Common Sense Media Review
Dark yet sweet underdog tale highlights danger of prejudice.
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Edward Scissorhands
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 34 parent reviews
Based on 123 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a bittersweet, touching tale that explores themes of kindness, acceptance, and the struggles of being different, making it a classic worth watching. However, it includes mature content, such as violence and suggestive scenes, which may not be suitable for younger viewers, leading to varied opinions on its appropriateness for kids.
- bittersweet tale
- kindness themes
- mature content
- appropriate for teens
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) is a down-on-her-luck Avon representative shopping around her small, sunny neighborhood for prospective clients. When a lack of willing customers force her to pay a visit to the local haunted house, she meets Edward (Johnny Depp), a recluse living in the attic who shyly appears out of the shadows with scissors for hands. When the motherly Peg takes Edward under her wing and brings him home for dinner, the whole family must deal with the razor-sharp consequences of Edward's scissor hands; most notably Kim (Winona Ryder), the doe-eyed daughter who becomes Edward's object of affection. At first, the townsfolk welcome Edward with patronizing curiosity, but after he rejects the sexual advances of one of the neighborhood women and is later caught in the wrong place at the wrong time by police, the town shows its true colors.
Is It Any Good?
This memorable film, lovingly directed by Tim Burton, is a darkly sweet portrait of adolescent angst. Most people can probably relate on some level to Edward Scissorhands' social awkwardness, and Depp's deer-in-headlights self-consciousness is endearing enough to soften the sharpest of pointed appendages. The pastel-colored township cuts a drastic figure against Edward's looming mansion in the distance. The movie exposes the cynical underbelly of front-porch Americana, forcing us to find beauty and truth in the unexpected when we allow what's "good" to run more than skin-deep.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Edward Scissorhands is an "Ugly Duckling" fable about a misunderstood underdog. How does his journey go from him being met with fear, to acceptance, and back to fear?
Can you think of instances in real life when people have judged others based on their appearances? Have you ever done it, or has anyone ever done it to you? Why is it important to look beyond first impressions and accept and celebrate differences?
How does the movie portray disability? Is Edward's character defined by his disability? How much agency does he have, and how much does his character grow during the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 7, 1990
- On DVD or streaming : November 5, 2000
- Cast : Dianne Wiest , Johnny Depp , Winona Ryder
- Director : Tim Burton
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Fantasy
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, brief language and sexuality.
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2026
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