Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Animated superhero origin tale has violence, some language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Legion of Super-Heroes
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES, Supergirl (Meg Donnelly) is trying to adjust to life on Earth after Krypton has been destroyed. Because of her short temper, her fights with bad guys lead to a lot of property damage, much to the chagrin of Batman (Jensen Ackles). In order to get Supergirl on the right track, her cousin Superman (Darren Criss) uses a time bubble to transport her to the 31st century, where the Legion of Super-Heroes live, and where there's an academy for young superheroes. Supergirl immediately gets into trouble when she meets Brainiac 5 (Harry Shum Jr.), and while the two seem to hate each other, they soon come across a bigger problem. While the Legion of Super-Heroes are away, a terrorist organization known as The Dark Circle is trying to infiltrate the Legion Academy to steal a weapon known as the Miracle Machine. Supergirl, Brainiac 5, and the other trainees must find a way to use their fledgling skills to stop the terrorists from stealing the weapon.
Is It Any Good?
All in all, this a pretty standard but enjoyable superhero animated action movie. Legion of Super-Heroes, unlike many other similar movies, is relatively easy to follow, and you don't have to know the detailed backstories of every hero and villain in order to follow it. It's a formulaic story, but it also works.
In this one, we get a bit of an origin story of Supergirl, and as she's finding it difficult to adjust to her new life on Earth, her cousin Superman transports her to the 31st century to attend the Legion Academy to hone her skills. This leads to some sexual tension between her and Brainiac 5 that's on par with the tension seen in many 1980s sitcoms. The story itself stays on track, with the requisite plot twist and a refreshing lack of too many side stories.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superhero movies like Legion of Super-Heroes. How is this similar to and different from other movies centered on superheroes?
Why do you think there's such an appeal for the "origin stories" of familiar superheroes?
How does the violence compare to that in other animated superhero movies? Was it necessary to the story, or excessive? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 7, 2023
- Cast : Meg Donnelly , Harry Shum Jr. , Jensen Ackles
- Director : Jeff Wamester
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : DC Entertainment
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures
- Run time : 83 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Some violence and language.
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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