Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gory violence and language in fun female-led horror comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pretty Lethal
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PRETTY LETHAL, a group of ballerinas (Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, and Iris Apatow) travel to Budapest, Hungary, to compete in an elite international dance competition. But when their bus breaks down, they're forced to take refuge in a remote inn full of dangerous criminals and run by a mysterious ex dancer (Uma Thurman).
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot of fun to be found in this stylized comedy horror about a group of ballerinas forced to use their skills for brutal means. Pretty Lethal finds the right combination of bloody violence and sheer silliness that will appeal to fans of the genre and those looking for 90 minutes of joyful chaos. The movie looks great—all red, white, and black aesthetics that hark back to classic European horror styles. The violence is choreographed to incorporate the girls' dance skills in unexpected ways, and sequences set to music from The Nutcracker nod to Kill Bill—an association made even stronger by the presence of Thurman as the icy villain. There's plenty of humor and fans of Dance Moms will see art imitate life as show standout Ziegler steps back into the role of the envied dancer at the center of the group. Characters aren't hugely developed and there's definitely a predictability to the plot, but it's a lively, playful romp that warns against the dangers of underestimating young women.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Pretty Lethal. Was it shocking? Thrilling? Or both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss how women and girls were portrayed in the movie. How did the film challenge stereotypes? Why is it important to do that on-screen?
How did some characters show courage, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 25, 2026
- Cast : Uma Thurman , Maddie Ziegler , Lana Condor
- Director : Vicky Jewson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Amazon Prime Video
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Arts ( Ballet ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, and language
- Last updated : March 24, 2026
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