Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

The Hunt for Dark Matter

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Scientists work together toward common research goal.

Movie NR 2017 23 minutes
The Hunt for Dark Matter Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • A galaxy in the universe.
  • An observatory in Hawaii.
  • A super collider.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

THE HUNT FOR DARK MATTER is a documentary short about the search for the substance that scientists believe holds the universe together. The European Organization for Nuclear Research, a.k.a. CERN, is collaborating with the University of California Santa Barbara to search for dark matter, which physicists and astronomers believe are invisible particles that emerged at the time of the "Big Bang." But the existence of dark matter has yet to be proven, so new technology is being built, and integrated to other machines, to help scientists detect it. It's expected that their work will bring them closer to understanding the mysteries of the universe.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This physics-heavy short offers informative details about the phenomena known as dark matter, and the work that is being put in to detecting it. Much of the conversation is about the technology being built to assist the multinational community physicist and astronomers who are seeking to prove its existence. The challenges that come with building these machines are also discussed. If you've ever wondered what Leonard and Sheldon are talking about when discussing their work on The Big Bang Theory, The Hunt For Dark Matter might answer some of your questions. But the overall presentation will appeal most to folks with an interest in science and space.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the scientific efforts to detect dark matter. Why is this so important to scientists in the field? What can supporting the theory of dark matter's existence do for our understanding of how the universe works? What if scientists aren't able to find it?

  • The Hunt For Dark Matter features a cast of male physicists and astronomers. Why? What does the lack of female scientists in this documentary suggest about these scientific fields of study?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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