Parents' Guide to

Child's Play (2019)

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Gory killer doll/slasher reboot is unexpectedly fun.

Movie R 2019 90 minutes
Child's Play (2019) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 14+

Based on 35 parent reviews

MarkDavis
MarkDavis Adult
June 20, 2019
age 13+

Best movie I have seen in a long time

I think that the movie is not very violent and kids who are 13+ can watch the movie

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
An honest parent
An honest parent Adult
November 2, 2020
age 13+

Think of it as an action movie, not a horror movie, and it won’t disappoint

I sorta like this film. It’s quite fun, the best of all the 2010-onwards Chucky films. It’s not scary like my 13 year old son was hoping it would be. He wasn’t particularly disgusted by the violence, but winced at some of the worst bits, including Chucky stabbing up inbetween a man’s legs (no nudity if you’re wondering). There are about 15 F bombs but nowadays, kids hear that at school everyday, either from their mates or just passing older years. Overall, it’s very disappointing as a horror movie, but if it was marketed as an action movie it would receive much better reviews.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 35 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In CHILD'S PLAY, a Vietnamese factory worker is fired, but not before he can finish building a "Buddi" doll -- and remove all of its safety protocols. Meanwhile, in the United States, lonely Andy Barclay (Gabriel Bateman), who has a hearing impairment, and his single mom, Karen (Aubrey Plaza), have recently moved to a new town. When a defective Buddi doll is returned to the store where Karen works, she decides to give it to Andy. Named "Chucky" (voiced by Mark Hamill), the doll immediately starts acting oddly, promising lifelong friendship with Andy and showing animosity toward Andy's nasty cat and toward Karen's not-so-nice boyfriend. But at least Chucky helps Andy make some new friends: Pugg (Ty Consiglio) and Falyn (Beatrice Kitsos). But then the killings start, and a neighboring police detective, Mike Norris (Brian Tyree Henry), begins investigating.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (35):
Kids say (93):

This reboot of the infamous "killer doll" slasher series bases its story in a good, much simpler idea that increases the emotional stakes. It then incorporates human characters with fresh doses of humor and pathos. The original Child's Play (1988) and all of its six sequels hinged on the idea of a mad killer's soul being magically transferred to a regular Chucky doll and making it try to kill everyone, while the new film is more focused on the doll longing to be friends with Andy. It's a small distinction, but Andy's regret as he tries to destroy his toy is quite affecting. (Weirdly, it echoes some of the themes in Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence.)

Meanwhile, Plaza and Henry, as well as the young actors, manage to bring subtle humor to their roles, as well as real-world weight. There are actually consequences here. Hamill, who's best known as Luke Skywalker -- but is also excellent as the voice of the Joker in many Batman animated cartoons and video games -- brings a sweet, sinister tone to Chucky; perhaps he's a bit confused and angry, rather than just homicidal. The movie's pace is light and quick, and the effects seem to be largely practical; the killings are bloody but clever. A drawback is the nasty Shane character, who's shown to be nothing but a jerk and "deserves" his gruesome murder. The department store showdown also gets a little over-the-top. But otherwise, this Child's Play is actually a fun romp.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Child's Play's violence. How much blood and gore is shown? How did you react? Shock? Laughter? How did the movie achieve this effect?

  • How scary is the movie? What's the appeal of horror movies?

  • Why is Chucky so compelling as a character? How does this reboot compare to the previous Chucky movies?

  • Have you ever had difficulty with your friends? How did you resolve the situation?

  • What is the relationship between Andy and his mother like? Is she a good mom? How does it compare to your real-life relationships?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: June 21, 2019
  • On DVD or streaming: September 24, 2019
  • Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill, Brian Tyree Henry
  • Director: Lars Klevberg
  • Inclusion Information: Bisexual actors, Latinx actors, Black actors
  • Studio: United Artists
  • Genre: Horror
  • Run time: 90 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: bloody horror violence, and language throughout
  • Last updated: March 8, 2023

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