Common Sense Media Review
Brilliant, poignant fairy tale has dark violence.
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Pan's Labyrinth
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 38 parent reviews
Based on 67 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is visually stunning and beautifully crafted, but it is also extremely dark and contains intense violence and mature themes, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. Many reviewers emphasize the high levels of gore and frightening imagery, particularly the pale man, suggesting that it's more of a fairy tale for adults despite its fantastical elements.
- intense violence
- dark themes
- not for kids
- visually stunning
- mature audience
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
PAN'S LABYRINTH takes place in 1944. Eleven-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is traveling with her pregnant mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), en route to her new stepfather's military outpost in Northern Spain. But Captain Vidal (Sergi López) has no interest in Ofelia or even her mother -- all he cares about is passing on his name and legacy to the son Carmen carries. Luckily for Ofelia, she meets Vidal's housekeeper, Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), who's secretly helping the rebels hiding in the woods. As Ofelia navigates her new life, her own fantasy story unfolds, which is overseen by a magical creature called a faun (Doug Jones). He identifies Ofelia as the Underground Realm's missing Princess Moanna and gives her quests that will reveal whether she's worthy of returning to her kingdom.
Is It Any Good?
Part fairy tale, part adventure story, and part political allegory, director Guillermo del Toro's story about a brave little girl surviving a stressful situation is brilliant and poignant. The strengths of Pan's Labyrinth are its memorable artistic visuals and compelling performances by the phenomenal Baquero (Ofelia) and Verdú (Mercedes). Despite the movie's focus on magic, this isn't a film for children -- it's full of shockingly violent scenes, including brutal beatings and torture. Likewise, the fantasy creatures Ofelia encounters can be as terrifying as her violent stepfather. By pairing the brutality of the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War -- including poverty and fascism -- with dark fantasy elements, the film makes a strong commentary about the true nature of life, even when wrapped in a fairy tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the nature of fairy tales in Pan's Labyrinth. How do they reflect (and comment upon) real-life experiences?
How do Ofelia's experiences in the fantastical world mirror what she's going through at home?
How does Ofelia show courage in the face of danger and compassion for others around her? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 29, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : May 15, 2007
- Cast : Ivana Baquero , Maribel Verdu , Sergi Lopez
- Director : Guillermo Del Toro
- Studio : Picturehouse
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Adventures , Fantasy ( Dragons , Fairies , Fairy Tales , Magic , Monsters ) , Dystopia , Family Stories ( Moms ) , History ( War: Other , War: WWII ) , Royalty ( Princesses )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage
- Run time : 120 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : graphic violence and some language.
- Last updated : August 20, 2026
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