DCU: Son of Batman

Movie review by Brian Costello, Common Sense Media
DCU: Son of Batman Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Violent and noir-ish Batman is engaging but cynical.

PG-13 2014 74 minutes
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 7 reviews

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 17 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that DCU: Son of Batman is a 2014 animated feature in which Bruce Wayne learns he has a hot-tempered son. Although this is an engaging story with high-quality animation, this film is most definitely not the campy Batman and Robin from the 1960s television show but a more noirish and cynical Batman and Gotham City. There is frequent fantasy-style violence: Characters are shown getting stabbed in the eyes and throats by swords and arrows, and in one instance Batman's son is shown stabbed in both his arms and pinned against a wall. There also are some sexual suggestions on occasion: The mother of Batman's child tells him, "I'm the only one who can bite you," Commissioner Gordon references a phone-sex number, and one of the main bad guys is shown bringing two prostitutes back to his apartment.

Community Reviews

gogo108
gogo108 Adult
August 21, 2021
age 11+

son of batman

This is a great movie! I think that there is a lot of blood and violence, but I think it is ok for 11 +. The animation in this movie is great in my opinion. The story I did not really get. Although there is intense fights, and some sexy stuff, I still think this is a good movie. This is cause there are some jokes, the fighting is balanced with talking, and the animation is very good. In conclusion, I think that this movie is ok for ages 11+.
1 person found this helpful.
BBB123
BBB123 Adult
January 17, 2021
age 9+

Not that bad!

There is a lot of violence and some cussing. They say some sexual stuff that are bad for kids but its fine.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DCU: SON OF BATMAN, after an uprising within the League of Shadows that results in the destruction of their secret training camps in the mountains, Thalia and her tween son Damian (Stuart Allan) flee to Gotham City to seek the protection of Batman, who does not know he is Damian's father. After the villain Deathstroke (Thomas Gibson) kidnaps Thalia, Batman/Bruce Wayne (Jason O'Mara) must try to take care of the hot-tempered Damian, who is determined to hunt down and kill the bad guys without thinking twice about the consequences of his actions. When Deathstroke also kidnaps a professor who has developed serums that can turn ninjas into fierce and unstoppable winged death beasts, it's up to Batman to rescue Thalia and the professor, stop Deathstroke, and find a way to teach Damian to control the warlike tendencies that have been inside him since birth.

Is It Any Good?

This is an engaging story in which Batman learns he has a son -- and a hot-tempered but brilliant son at that. The dialogue is dark, cynical, and firmly rooted in noir, and the animation is as strong as the best work in the comic books. This movie takes what could have been a cheap gimmick (Batman having a son) and further heightens the flaws and mystery of what has become in recent decades one of the most intriguing superheroes out there. Although the violence at times feels a bit much and perhaps unnecessary to the overall story, the propulsive action and conflicts raging inside and outside the characters are enough to keep audiences interested.

The overall cynical tone, as well as the violence and occasional sexual suggestion, makes DCU: Son of Batman best for older kids and teens, especially for fans of Batman and comic books in general.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the evolution of Batman. How has the character of Batman -- as well as Robin and the other characters -- changed over the decades?

  • Did the violence in DCU: Son of Batman seem necessary to tell the story, or did it feel gratuitous?

  • Batman has been represented in TV, movies, and comic books. How has Batman been conveyed in these mediums? Which version of Batman do you like best?

Movie Details

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