Parents' Guide to Blitz

Movie PG-13 2024 120 minutes
Blitz movie poster: A blond woman and a boy standing close, both of them surrounded by swirling, delicate flowers, creating a dreamlike atmosphere

Common Sense Media Review

Stefan Pape By Stefan Pape , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

British wartime drama with a focus on race and identity.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Blitz Trailer
  • Blitz: A woman with blond hair, wearing a dark red coat, walking down a dimly lit, narrow street
  • Blitz: A blond woman in a plaid coat holds a boy's hand as they descend stairs in a dimly lit station
  • Blitz: A blond woman with her arm around her son walks through the bombed streets of London

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age 11+

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age 13+

Based on 1 kid review

 

 

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What's the Story?

BLITZ tells the story of George (Elliot Heffernan) who is reluctantly evacuated from London by his mother, Rita (Saoirse Ronan), so he can be kept safe from the damage and destruction caused during World War II. However, when George flees the train, he attempts to make it back home, meeting an eclectic and dangerous range of characters along the way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 1 ):

This British drama, set during the bombing of London in WWII, is no doubt a compelling story. But given the talent behind this production, in the form of visionary filmmaker Steve McQueen, and the remarkable cast that brings together some of Britain and Ireland's very best performers, it's hard not to have hoped that Blitz would have delivered a little more. Tonally it feels quite messy. There are moments that feel plucked out of a Charles Dickens' novel, with characters you wouldn't be surprised to find in Oliver!. But here they feel out of place with the film's grit and realism. It's as though McQueen doesn't quite know what kind of film he wants it to be and as a result it tries to do too much, which compromises the audience's emotional investment in the narrative. It's a film of moments, some of which are really wonderful and beautifully shot. But as a whole, it leaves something to be desired.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the period of history depicted in Blitz. Did you know much about what happened in London during World War II? How did it impact the city and those that lived there? How to talk with kids about violence, crime, and war.

  • The movie has a young biracial boy as its lead. Is it unusual to see people who look like George in movies about WWII? Why do you think that is? Why race and representation in media matters.

  • What did George learn about himself during his journey? What character strengths did he need to show?

  • What did the strong language contribute to the movie? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this? If so, why?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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Blitz movie poster: A blond woman and a boy standing close, both of them surrounded by swirling, delicate flowers, creating a dreamlike atmosphere

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