Parents' Guide to

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Graphic sexual violence in thrilling, subtitled crime drama.

Movie R 2009 152 minutes
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Wayne G.
Wayne G. Parent of 13 and 18-year-old
December 15, 2013
age 18+

Too Much For Anyone To Handle

DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN WATCH THIS MOVIE. I cannot stress how inappropriate the whole thing is. I mistakenly let my child, a James Bond fan watch this with no prior research. I only caught it about forty minutes in and made him turn it off. From what I did see, I made a big mistake. SO MUCH sex and violence.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
FilmFanatic
FilmFanatic Adult
October 21, 2013
age 16+

Fabulous movie, but some hard to watch scenes. Good discussion topics for older teens.

The only real shocker in this film is the on screen rape and forced oral sex on the main character, and the idea of numerous women being raped, tortured and killed by a sadistic nazi serial killer (Some bodies are shown, but its not as bad as the aforementioned rape scene). It is also said that a young girl was abused sexually by her family members, one of which is a teen boy. The revenge that the main female protagonist takes against her rapist is also quite disturbing. She ties him up, forces (and then later kicks) a sex toy up his rectum, and tattoos the words "I am a sadistic pig and a rapist" on his chest. If you (or your child) can handle these scenes then the rest of the film should be a breeze. Theres a good amount of strong language throughout but its not constant and is well placed. The main female protagonist smokes CONSTANTLY and has an almost gothic, edgy appearance that can be impressionable on teens. The makeup and clothes are fine but I could easily see teens picking up smoking/body modifications as a result of watching this. Aside from all the negativity, Lisbeth is a great protagonist and a pretty good role model (to an extent). She gets sexually abused and had a hard life as a child, but is still smart and usually has a good moral standing. After watching this movie with your teen, you could possibly talk about sexual abuse, how it affects Lisbeth's character and if she makes the right decisions regarding revenge. You could then talk to them about preventing rape and what to do if it ever happens to them. The movie may be disturbing at times, but its message rings true and these kinds of things DO happen. Best your son/daughter is knowledgeable about them, but obviously at the right age.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is based on the first book in the wildy popular trilogy by journalist Stieg Larsson, published after his death. Following his conviction for libel and waiting to serve his prison term, investigative journalist Mikael Blomqvist (Michael Nyqvist) is hired to find the truth behind the 40-year-old disappearance of a wealthy young woman who has long been presumed murdered. He teams up with Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace), a heavily pierced, spike-haired, and tattoed young woman with a mysterious past. Lisbeth is a misfit with a brilliant mind and masterful computer skills. She's also the current victim of a corrupt, perverted government official. In great danger themselves, Mikael and Lisbeth unearth the decades-old family tragedy and seek justice for an untold number of young women who died at the hands of racist, degenerate criminals. Those who get caught up in the story will want to continue with the sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire, though it's equally graphic.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (11):

There's never been a character quite like Lisbeth Salander. She's intriguing, infuriating, unknowable, and ultimately sympathetic. Swedish director Niels Arden Opvel and Rapace have succeeded in bringing this unconventional young woman to life in a well-made, highly charged, and often gruesome spectacle.

Even some adults may have trouble watching the many disturbing scenes in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which include explicit sexual assault, torture, and mayhem. And, contrary to convention, the villains are pleasant-looking, benign gentlemen of the upper classes, while the central romantic heroine is the most punked of the punk.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why filmmakers felt it necessary to be so explicit in their depictions of the crimes against Lisbeth Salander? Did it heighten your appreciation and respect for the character?

  • Sometimes there's a fine line between a horror film and a thriller. Did The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) cross that line? If it was enjoyable for you, what emotions did it evoke?

  • Lisbeth Salander is a unique character. What is an anti-hero? What other unlikely heroes or heroines do you remember from films you've seen?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: February 27, 2009
  • On DVD or streaming: July 6, 2010
  • Cast: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace
  • Director: Niels Arden Oplev
  • Studio: Yellow Bird
  • Genre: Thriller
  • Run time: 152 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: disturbing violent content including rape, grisly images, sexual material, nudity and language
  • Last updated: April 13, 2023

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