Common Sense Media Review
Kubrick's suspenseful horror classic is violent and dark.
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Why Age 15+?
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The Shining
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 72 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a classic horror piece noted for its psychological tension and deep themes, but caution that it contains disturbing scenes and strong language that may not be suitable for younger viewers. While many appreciate its artistic merits, opinions vary on the appropriate age for children, with recommendations typically ranging from 12 to 18 years, depending on maturity and sensitivity to violence and nudity.
- classic horror film
- psychological tension
- disturbing scenes
- age recommendations
- artistic merits
- strong language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 377 kid reviews
Kids say this horror classic is a brilliant psychological thriller that masterfully combines suspense, complex themes, and stellar performances, particularly from Jack Nicholson. However, many reviews caution about its inappropriate content, including nudity and strong language, suggesting it may not be suitable for younger audiences despite the excitement it offers to mature viewers.
- psychological thriller
- strong performances
- inappropriate content
- psychological themes
- not for young kids
- intense suspense
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE SHINING Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer entrusted as the caretaker of a huge, remote Colorado hotel during its off-season winter months. Accompanying Torrance are his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son, Danny (Danny Lloyd). Slowly, the punishing snowstorms and overall isolation (or perhaps something else?) push Jack into madness, with terrifying results.
Is It Any Good?
Given that director Stanley Kubrick can make your own living room seem creepy and unfamiliar, it's no surprise that the freak-out factor is high in his take on Stephen King's celebrated horror novel.
At first, The Shining feels a bit empty. Nicholson's Jack seems like a bad guy from frame one, providing little arc for his character. And everyone has visions, leaving viewers no easy points of identification. The apparitions seem to know more about the story than we do, fostering some very real twists and turns. Kubrick constantly pulls the rug out from under us in relation to what's real and what's not. This film is truly one of the scariest movies of all time for both its blood and gore and its strong themes of domestic violence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between fantasy and reality in The Shining. Did you find yourself confused about what's "really" happening at various points in the film? In what different ways could these scenes be interpreted?
Stephen King, the author of the novel The Shining, strongly disapproved of how director Stanley Kubrick interpreted both the characters and the story of his novel, and yet the film is considered to be a classic. What would be the challenges in adapting a novel to film, and why do you think some filmmakers take liberties in how the story and characters are depicted?
How are music and sound used to heighten the movie's moments of horror and suspense?
How does this classic compare to modern horror movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 23, 1980
- On DVD or streaming : June 12, 2001
- Cast : Jack Nicholson , Shelley Duvall , Scatman Crothers
- Director : Stanley Kubrick
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Book Characters , Fantasy
- Run time : 144 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : adult situations, language, nudity, graphic violence.
- Last updated : February 8, 2026
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