Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, peril in flawed but enjoyable trilogy finale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Glass
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 29 kid reviews
Kids say that the film delivers a dark and intense experience, exploring complex themes within a superhero narrative, though many found it less impressive than its predecessors. While some praised the performances and storytelling, others criticized the convoluted plot and excessive violence, making it a challenging watch for younger audiences.
- dark themes
- intense experience
- mixed reviews
- excessive violence
- convoluted plot
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In GLASS, the mysterious kidnapper with dissociative identity disorder from Split (James McAvoy) is still on the loose -- and has newly kidnapped four teen cheerleaders. David Dunn (Bruce Willis), the superhero from Unbreakable, finds them and has a showdown with "the Beast," aka the kidnapper's most dangerous personality. They're both caught and sent to a facility where Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) is determined to convince them that they -- along with Dunn's old rival, Elijah, aka "Mr. Glass" (Samuel L. Jackson) -- aren't superior beings. Meanwhile, the kidnapper's former victim, Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), goes to see him and discovers a connection to his "original" personality, Kevin. But even though Mr. Glass appears to be heavily sedated, there's a plan afoot.
Is It Any Good?
Depending on how ready you are to embrace (or forgive) M. Night Shyamalan's nerdy, talky, intertwined comic book mythos, this trilogy closer is surprisingly enjoyable on many levels. Following Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2017), Glass nicely ties everything together, and while the conclusion may not be up to the level of The Sixth Sense (what is?), the director has still created a satisfying mini-universe on its own terms. The movie's philosophizing about comic books doesn't go very deep -- it's more about how comics relate to reality than it is about the mystery of their wide appeal -- but it's certainly relevant and interesting.
As the movie goes on, explanations drag a little too long, but the real trick lies in three secondary characters: Kevin's former kidnap victim, Casey; David's son, Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark); and Mr. Glass's mother (Charlayne Woodard). The way these three view their respective super-beings underscores just how important the extraordinary and the spectacular are to all of us in our everyday lives. As always, Shyamalan's directorial technique is clean, and his shots are well-staged and well-chosen. But few would argue that anything in Glass is more amazing than McAvoy's performance; the actor embodies his character's various personalities in vivid, emotional moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Glass's violence. What makes it feel so intense? How much is shown/not shown? Was the effect thrilling or shocking? What's the difference? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Is there any truth to comic books, historically? What's their appeal?
Is the Overseer character -- who tries to use his powers for good -- a role model? Why or why not?
The movie's antagonists are trying to rid the world of all super-beings (both good and evil) and keep "order." Do you agree with their motives? Why or why not?
How does this movie compare with its predecessors? Does the full story make a satisfying arc? If so, how? If not, then why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 18, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : April 16, 2019
- Cast : Bruce Willis , Samuel L. Jackson , James McAvoy
- Director : M. Night Shyamalan
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Superheroes
- Run time : 129 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence including some bloody images, thematic elements, and language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate