Mary Magdalene

Movie review by Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Media
Mary Magdalene Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Biblical tale of bold woman's journey has strong violence.

R 2019 120 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 17+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 18+

Based on 1 review

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Mary Magdalene focuses on Jesus' only female disciple (here played by Rooney Mara). The film is very visual, relying on sweeping images to tell much of its story. There's little dialogue (and no swearing); when characters do talk, it's often fairly obscure theologizing, which may be hard for kids to follow or engage with. And there are multiple violent/disturbing scenes, including blood, torture, animal sacrifices, starvation, and death -- all of which have significant impact. A bloodied Jesus is shown carrying a cross and dying after being nailed to the cross. There's a verbal description of a woman being raped and drowned, and starving people are left to die (some do). But Mary shows clear compassion and is strong and determined.

Community Reviews

Rose O.
Rose O. Adult
July 18, 2021
age 18+

Worst movie of all time

I love Jesus with every fiber of my being. This was not Jesus. The way he looked, after, preached was so off for me and not relatable. He looked at Mary with lust. And all of the scenes weren’t biblical . So for someone who doesn’t know the Bible this would teach them so many wrong things. Jesus never baptized anyone. And Joaquin Phoenix refused to use mud when healing the blind man. Then I don’t recall women baptizing. And when baptizing Joaquin did it 3x in a row. And they said I Baptize you with fire and light. This movie is not good at all.
1 person found this helpful.
comama3
comama3 Adult
August 7, 2022
age 16+

New perspective on a story only written by men

This movie depicts what it might have been like be like to be a female follower of Jesus. While there are some bloody scenes that are not appropriate for kids under 16 to see, it is important to note that these are all historically accurate occurances that Christians read about in the Bible. They are not more bloody than what teens see in super hero movies. Girls and women around the world are still erased from important moments and often don't have choices in their own lives. I'm astonished from the other reviews that seem to still want to suppress the female perspective.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MARY MAGDALENE takes place in first century C.E. and follows Mary (Rooney Mara), a woman who doesn't quite fit the era's traditional model of womanhood. When a small band of men, led by Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix), who claims to be the son of God, visits her village, she feels inspired to join them. The group makes their way to Jerusalem, where Jesus succumbs to his fate and Mary discovers the true meaning of his teachings. The film includes many of the most important events in the famous religious journey, from preaching to gain followers, to the last supper, to Judas' betrayal, to the crucifixion and a resurrection (of sorts).

Is It Any Good?

This earnest retelling of an ancient tale is scenically beautiful, even as the story plods slowly along. Wide shots of craggy mountainsides, crystal blue seas, and the imposing, bustling city of Jerusalem are a pleasure to watch. But it's much less of a pleasure to watch the difficult visuals that depict the violence of the time, even if the scenes work to bring realism to what was a harsh, difficult era. Perhaps most important is the fact that the film relies so heavily on its visuals and the mood they create. The action is quite slow, and the small amounts of dialogue mostly consist of disjointed theologizing.

With so little actual story, the whole film ends up feeling more focused on Jesus than on Mary Magdalene. We don't really find out much about who she was -- other than that she wasn't a prostitute, as history has wrongly labeled her. Mary Magdalene's unique approach to storytelling isn't for everyone and may be particularly hard for kids to grasp.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how visuals were used to tell the story of Mary Magdalene. Is the violence warranted? Does it enhance your understanding of the story? What about the landscapes?

  • Do you think it was difficult for Mary to go against what was expected of her and follow Jesus? What made her different from the others in her family and village? Was she brave? How does she demonstrate compassion?

  • Religion-based stories are some of the oldest, most well-known, and most fiercely defended stories around. Does film have a special duty to treat religious stories in a certain way? If yes, how so?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

Character Strengths

Find more movies that help kids build character.

  • Holding hands
    Compassion
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate