Common Sense Media Review
By James Rocchi
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vulgar satire manages to be both lowbrow and smart.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Idiocracy
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a mix of funny and inappropriate content, with many sexual references and strong language that could make it uncomfortable for younger viewers. While some find it hilarious and a thoughtful satire on society's decline, others criticize the execution of its ideas and suggest the humor is hit or miss.
- funny content
- inappropriate themes
- strong language
- hit or miss humor
- societal satire
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In IDIOCRACY, an Army private named Joe Bauers (Luke Wilson) is frozen in 2005 as part of an experiment in cryogenics. But a mistake leaves him frozen for 500 years, until 2505, when he and his fellow participant, a sex worker named Rita (Maya Rudolph), wake up to discover a world in which the trend of less-educated people having more children (as explained in the movie's prologue) has led to a future full of "idiots," with society breaking down. Joe, a perfectly average man in his original time, is now a super genius in comparison to the people around him. Can he help fix a broken future and put it on the path back to being even barely functional?
Is It Any Good?
This comedy is uneven, but it's so distinctive that, at the very least, it stands out on its own. Written and directed by Mike Judge (Office Space, Extract), Idiocracy was underappreciated in its initial release. But its silly satire still comes through, helped in no small part by Wilson's natural everyman charm.
Judge's comedy can be hit-or-miss in Idiocracy, but at the same time, it's a product of a uniquely skewed worldview. Judge is, after all, the man who gave us Beavis and Butt-head. More silly than mean-spirited, the gags—such as plants being watered with sports drinks, or Costco becoming a degree-granting institution—might earn a lot of laughs.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Idiocracy's central ideas. Does pop culture reward people for their lack of critical thinking? Is a culture of instant gratification and consumerism bad for long-term intellectual development?
What do you think of the film's satire? Do the intentionally silly jokes effectively deliver its messages? Why, or why not?
Can you think of any other filmmakers and/or writers who use satire to tell their stories? What do you think of this approach?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 1, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2007
- Cast : Luke Wilson , Maya Rudolph , Dax Shepard , Terry Crews
- Director : Mike Judge
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and sex-related humor
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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