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Parents' Guide to

Ben 10: Alien Swarm

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Teen hero takes on aliens in kid-friendly action flick.

Movie NR 2009 90 minutes
Ben 10: Alien Swarm Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Garfield Leg
Garfield Leg Adult
August 29, 2019
age 9+

Perhaps the greatest film of our generation

This isn't just a beautifully crafted Ben 10 film. Or an outstanding Ben 10 portrait, for that matter. An amazing period piece. A character study. A lesson in filmmaking and an inspiration to generations of actors, directors, screenwriters and producers. For me, this is more: this is the definitive film. 5 stars out of 5. Ben 10: Alien swarm is likely appropriate for all ages in terms of content, however, I fear that younger people might not fully appreciate the film's genius, and cinematography. For this reason I have ticked the "9 and up" box, I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on the epic film experience that is Ben 10: Alien swarm.
TimTheTVGuy
TimTheTVGuy Adult
February 21, 2013
age 9+

It's an OK movie.

This Ben 10 film is just OK.I like most of the Ben 10 movies though.I like the action and adventure in this film,but some parts are creepy and not for little kids.So I say this movie is the best for ages 9 up.I really agree with CSM on this one.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Teenage Ben Tennyson (Ryan Kelley) and his pals are part of a secret organization, the Plumbers, that's dedicated to protecting the world from evil extraterrestrial invaders. But when an old friend suddenly comes back into his life, Ben has to make a choice. Will he help Elena (Alyssa Diaz), whose father may be involved with a dangerous alien conspiracy, or will he side with Grandpa Max (Barry Corbin), the Plumbers leader who threw Elena’s dad out of the group years ago?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (6 ):

BEN 10: ALIEN SWARM is based on the popular Ben 10 animated shows, and it loses little moving from animation to live action. The main effect that young fans will be watching for, of course, is Ben’s Omnitrix, a gadget that looks like an oversized wristwatch and gives him the ability to transform into a variety of alien shapes. This comes in handy when he has to battle the Hive and its millions of nanotech robotic chips. Ben gets backup from his cousin, Gwen (Galadriel Stineman), and their friend Kevin (Nathan Keyes), who both have their own abilities; together they're a formidable force.

The original cartoon series started when Ben was a 10-year-old boy, and Ben 10: Alien Force picked up five years later. Now he’s an older teen -- driving cars, making his own decisions, and definitely paying attention to girls. But the film is still age-appropriate for younger viewers -- the fight scenes are relatively tame, and the romantic subplots are very restrained. Fans of the cartoons will like this entry in the franchise, and there’s no reason why tweens can't watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Ben’s decision to defy Granpda Max. Why does Ben choose to do so? Do you agree with his choice? How does Ben’s choice affect his friends, who are forced to take sides? In the end, do you think Ben made the right choice?

  • How does this live-action film compare to the animated series it's based on? Do you think the actors are similar to the cartoon characters?

  • Do you think this movie is aimed at the same audience as the cartoon?

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