Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Interesting drama about love, mortality, iffy decisions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Passengers
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 35 parent reviews
Parents say the film offers a blend of romance and sci-fi elements that provoke thought around loneliness, ethical dilemmas, and relationships; however, it takes a significant shift in tone towards a more conventional Hollywood ending. While some find the themes engaging and the visuals stunning, others criticize the execution and pacing, suggesting that the film's appeal may be limited to adult audiences due to its brief sexual content and mature themes.
- entertaining romance
- mixed execution
- ethical dilemmas
- stunning visuals
- adult themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 65 kid reviews
Kids say this film offers a mix of captivating science fiction and romance, highlighted by strong performances from its leads, particularly Chris Pratt. However, many reviews caution about its mature themes, including sexual content and violence, suggesting it's more suitable for older teens rather than younger children.
- mature content
- strong performances
- romance focus
- action elements
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In PASSENGERS, Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is an engineer who decides to join thousands of others on the Avalon, a spaceship whose passengers are supposed to stay in an induced state of deep sleep for 120 years while they travel to a deep space colony. But just 30 years in, Jim wakes up due to a mechanical glitch, effectively leaving him on a desert island, with the clock ticking toward death. He's alone and lonely, save for the company of an android (Michael Sheen). So when Jim spots Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), composed and beautiful in her sleep pod, he's smitten. He researches her and her life and grows more enamored by the day, ultimately arriving at the decision to wake her up. But this means taking away Aurora's plans to live out her days on the colony, forever altering her life plans and taking away her power over herself. Meanwhile, the Avalon seems to be in trouble.
Is It Any Good?
Pratt and Lawrence are wonderful and share decent chemistry, and Sheen adds wit, but, there's no mistaking the disturbing nature of this movie's premise. Positioned as a romance and at times offering insight into the nature of relationships, Passengers nonetheless tries to succeed while grounded in a plot that's frankly off-putting. Are we to see Jim as a harmless romantic, when his love for Aurora is based on expectations he placed on her without truly knowing who she is and his subsequent decisions are pretty much positioned as forgivable in the face of love? The special effects make for a visually stunning movie, and the film's complicated themes make it a knotty, interesting watch. But the film's problematic nature does distract from its strengths.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Passengers depicts relationships. Is Jim and Aurora's relationship healthy? How does the movie portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding these topics.
Are the main characters role models? Why or why not? How do they/the movie promote courage and communication? Why are those important character strengths?
Why do you think someone would remove themselves from their present life to live one more than 100 years away?
How does the film handle a romance that's complicated and based on a pretty disturbing decision? Does it gloss over that decision? Does it find a way to justify it? Is Jim just "a hopeless romantic"? How would you feel in Aurora's position?
How does this movie compare to other sci-fi tales/dramas you've seen? Who do you think it's intended to appeal to? How can you tell?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 21, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : September 25, 2018
- Cast : Jennifer Lawrence , Chris Pratt , Michael Sheen
- Director : Morten Tyldum
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sexuality, nudity and action/peril
- Last updated : December 28, 2025
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