Parents' Guide to

Fifty Shades Darker

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

More sex, less banter in graphic but bland sequel.

Movie R 2017 115 minutes
Fifty Shades Darker Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 24 parent reviews

Sarah S.
Sarah S. Adult
January 15, 2023
age 18+

Making women look passive, weak , desperate for love and sexual toys when in reality they are not like that at all.

DISGUSTING. I would rate this movie NEGATIVE trillion stars. It romanticizes/ glamorizes/ glorifies/ normalizes rape, coercion, sexual abuse/violence and sex slavery. This movie intensifies gender stereotypes and toxic masculinity. Sexual objectification towards women. Women are stronger in reality but this movie loves being unrealistic and Over The Top for useless reasons.
jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
November 26, 2022
age 18+

Another flick for no one!

This is something for no one. I haven’t seen this movie, but I know that it is borderline porn and it is even disturbing to plenty of mature adults. I can’t believe E. L. James would write a sequel to the original book and filmmakers would spend so much time making a film adaptation of it. There is no positive information of sex to be gathered from seeing this movie or reading the book. I’ve heard that it’s just sex, and in order to make a great story, there can’t be so much mature and disturbing content in every scene that it’s not enjoyable. It’s just about the wrong way to handle sex in a romantic relationship. No one should see this movie.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 24 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FIFTY SHADES DARKER picks up shortly after Fifty Shades of Grey leaves off: Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) have broken up, and she's about to start a job as an assistant at an independent book publisher. But that doesn't mean Christian's not keeping tabs on Ana: He manages to quickly woo her back by saying he wants a real relationship, not just a dominant-submissive contract. As Christian and Ana attempt a "regular" romance, Christian can't stop his compulsion to control her. As a result, he's jealous of her handsome boss, Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson), and introduces her to the older woman who first seduced, abused, and dominated him as a teen, Elena Lincoln (Kim Basinger). Meanwhile a young, vaguely threatening young woman seems to be stalking Ana.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (24):
Kids say (21):

Although Dornan delivers a more nuanced performance than in the first film, this sequel offers virtually no plot other than providing excuses for the chemistry-free leads to have sex. In the end, the few plusses -- Dornan doesn't look as horrified with his role, the love scenes are more about love and less about domination and submission -- can't make up for the many minuses, like the nonexistent supporting character development and dramatic tension. There are three possible sources of villainy in the stoy: Elena, the statutory rapist who indoctrinated Christian into the world of BDSM; Jack, the publisher with a hidden agenda; and the mysterious young woman who has a bone to pick with Ana and Christian. But neither the dialogue nor the characterization builds the necessary drama to care about any of them.

Unlike the original film, which was at least adapted and directed by women, Fifty Shades Darker was written by E.L. James' husband, author/screenwriter Niall Leonard, and directed by a man, James Foley -- which is a disconnect, since the series' fandom is nearly all women. It's been reported that James has an unusual amount of sway (think J.K. Rowling level) for a writer on a film adaptation, and it shows. But while reading endless pages of erotica interrupted with bits of dinner and party and office conversations in between might work as a book, it doesn't work for a movie. Once again, it just feels like a big-budget waste of the talented cast.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how sex is depicted in Fifty Shades Darker. Is Ana and Christian's relationship healthy? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.

  • Why do you think the Fifty Shades books (and first movie) are so popular? Is it an appropriate saga for teens? The author began her tale as Twilight fan fiction; can you see any of Edward and Bella in these characters and their relationship?

  • Critics of the story claim that it's sexist, unrealistic, and glosses over statutory rape. What do you think?

  • Are any of the characters intended to be role models? Are they sympathetic? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

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