Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Peril, fantasy violence, insults in Chinese tale adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Monkey King
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 12 parent reviews
Parents say the movie contains numerous inappropriate elements for children, including intense violence and themes related to death and immortality that lack positive messages. Many reviewers express concern over its disrespectful portrayal of religion, convoluted storytelling, and a main character who embodies narcissism without any moral growth, ultimately labeling it unsuitable for younger audiences.
- inappropriate themes
- violence and death
- poor adaptation
- unsuitable for kids
- confusing story
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 5 kid reviews
What's the Story?
THE MONKEY KING (Jimmy O. Yang), a little red monkey born from a rock, is ostracized by society, but he has an important destiny. We know this because the Buddha (BD Wong) says so himself. When a weapon looking for its hero finds him, the now grown Monkey King sets out to solidify his place among the immortals, which also include the Jade Emperor (Hoon Lee), the Dragon King (Bowen Yang), and Wangmu (Jodi Long). First, he must slay 100 demons. On his final slaying, he meets Lin (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), a poor young village girl who insists on accompanying him as his assistant. Little does the Monkey King know that Lin has ulterior motives. Together on their journeys, the two will learn a lot about each other and their places in the world.
Is It Any Good?
Buckle your seatbelt and be prepared for nonstop action in this telling of the legendary tale, which looks spectacular but doesn't get to the fable's real messages until late in the game. Without the Buddha's introductory revelations about The Monkey King, this film's titular character could seem unredeemable (besides his self-aggrandizing humor) for a chunk of the action. Sure, he was ostracized as a child and never learned to love or be loved. We get it. But it takes an hour-plus of fast-paced, far-fetched brawls before his young, female sidekick Lin shows him what he's been missing -- and sees the lonely creature inside him as well. In that sense, the film aims squarely at a very young audience, for whom the action will be entertaining enough. Older viewers can appreciate the film's textured look, which was meant to mimic Chinese brush painting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what The Monkey King and Lin learn from each other. Why does it take them so long?
How do characters show empathy and compassion? Are these two characteristics the same? How so or how not?
The filmmakers said they wanted this movie to have the texture and dynamics of Chinese brush painting and ink on paper. Can you find examples of this in the movie?
The Monkey King is a classic tale. Where could you find more information about this story and its various iterations on screen?
Who was the Buddha? What does he stand for? Where can you go for more information?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 16, 2023
- Cast : Jimmy O. Yang , Jolie Hoang-Rappaport , Bowen Yang
- Director : Anthony Stacchi
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Multiracial Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- Run time : 96 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : action/violence and brief thematic material
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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