Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sci-fi adventure/tender family drama has scares, peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Strange World
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 93 parent reviews
Parents say the movie elicits mixed reactions, with some praising its vibrant animation and themes of family and ecological awareness, while others criticize it for its overt political messaging and focus on LGBTQ+ representation, which they feel is inappropriate for young viewers. Many agree that it attempts to tackle important issues but falters in execution and maintains a simplistic narrative, resulting in disappointment among families who expected a more traditional Disney experience.
- visuals stunning
- themes controversial
- inappropriate for children
- representation praised
- mixed family reactions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 44 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is visually stunning with engaging animation and representation of diverse characters, including LGBTQ+ themes, but many find the plot to be dull and lacking coherence. While some viewers appreciate its attempt to tackle social issues, others believe it prioritizes representation over a compelling story, leading to mixed reactions about its overall quality.
- visuals impressive
- plot dull
- mixed reactions
- representation noted
- social themes evident
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
As STRANGE WORLD begins, adventurer Jaeger Clade (voiced by Dennis Quaid) is trying to find a safe new home for the people of Avalonia, with his crew and his teen son, Searcher (Jake Gyllenhaal), in tow. When Searcher finds a magical, power-giving plant, everyone on the mission -- except Jaeger -- believes they should settle there. Instead, Jaeger insists on continuing beyond the mountains, leaving his son behind. Twenty-five years later, Avalonia has thrived thanks to the plant that young Searcher discovered. Called pando, it sustains the entire community's infrastructure. Searcher, a pando farmer, has a wife, Meridian (Gabrielle Union), and a 16-year-old son, Ethan (Jaboukie Young-White), who -- despite not knowing his grandfather -- dreams of adventure. When Searcher and Ethan realize that there's a blight on the pando crop, they embark on a mission with commander Callisto Mal (Lucy Liu) to determine what's causing the crops to die. They find a mysterious underground world where everything around them is a living, and potentially hostile, being. And Searcher and Ethan soon make an even more shocking discovery.
Is It Any Good?
This nostalgic homage to sci-fi adventures has a moving intergenerational storyline, positive diverse representation, and two adorable sidekicks. Filmmakers Don Hall and Qi Nguyen focus on the family relationships between Ethan, his parents, and his grandfather. The environmentalist-friendly story offers plenty of laughs and fuzzy feels courtesy of Legend -- the family's big, lovable, three-legged dog, who's boisterous and befriends everyone -- and Splat, the blob-like, featureless being that Ethan discovers in the seemingly magical world. (Both will absolutely add to the delight of younger and dog-loving viewers.) Although the plot is mostly man-centered, the two main women characters, Meridian and Callisto, are hyper-capable, tough, and courageous. Union particularly stands out as Ethan's no-nonsense, supportive mom.
Strange World's visuals are vibrant and cotton candy-colored as the new world comes to life around the curious Avalonians. The world-building includes peril at every turn, but, aside from one somewhat humorous implied death, the danger is never too overwhelming. It's disappointing that there's been controversy over the fact that the film includes Ethan's crush on a boy (and his family's complete support of that fact), which is roughly equivalent to the cute date depicted in Inside Out. If anything, Disney deserves credit for promoting an inclusive story that isn't preachy or overwrought. Because this isn't a story about a teenager coming out or being gay -- it's a story about saving your home and repairing generational relationships.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the peril in Strange World. Is it appropriate to the story? Does animated violence impact viewers differently than live-action violence?
Discuss the representation in the movie. Why do you think seeing diversity in the media we consume is important?
How does the movie's environmental message come through?
Which characters exhibit courage, empathy, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
Why do you think some consider Ethan's crush controversial?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 23, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : December 23, 2022
- Cast : Jake Gyllenhaal , Jaboukie Young-White , Gabrielle Union , Dennis Quaid
- Directors : Don Hall , Qui Nguyen
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship , STEM
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : action/peril and some thematic elements
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : January 3, 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