Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superhero comedy is super-crass, super-twisted.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Kick-Ass
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 63 parent reviews
Parents say the film is highly entertaining but not suitable for children due to graphic violence, explicit language, and sexual content. Many reviews emphasize that while older teens and adults may enjoy its humor and action, it should be approached with caution, especially considering the mature themes and behaviors displayed by the young characters.
- graphic violence
- explicit language
- not for children
- appropriate age
- humor and action
- parental caution
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 199 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a raunchy and violent superhero satire that features strong language, graphic violence, and crude humor, making it more suitable for older teens, typically around 13 to 15 years old, with a few reviewers suggesting even higher age limits. While many enjoyed its comedic elements and action-packed plot, they emphasized the need for parental guidance due to its excessive swearing and explicit content.
- strong language
- graphic violence
- crude humor
- teen suitability
- parental guidance
- action-comedy
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Comic book nut Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) wonders why a normal person can't put on a costume and become a superhero, and he gives it a try, becoming Kick-Ass. After a terrible beating, he gets his only superpower: a skeleton laced with metal braces and damaged nerve endings that lessen the sensation of pain. Not long after his debut, more heroes appear, including Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), the 11-year-old Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), and Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). A dangerous gangster (Mark Strong) decides to take out the heroes, who are starting to interfere with his drug operations. Everything comes down to an insanely bullet-ridden showdown.
Is It Any Good?
Simply put, KICK-ASS is a lot of fun, but it's packed with edgy content. Since one of the main characters is a skilled, confident 11-year-old girl, watching her curse and kill can be quite disturbing. She's strong, but often cruel and ruthless. Given the dearth of strong female characters, especially in action movies, Hit Girl could be a chance to create a powerful girl lead, but her extremely young age mixed with the limit-pushing content instead pushes the film into exploitative territory. The movie hints that she's been forced to grow up too quickly, and in that way, she's a pathetic character. But young viewers will likely miss that point.
The extreme violence, intense language, and overt sex underlines the kind of reckless, dangerous attitude of the movie. Director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Stardust) balances several characters with brisk economy and punchy scenes, not unlike comic book panels. The movie only falters during its final third, when Vaughn lets the humor drop in order to wrap up the explosive story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the character of Hit Girl. Was the idea of a skilled, confident 11-year-old girl superhero cool, or disturbing? Or both? Why? Is she a role model, or a cautionary tale? What responsibility does the movie studio and filmmakers have to the young actress involved in an adult film like this?
Were the violence, language and sex necessary for this movie? How would it have played without them?
What do you think about the concept of a regular person becoming a superhero? What are the dangers involved? What are the benefits? Are courage and weapons enough? What are some realistic ways kids and teens can be "superheroes"?
Can you think of any real-life examples where someone stepping in when they saw something bad happening would have made a big difference?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 16, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : August 2, 2010
- Cast : Chloe Grace Moretz , Christopher Mintz-Plasse , Nicolas Cage , Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Director : Matthew Vaughn
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Dads ) , Holidays ( Father's Day ) , Friendship , School ( High School ) , Sports ( Martial arts ) , Superheroes
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children
- Last updated : December 18, 2025
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