Common Sense Media Review
Surreal franchise finale has violence, curses, nudity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time
What's the Story?
EVANGELION: 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth movie in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, concluding the ongoing saga between NERV, an organization trying to bring about the Final Impact, and WILLIE, the organization trying to stop NERV. In this film, Shinji (voiced by Megumi Ogata), Rei (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara), and Asuka (voiced by Yūko Miyamura) stumble across a survivor settlement, where they recover from prior events until the Wunder crew comes to pick up Asuka. Shinji decides to go with her as they approach the final battle.
Is It Any Good?
This surrealist, psychological sci-fi will have the strongest impact on existing fans of the Evangelion franchise, but new viewers can still find something to appreciate. Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time puts hope in the hands of the people. The first half of the film centers everyday citizens working together to restore the Earth, protect each other, and find joy even after the apocalypse. When the movie shifts focus to NERV and WILLIE, the symbolism and series references are geared toward longtime fans. Still, themes of healing, growth, and belonging still shine through even without the context of the previous films. The film maintains Evangelion's typical abstract, symbolic approach to psychological and socio-cultural analysis, leaving viewers with a lot to think about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about apocalyptic sci-fi. What messages does the movie convey about hope and survival?
Talk about how real-life events influence fictional media. How might the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in World War II have had an influence on this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 8, 2021
- On DVD or streaming : August 13, 2021
- Cast : Megumi Ogata , Megumi Hayashibara
- Director : Hideaki Anno
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Prime Video
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : STEM , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 155 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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