Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bond returns for more racy, action-packed thrills.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Skyfall
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Based on 106 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a great mix of action and emotional depth, with many praising the darker themes and character development compared to previous installments. While it contains intense violence, strong language, and some mature content, it remains enjoyable for older teens and above, especially those familiar with the Bond universe.
- emotional depth
- intense violence
- strong language
- action-packed
- character development
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When evil Silva (Javier Bardem), a vengeful ex-MI6-er, gets his hands on a list of undercover agents and endangers them by revealing their identities, five at a time, on the Internet, James Bond (Daniel Craig) must put a stop to his plans, fast. But Silva is a wily devil, relying more on cyberspace weapons than on the tricky tools that 007 is more accustomed to. Q (Ben Whishaw), an upstart wunderkind, equips Bond with the leanest of gadgetry, but Silva is hell-bent on destruction -- and on killing his ultimate prize, M (Judi Dench), whom he blames for his ruin.
Is It Any Good?
Thrilling from start to finish, SKYFALL is a feat of Bond-ism, a mix of lean-and-mean modernism and momentum that also pays homage to the series' iconic status. The martini remains, though the line "shaken, not stirred" is no more. (It's unnecessary.) The Aston Martin makes a thoughtful appearance and then is shot to smithereens, as if to mark a literal break from the past.
But it's the movie's trip to Bond's own past that makes Skyfall more than just an espionage re-tread. And Bardem is a fearsome villain with pathos and a back story plucked from Greek mythology and Shakespeare. Skyfall soars, making the Bond franchise as relevant as ever.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes James Bond "cool." Is it his skills? His attitude? Do you consider him a role model? What makes him so appealing (and enduring) in general?
How does the violence in the more recent Bond movies compare to the older ones? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Is the Bond franchise still relevant for today's sensibilities? Does Skyfall advance it or keep it in the past?
Does Skyfall use drinking and smoking to support or take away from the Bond franchise's appeal?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 8, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : February 12, 2013
- Cast : Daniel Craig , Javier Bardem , Judi Dench
- Director : Sam Mendes
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : MGM/UA
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 143 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking
- Last updated : February 3, 2026
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