Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots and lots of nudity, bad acting in '80s survival tale.
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The Blue Lagoon
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say the film is widely criticized for its inappropriate content, particularly concerning nudity and sexual themes involving minors, leading many to describe it as disturbing and unsuitable for most viewers. While some appreciate the glimpse into teenage emotions, they can't overlook the overwhelming presence of sexual content and the discomfort it creates, particularly due to the characters being cousins who are depicted in sexual situations.
- inappropriate content
- sexual themes
- discomfort
- lack of plot
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Sailing to San Francisco in Victorian times, Richard (Christopher Atkins) and Emmeline (Brooke Shields) are stranded on a deserted island when their ship catches fire and sinks. Only 7 or 8 at the time, they learn to survive, and even thrive, in their tropical-island paradise. They're completely on their own, with very little education, and nature follows its course when their attachment and attraction grow along with their bodies. Years later, an attempt to revisit their first landing site puts them in the greatest danger they've ever faced when they're once again stranded on the open sea.
Is It Any Good?
THE BLUE LAGOON is about eye candy, plain and simple. The main draw is the natural beauty of both the surroundings and the protagonists, which is considerable. The story is interesting and suspense is maintained about their ultimate fate, and there's a nugget of a good idea for a theme in there about how two kids might develop entirely on their own. The underwater cinematography is gorgeous. But it's all severely undercut by director Randal Kleiser succumbing to the temptation of spending too much time on the physical attributes of his stars -- and by Brooke Shields' limited acting ability. Although physically alluring, she just isn't believable as a sexually mature young woman. The whole production walks a thin line between a so-so adventure story and gratuitous titillation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nudity in movies. When, if ever, is it OK to show nude people? Does it matter if the person is a child, a teen, or an adult? Does the nudity in this movie make it more entertaining, or is it a realistic depiction of how the two kids might have lived after a shipwreck?
How would you react to how you change during puberty if you didn't know anything about it? Would it seem scary or not really a big deal? Do Richard and Emmeline act realistically?
If you were thriving and happy on a deserted island, would you still want to get back home to civilization? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 20, 1980
- On DVD or streaming : October 5, 1999
- Cast : Brooke Shields , Christopher Atkins , Leo McKern
- Director : Randal Kleiser
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Pictures
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Adventures , History , Animals ( Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals )
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Strong sexual content, graphic nudity of children/teens, some bloody images
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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