Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark comedy has sexual innuendo, bloody images.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Addams Family (1991)
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Based on 45 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a darkly comedic classic that blends humor with elements of horror, making it an entertaining watch for older children, tweens, and adults. However, many reviewers noted its inappropriate content, such as sexual innuendos and violence, which may not be suitable for younger viewers, indicating that parental discretion is advised.
- dark comedy
- inappropriate content
- entertaining for adults
- parental discretion advised
- humor mixed with horror
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a ghoulish brood who live in a creepy old house, where they mostly mind their own business and revel in the macabre side of life. The family includes playful, cigar-smoking dad Gomez (Raul Julia); elegant, vampish mom Morticia (Anjelica Huston); reckless, chaotic son Pugsley (Jimmy Workman); and somber, frighteningly sadistic daughter Wednesday (Christina Ricci). Living in the mansion with them are Grandmama (Judith Malina), Lurch the butler (Carel Struycken), and the ever-present Thing, a free-standing hand that has no body but possesses a personality of its own. The Addamses may be unusual, but they're a loving, united household—that is, until they're infiltrated by a man with an eye on their fortune who claims to be their beloved long-lost Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd).
Is It Any Good?
In this popular adaptation, the Addamses are a tight-knit family who clearly care about one another, but they lack the charm and generosity featured in the original 1964 TV series. The Addams Family, while closely resembling its classic inspiration, is darker and at times mean-spirited. Also unsettling are the extremes to which Wednesday goes to inflict pain on her brother, including strapping him into an electric chair and joyfully flipping the switch.
While the movie fails to fully recapture the quirky spookiness and charm of the original TV series, it's still fun to watch. The dialogue is quick-witted, and there are plenty of funny (albeit macabre) moments. The cast is great as well, and Ricci shines in her memorable portrayal of Wednesday. Fans introduced to the family through the newer Wednesday TV series will likely be interested in comparing and contrasting the versions—and in learning more about the series' mythology.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how family relationships are portrayed in The Addams Family. What positive behaviors do you notice in how members of the family treat one another? What are some of the more troubling aspects of the Addams household? When does sibling rivalry go too far? How are family differences settled?
Families can also talk about the differences that occur when classic TV series and films are remade. How does this film compare to the original 1960s show? How does it compare to the 2020s' Wednesday? What are the benefits of putting a new spin on well-known material? What might some of the challenges be?
How is violence portrayed in the movie? Do you think combining it with dark humor takes away the intensity of scary or violent moments? Can you think of other films where violence is treated casually? Do you think there's any danger in presenting it that way?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 22, 1991
- On DVD or streaming : February 22, 2000
- Cast : Anjelica Huston , Christina Ricci , Raul Julia
- Director : Barry Sonnenfeld
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , BAFTA - BAFTA Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee , Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : February 2, 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