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Parents' Guide to

Lost in Space

By Paul Trandahl, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Strictly for fans of the TV show or sci-fi buffs.

Movie PG-13 1998 122 minutes
Lost in Space Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Johno0885
Johno0885 Adult
November 2, 2019
age 15+

Lost in Space

For a movie that blows up Space Ships and Spider Monsters. Spiders eating up Parent Spider , if you can get your head around that depending on how protective of your kids you are it's Great. The Earth is Choking from Mans Poor management and there is only a very short time left. A voyage to the Stars and a New World is planned but ther is a Evil Faction or Sedision that tries to stop them. Based on the original Series Lost In Space with a few new Twists in the story is a good Family Movie Rated PG with Mild Coarse Language and Violence , Running time 1:30 Mins SIFI. Compaired to other Childrens shows is very well done .
John K.
John K. Parent
January 2, 2019
age 10+
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Danger, Will Robinson! The United Global Space Force is sending Professor John Robinson (William Hurt) and his family into space to colonize a distant planet. Professor Robinson is so wrapped up in the mission he never spends time with his children, much to the frustration of his son Will, a budding young science genius. When terrorist Dr. Zachary Smith (Gary Oldman) sabotages the mission, the Jupiter 2 is sent into an unknown corner of the universe. After encountering a spaceship filled with giant carnivorous spiders, they crash land on a planet where time is distorted. The distortion is caused by a time machine invented by an embittered adult Will Robinson who, in this reality, is the lone survivor of the family's mission. Dr. Smith, who has mutated into a spider creature, plans to use the machine to launch an attack on the Earth.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The special effects are impressive and exciting, but can't make up for an unfocused story and characters who fail to involve the viewer. With an all-star cast, hostile alien spiders, self-destructing planets, and state-of-the-art special effects, this big-budget remake of the goofy 1960s TV series should have been great fun. Unfortunately the movie's grim mood squashes the humor and adventure. Nearly every aspect of LOST IN SPACE, from Penny's outrage over being forced to leave the Earth, to barren planets and abandoned spaceships, emphasizes this harsh approach. The dark tone culminates with the confrontation with the older Will. Without the rollicking excitement of many space epics like Star Wars, these dark themes of loneliness, death, and abandonment may leave viewers feeling more depressed than uplifted

There are, however, some bright spots amidst the misery. Gary Oldman gives a delightfully smarmy performance as Dr. Smith, and it's fun to hear Dick Tufeld (the voice of the robot in the original series) once again exclaim "Danger, Will Robinson!" Nevertheless, the film will probably only be of interest to sci-fi buffs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about movie remakes and nostalagia. Why make a movie that essentially reproduces a TV show most popular when many of today's parents were kids? Do you think it's harder or easier than creating new characters, new themes, new stories? Is there an element of safety in remaking a once-popular movie or TV series?

Movie Details

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