Parents' Guide to

The King's Speech

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Superb drama about overcoming fears is fine for teens.

Movie R 2010 111 minutes
The King's Speech Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 65 parent reviews

mrsherby
mrsherby Parent of 10-year-old
May 1, 2022
age 12+

Great Oscar winning about overcoming fears.

This film is so uplifting. Although🤨. Does contain the f and s word a lot and also a lot of smoking. Aussie’s and Brit’s forever😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
applesauceparfait
applesauceparfait Adult
October 19, 2020
age 16+

I LOVED this movie!!

I watched this with my grandma and my great aunt, both of which thought that I would love the movie. My grandma knew that my parents would flip if they knew I had seen the movie with them. My mom is pretty strict when it comes to movies. I watched this IN JANUARY! I JUST TURNED 18. The only reason why I would not be allowed to watch this movie is because of the scene where the main character is at the speech therapist and is yelling "F**K" over and over again. But, this is an AMAZING MOVIE!!!!

This title has:

Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 65 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE KING'S SPEECH, King George VI (Colin Firth), father to Queen Elizabeth II, inherited the British throne in 1936 after his brother Edward's controversial abdication to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. Ultimately, he would lead the United Kingdom through World War II. But even before he ascended the throne, he was a man struggling with a persistent and troubling condition: He stammered. This was a source of deep despair for the soon-to-be king, who was known among friends and family members as Bertie. Despite his wife's (Helena Bonham Carter) best efforts and deep, abiding love, Bertie was stunted by rage and anxiety. But in this film based on true events, the king finally finds an ally in Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian speech therapist who helps Bertie gain the confidence and will to overcome his fears and let his voice be heard, literally and metaphorically.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (65):
Kids say (127):

It is a singularly gratifying experience to watch this film's three stars -- Firth, Bonham Carter, and Rush -- do what they do best: act. It's like watching a master class. They disappear into their characters and make them both interesting and understandable. That's not always the case with films about royalty. Often, they're a visual (and unremarkable) summary of what we know from books; here, they fascinate with their trials, triumphs, and, most of all, humanity. And for a movie steeped in a feel-good message -- "You don't need to be afraid of the things you were afraid of when you were 5," intones one man -- it's far from clichéd.

Credit, too, goes to director Tom Hooper and screenwriter David Seidler, who himself conquered a stutter and was inspired by the king. They have created characters so rich that they compel viewers to rush to the Web for some post-viewing research. We know a lot about today's royals, but they don't hold a candle to their predecessors -- or at least to the ones portrayed here. The movie makes history and self-help irresistible. Bottom line? The King's Speech is superb.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the messages in The King's Speech. What are viewers meant to take away from watching?

  • How does the movie portray stuttering and those who suffer from it? Does it seem realistic and believable? How does Bertie's struggle with stuttering affect him?

  • How did the queen pave the way for the king's success? Are they positive role models? Do you think the movie portrays them accurately? Why might filmmakers change some details in a fact-based story?

  • How do the characters in The King's Speech demonstrate communication and perseverance? What about integrity and humility? Why are these important character strengths?

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.

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