Parents' Guide to

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

A good Jane Austen movie, but a poor zombie movie.

Movie PG-13 2016 108 minutes
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Stevie111
Stevie111 Adult
June 2, 2016
age 13+

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies isn't that bad, but it isn't that good either

This sort of bland zombie take on Pride and Prejudice really pushed the PG-13 boundaries. It isn't frequently violent, but when it is, heads are blown off, limbs are severed, and there is plenty of blood. There really isn't much mature content besides that. The film was kind of slow, and slowed more towards the end, which I found odd. The ending wasn't anything special. I was disappointed, but not really surprised based off of other reviews. It is definitely on the higher end of two stars, but it never really passed fine in my opinion.

This title has:

Too much violence
SamanthaR 4
SamanthaR 4 Adult
February 13, 2016
age 15+
"One must have a proper knowledge in..." the original pride and prejudice to completely understand the full humor behind this parody. And a free grasp on how zombies should be. Following the same line as the original and a twist. Hot and feisty, Elizabeth and Darcy have a much more heated relationship. I also feel a strong amout of frustration, when both Elizabeth and Darcy are substained to using their words not fists in the original. All in all a great movie. But in the eyes of someone who hasn't seen the original an open mind I feel is needed to understand.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and her four sisters are the daughters of an English country gentleman (Charles Dance). Their mother (Sally Phillips) wants them to marry rich, but their father has trained them to fight zombies, the outbreak of which has spread throughout Europe. As various suitors make their attentions known, including the brooding Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley), it's revealed that a certain group of "leader" zombies might save the day. But as trust is betrayed and hearts are broken, the battle between humans and zombies escalates, and the undead creatures must be contained -- at least long enough for a wedding between Elizabeth's sister Jane (Bella Heathcote) and the handsome Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth)!

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (15):

Perhaps not surprisingly, this is a poor zombie movie, but it is a pretty good Jane Austen movie. When it focuses on humans, the mood is playful, buoyant, romantic, and even funny. Director Burr Steers made his debut with Igby Goes Down (2002), a literate movie about smart characters, and in adapting Seth Grahame-Smith's 2009 mash-up novel PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES, he clearly brings that penchant to Austen's creations as well.

Unfortunately, Steers doesn't seem to care about zombies. His creatures are fast-moving action-movie zombies (i.e. not scary). Plus, the film's fast, jerky cutting is clearly designed to minimize gore, and the remaining visual effects are third-rate. Likewise, the martial arts fight scenes, while well-choreographed, are shot with an equal lack of care. Eventually, action takes over, and the movie suffers through too many dead spots. It's too bad that Steers couldn't have hired a good "B" movie co-director to boost the movie's zombie half.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' violence. How much blood and gore is shown? How much is implied? What's the difference in impact? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • Are the zombies scary in this movie? How do they compare with zombies you've seen in other movies?

  • What is a mash-up? How do you feel about zombies being added to Austen's 200-year-old story? Is it funny? Exciting? Inappropriate?

  • How does this take on Elizabeth Bennet compare with other versions of the character, either in movies, TV, or print? Is she stronger? More interesting? Less interesting? Do you consider her a role model?

  • Zombie-killing aside, what conclusions can you draw about the importance of choosing a mate carefully in love and in life?

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

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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