Parents' Guide to

The Black Stallion Returns

By M. Faust, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

A lackluster sequel to the well-loved original.

Movie PG 1983 103 minutes
The Black Stallion Returns Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 7+

mediocre but still fun

A good movie, but definitely not what the original Black Stallion was.The whole thing falls just a little flat, but it's not bad, just mediocre. The only real point of concern in the movie is the violence (there are innumerable gunfights throughout the whole thing), but there is no blood shown whatsoever. There are some parts which could be scary for younger children (several kidnappings, nighttime scenes with "bad guys" prowling around Alec's yard up to no good, and of course the ever-present gunfights.) And Alec is definitely not the greatest role model, as he stows away on a plane headed overseas, disregarding his mother's concern for him and placing his horse over his family. Other than that, this is a very clean family movie and pretty fun at that.

This title has:

Too much violence
age 10+

hi

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

The main problem with THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS is it isn't nearly as good as its predecessor. While the new filmmaking team assembled by executive producer Francis Ford Coppola does sturdy work, they just weren't able to muster the magical aura of the earlier film. At fault is the script, which has far too much desert intrigue and far too little of the horse. Sharp-eyed kids will certainly point out that, although this story is supposed to begin shortly after the end of the previous one, star Kelly Reno looks substantially older.

Nevertheless, fans of the first movie will like this sequel, if they can sit through a more involved story. The exoticism of the Moroccan locations give the film visual appeal, and the glimpse into the lives of desert dwellers, provided by prince Raj, should spark the imaginations of viewers. (Too bad this chance for cultural bridge-building is offset by the presence of several stereotyped Arab villains.)

Movie Details

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