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Parents' Guide to

Descendants 3

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Satisfying end to trilogy has positive themes for kids.

Movie NR 2019 106 minutes
Descendants 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 8+

Based on 21 parent reviews

ILoveMyKids
ILoveMyKids Parent of 5, 6, 8 and 11-year-old
October 19, 2022
age 8+

Mal is a TERRIBLE role model

Look up the main actress (Mal) today and it will inform you. Mal (Maleficent's Daughter) should not be the heroine of these films. Evie and Carlos are good examples of how people who are stereotyped as “bad” may be a victim of their surroundings and can better themselves in a loving and positive environment. Mal (the heroine) on the other hand is a TERRIBLE role model. She is selfish, steals another person’s boyfriend, lies, bullies, and uses an arrogant/condescending tone throughout the film. I wish my kids had never seen this movie.

This title has:

Too much sex
2 people found this helpful.
Dale Dietrich
Dale Dietrich Parent of 6 and 7-year-old
March 11, 2020
age 5+

Hollywood Pablum pt 3

My review of the original Descendants and Descendants 2 apply to this. Both my kids were in to it (mostly because their school mates suggested it), but its a pretty poor made-for-TV movie. I did appreciate the singing and dancing routines more in the latter two movies than I did in the original. The same predictable themes play over and over in the entire series. Clearly a low budget film as you can tell its all done on green screen. I don't like how they overly sexualized teens. They sexualized their lip-synced singing voices to be sultry and different than their actual voices. Your kids will likely enjoy it. You'll be bored.

This title has:

Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DESCENDANTS 3, things are going well in Auradon. Ben (Mitchell Hope) and Mal (Dove Cameron) are on their way to living their happily ever after, and the successful integration of the original quartet of villains' kids -- Mal, Evie (Sofia Carson), Carlos (Cameron Boyce in his final performance), and Jay (Booboo Stewart) -- into the peaceful kingdom has inspired future king Ben to give the OK to invite another group of VKs from the Isle of the Lost. But a snafu in the plan exposes Auradon's vulnerability to scheming villains like Hades (Cheyenne Jackson), who nearly makes his escape, leading Mal to consider closing the barrier between the two places permanently. Meanwhile, Ben and Mal's happiness spells misery for jealous Audrey (Sarah Jeffery), who takes extreme measures to reclaim the prince for herself. As tensions build in Auradon, Mal turns to an unlikely accomplice for help in preserving peace there and perhaps taking a new stance on the Isle's banishment.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21 ):
Kids say (71 ):

This finale to the popular Descendants franchise is a must-see for fans who were left with a cliffhanger of sorts at the end of the second movie. Here future queen Mal faces what she sees as a black-or-white dilemma: Preserve the safety and peaceful existence in her new home or embrace her loyalty to her Isle roots. The conundrum puts her in a difficult place with both sets of friends and causes her to question her priorities, but it's her willingness to listen to other points of view, reframe her thinking, and extend forgiveness and faith in others that's the lasting message from the movie.

Descendants 3 adds some new faces to the talented ensemble cast, in particular Jackson's energizing and amusing performance as Hades. China Anne McClain returns with a vengeance as Mal's nemesis, Uma, contributing heavily to the story's direction and its impactful themes of respect and counter-stereotyping. And what Descendants story would be complete without show-stopping song-and-dance numbers? Certainly not this one, and they won't disappoint its young fans. If ultimately the role of the final installment in a trilogy is to tie up loose ends and lay out a satisfactory path for the characters' future, then Descendants 3 can call itself a success.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how well Descendants 3 wraps up the trilogy. Are there any unresolved storylines or plot points that didn't get addressed to your satisfaction? Do you like the ending? Would you like to see how Auradon and the Isle of the Lost change after these events?

  • In what ways does this story and its characters celebrate counter-stereotypes? Whose actions surprise you because of presumptions you've already made about them and their motives? Is it true that we all have a little bit of bad and good in us? How does that play out in this movie?

  • Is Mal a good leader? What about Ben? What lessons do they learn about tolerance and empathy as this story plays out? Who helps teach them these things? Is it difficult to change your beliefs when you're faced with truths that challenge them?

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