Parents' Guide to

Midnight in Paris

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Jaunty romcom mines adult themes of marriage and career.

Movie PG-13 2011 94 minutes
Midnight in Paris Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Winner8950
Winner8950 Adult
July 23, 2022
age 11+
This movie is boring and disappointing.
David F.
David F. Parent of 16-year-old
June 8, 2020
age 12+

This title has:

Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

On a trip to Paris with his jaded, pampered fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), Hollywood screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson) grows enamored once more of what he dreams is a true writer's life: to live in Paris and finish his novel, preferably in a charming little flat overlooking the City of Lights. But Inez (and her conservative businessman dad and decorator's discount-wielding mom) wants none of that. Instead, she wants Gil to disabuse himself of the romance of suffering and embrace Hollywood and the generous cash flow it offers. She also wants them to spend more time with the pedantic professor (Michael Sheen) she once had a crush on and his wife, who happen to be in Paris, too. When one of Gil's nighttime strolls turns into a fantastical trip back in time, where he's hobnobbing with the likes of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (Tom Hiddleston and Alison Pill), Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll), and Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates), Gil's longing for escape blossoms. Especially one that involves the alluring artists' muse Adriana (Marion Cotillard).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (15):

Owen Wilson as the perfect Woody Allen leading man -- who knew? But that he is, at least in this fine and deeply satisfying film. As a romantic who's longing to finish his novel about nostalgia, Wilson at last finds a character that captures, without dumbing down, his flake-with-a-poetic-soul essence. It's about time. But enough about him -- and the perfectly cast supporting players. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS is a gift to Allen fans who may have begun to doubt their guru after years of uneven, sometimes-great, often-disappointing, creations. This film is such a delight. Intelligent, insightful, and inspired in ways that recall Allen's best movies (cue, yes, nostalgia), it's playful and absurd, evoking Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo, but it also firmly reminds us that Allen is as vital as ever, with so much still to say about art and love and quietly desperate moments, even if it comes wrapped in his ever-familiar box. (There's still the signature black background with white credits and the best jazz soundtrack.) Now, can he come back to New York?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why so many movies, especially romantic ones, take place in Paris. What's the allure? Do films like this set up an unrealistic expectation of both Paris and love?

  • Many of Allen's movies examine a certain type of boredom that besets relationships. What do they say about relationships in general and, specifically, about the lulls and doubts that inevitably set in?

  • Are you familiar with any of Allen's early work? Which filmmakers have stood the test of time?

Movie Details

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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