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Parents' Guide to

Kingsman: The Secret Service

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Brash, witty spy film is packed with over-the-top violence.

Movie R 2015 129 minutes
Kingsman: The Secret Service Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 79 parent reviews

nine
nine Parent of 15, 17 and 18+-year-old
August 26, 2022
age 18+

Sex reference at the end is TOTALLY inappropriate-

I watched this with my teenage son. Good cast. Not my type of movie but I can see the appeal.. Horrified at the ending.. I don't think I've ever written a review in my life but this really made me angry- If you plan to watch this with your kids, fast forward and watch the ending first- I wish I had.. unbelievable and SO unnecessary and irresponsible..
Vrolak
Vrolak Parent of 9-year-old
February 26, 2022
age 18+

I loved the movie but it could be +16 if the last minutes didn’t exist

There is A LOT of violence but not really bloody (hidden blood most of the time). But don’t get me wrong, not gore but very explicit violence, body exploring, dismemberments, but no much blood. There were some cursing, but until the end, was “ok”. The last minutes are what takes this movie a 17+ to a 18+. That said, for adults it was surprisingly good. Final “joke” about anal sex (and clearing showing the backside of a girl getting ready for anal sex) was tasteless and unnecessary.
See all 79 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE, on London's Savile Row sits the Kingsman, a store not just for the fashion-forward but also for James Bonds-ian types seeking truth and justice in a seriously discreet, British way. A Kingsman, after all, is a spy of the highest order, part of a powerful organization unaffiliated with any government. Their representatives are named after King Arthur's knights, with Galahad, aka Harry Hart (Colin Firth), as their anchor. In 1997, a fellow Kingsman saved Galahad's life and died on the job. Forever indebted to his savior, Harry reaches out to the man's widow and offers a promise of help -- one that her son, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), collects on 17 years later. Galahad thinks Eggsy has the skills to be come a Kinsgman, but first the rough-around-the-edges youth must prove his mettle, as a megalomaniac millionaire (Samuel L. Jackson) puts into action his psychopathic plan to cull the planet of people to save it.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (79 ):
Kids say (146 ):

It's been a long while since a movie of this genre satisfied so much with wit and joy. For those who love film and all that is cinematic, Kingsman: The Secret Service is delightful fun. Director Matthew Vaughn's love for spy films and for this production is so unmistakable that you can't help but be swept up in it. Every character, every frame, and nearly every line of dialogue is delivered with glee. It's brash and bold and full of cheek.

And it's no copycat. Nearly every spy thriller cliche is turned on its head here and milked for maximum amusement. (A sequence unveiling all the secret weaponry is a pleasure.) The plot is somewhat original, or at least interesting, and the stars are great. That said, a few points off for saddling the villainous (and enjoyable) Jackson with a lisp -- it's a cheap shot -- and for the constant (albeit cartoonish) violence that enjoys itself a little too much. The mayhem is over the top, and Vaughn relies too much on the slo-mo. And there's a crass joke at a princess' expense that feels like nothing more than sexist junk. But look past these issues, and you'll have a grand old time at the movies.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Does its over-the-top nature lessen its impact? Or does the sheer volume make it impossible to ignore? How do the consequences compare to those in movies with more realistic violence?

  • How does the film refresh the spy movie genre? What does it have in common with other spy movie? How does it differ?

  • Talk about why Harry truly wants to mentor Eggsy. And why is Eggsy willing to be mentored?

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