Common Sense Media Review
Brilliant, poignant fairy tale has dark violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pan's Labyrinth
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 38 parent reviews
Based on 65 kid reviews
Kids say that this film is visually stunning and beautifully crafted but not suitable for younger audiences due to its significant scenes of graphic violence, strong language, and dark themes that can be disturbing. While many appreciate the film's artistic storytelling and deep metaphors related to historical contexts, it is recommended primarily for mature teenagers and adults who can handle intense content.
- visual storytelling
- graphic violence
- dark themes
- mature audience
- historical context
- intense content
Summarized with AI
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
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , Mexican Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Writer(s)
- 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 : September 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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