Parents' Guide to

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Formulaic-but-exciting family action-adventurer.

Movie PG 2008 89 minutes
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 14 parent reviews

Dale Dietrich
Dale Dietrich Parent of 5 and 7-year-old
January 12, 2020
age 5+

Terrifc Fun For Whole Family

It was fun and enjoyable for our 5 (almost 6) year old girl and 7 (almost 8) year old boy. The 'violence' was as tame as it gets. As I've said in many other reviews, if your kids are exposed at all to YouTube, Minecraft or Roblox, the violence in this movie is less than that. Yes, its a bit tame and predictable for adults, but still was enjoyable enough for us watching a movie as a family.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Thisone554
Thisone554 Adult
December 21, 2018
age 9+

Great for a action movie

Amazing. SO much better than 1989 version. A little language-schist-instead of s--t. Kids might wonder what happened to Max, so be prepared for questions. Enjoy the movie!

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Ever since his brother, Max, disappeared in Iceland a decade ago, scientist Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) has slowly watched the laboratory they built together slide into obscurity. He's lost his passion for teaching, and on top of everything, he's supposed to care for his estranged nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson), for 10 days -- after not seeing him for years. While going through Max's personal effects with Sean, Trevor discovers clues that could explain his brother's mysterious disappearance. With the help of mountain guide Hannah (Anita Briem), the two set off to retrace Max's steps, only to unwittingly embark on a journey unlike any other.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14):
Kids say (35):

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH touts itself as being the first digital 3-D feature, and there are moments when the investment seems to pay off. When the dinosaur looms over you, it definitely looms. But for the most part, there simply aren't enough scenes in which the technology appreciably makes a contribution. Which isn't to say that the special effects aren't fantastic -- they are. They'll keep audiences, especially the young viewers the movie seems targeted to, on the edge of their seats. And the world depicted is indeed fantastical -- perfectly Vernian.

The lead actors exhibit a wonderful rapport. It's a good thing: They're pretty much together for two-thirds of the movie. Briem is especially good; earnest but not saccharine. And Hutcherson, from Bridge to Terabithia, continues to impress. But the dialog is stilted, especially in the beginning, and the eventual bonding between Trevor and Sean seems forced. Why not skip the rote setup and just jump into the action instead?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what the journey means for all three lead characters. On its face, this is a thrilling adventure, but how does it affect them emotionally? Does it bring them closure?

  • Does the movie do Verne's book justice? If so, how? If not, why not?

  • Do you think the movie is trying to convey any particular messages?

Movie Details

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