Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-packed Star Trek sequel has good story, characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Star Trek Into Darkness
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 48 kid reviews
Kids say the sequel offers a mix of thrilling action, intense violence, and moments of humor, though many feel it diverges from the essence of the original series by focusing more on action than on thoughtful storytelling. While some praise the performances, particularly that of the villain, and the visual effects, the film's heavy violence, mild language, and suggestive content lead to mixed feelings about its suitability for younger audiences.
- action-packed sequels
- mixed reviews
- heavy violence
- strong performances
- suggestive content
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) gets into trouble by breaking the rules in order to save Spock's (Zachary Quinto) life. But when a madman (Benedict Cumberbatch) attacks an archive facility on Earth, Kirk and the old crew -- including Bones (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), and newcomer Carol (Alice Eve) -- get a new mission: Destroy the villain. Then Spock convinces Kirk to capture him instead, which leads to all kinds of new trouble. And Kirk learns that no one can be trusted until he and the crew of the Enterprise learn the secret behind their deadly prisoner.
Is It Any Good?
Director J.J. Abrams, despite his massive popularity and success, shows some flaws with uneven pacing in this movie, pitching moods and scenes too high and letting things drag on too long. And his idea of "style" seems to be camera-shaking and lens flares (the latter of which was once considered a mistake in moviemaking and was only implemented in the 1960s for effect).
And while Pine's blue-eyed, pretty boy rebel character has little to do with the original Captain Kirk, the rest of the characters thankfully seem to tune in to their classic counterparts, and their performances and line readings can be great fun. Likewise, Star Trek Into Darkness has a good, enthralling story at its core and some strong ideas buried beneath the empty style that eventually win the day.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Star Trek Into Darkness' violence. Does it ever feel over the top? Is it exciting or gruesome? Which do you think it's intended to be? Why?
What's the difference between following the rules and doing the right thing? Is there a simple answer to this problem?
How do the characters show teamwork? In what scenes do characters help each other? Why is teamwork an important character strength?
Why do you think Star Trek has such enduring appeal? What makes people become such faithful fans? How does the reboot compare to the older movies and TV shows?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 16, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : September 10, 2013
- Cast : Benedict Cumberbatch , Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Zoe Saldana
- Director : J.J. Abrams
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 132 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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