terrifying species—aliens and Predators.
Is It Any Good?
There's no doubting the fact that the premise here is ridiculous, but for fans of the blockbuster Alien and Predator franchises who are willing to suspend disbelief, there's enjoyment to be found. In Alien vs. Predator, the creatures obviously take center stage, but that stage also includes impressive set pieces. Sweeping, snowy landscapes illuminated by headlights, flashlights, and red flares create a creepy atmosphere reminiscent of The Thing, while the elaborate runes and moving chambers within the pyramid itself have Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider vibes. Alexa is a smart, likable main character, but others are underdeveloped, and viewers won't be too sorry to see them picked off one by one. The concept gets increasingly absurd as the movie fights toward the end, but the battles are expectedly gory, if not too imaginative, and there's no denying the sheer spectacle of these two sci-fi horror icons exploding onto the same screen.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about merging two franchises in Alien vs. Predator. Both were generally well-liked among sci-fi horror fans. Do you think this crossover lives up to expectations? Why do you think filmmakers would want to combine two franchises this way? What might be some of the challenges in bringing two worlds together?
Can you think of any other franchise crossovers? How do they compare?
African American actor Sanaa Lathan is in the lead role. How is her character portrayed? Why is it important to see women, particularly women of color, in leading roles?
How does the film create its scary moments? How does it use atmosphere, suspense, violence, gore, sound effects, and jump scares to that end? Are there any moments that stand out? Why do you think they work—or don't work?
How are the character strength of courage and curiosity portrayed during the movie? Are there sometimes dangerous sides to these mostly positive characteristics?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 13, 2004
- On DVD or streaming : January 25, 2005
- Cast : Lance Henriksen , Raoul Bova , Sanaa Lathan
- Director : Paul W.S. Anderson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Aliens
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language, horror images, slime and gore.
- Last updated : April 8, 2026
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