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Parents' Guide to

The Simpsons Movie

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Same hilarious but in-your-face, edgy humor as TV show.

Movie PG-13 2007 86 minutes
The Simpsons Movie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 43 parent reviews

Accurate P.
Accurate P. Parent of 15-year-old
August 16, 2022
age 11+
Rated M13

This title has:

Too much sex
2 people found this helpful.
Dale Dietrich
Dale Dietrich Parent of 6 and 8-year-old
October 20, 2020
age 8+

We all enjoyed it

So, this was a tough choice. Our kids are 6 and 8. But many of their classmates and friends watch the Simpsons. We have not allowed them to watch the TV show for obvious reasons. They wanted to watch the movie and mom and dad knew this one would be 'edgy'. A LOT more swearing than I would like and Bart was Bart. It created an opertunity to talk about what is naughty behviour and why and the importance of not swearing and its not classy to swear etc. There are no swear words that they don't hear in the school yard every day but certainly lots of swearing that they aren't allowed to do. In the end I don't regret watching the movie with them. All of us (my wife included) enjoyed it a lot and laughed a lot because, let's be serious, its funny! But, if you want to shield your kids from dumb-ass, and hell and other mid-range swear words, then this is NOT the movie for you.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 43 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Springfield lovers have been waiting, like Homer drooling over an out-of-reach donut, more than 18 years for Matt Groening and James L. Brooks to get the merry geniuses behind The Simpsons to create a feature-length film. Finally, followers can see their beloved first family of animation on the big screen, and it was it worth the wait. Homer's (Dan Castellaneta) up to his usual tricks in THE SIMPSONS MOVIE when his selfishness (in this case, adopting a pig) triggers the worst emergency in Springfield's long and disaster-prone history. Meanwhile, Bart (Nancy Cartwright) starts wishing okalee-dorkily neighbor Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) were his father, and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) falls for a young Irish activist. Marge (Julie Kavner), as always, sums up all her patience to deal with the latest family crisis.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (43 ):
Kids say (292 ):

While The Simpsons Movie probably can't compare to any fan's favorite episodes, it's a triumphant collaboration of nearly a dozen of the series' best head-writers and producers. The result is a film that's true to its episodic roots -- tons of characters, A-list cameos, meta references -- but also appealing to even the casual or non-viewer.

Simpsons adventures are really best seen and not explained. Even a straightforward visual gag, like Bart skateboarding in the buff or Ned preparing a cup of hot cocoa, is side splitting. And then there are the deliciously intricate crowd -- or more accurately, mob -- scenes when primary, secondary, and occasional characters mix seamlessly together. Ahhh, sweet, sweet laughter. The audience at several points roared so loudly that it was hard to hear the dialogue. But you don't have to be a line-memorizing Comic-Book Guy to enjoy the film. Even the uninitiated or usually unimpressed should find plenty of opportunities to laugh so hard you cry during the 86-minute treat. Be warned though, you won't be able to stop humming "Spider-Pig" once the end credits (a perk for those who stay 'til the very end) roll.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of The Simpsons on popular culture. Is the animated show's popularity even greater than that of Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter? Is it wrong to show Bart drinking? What would really happen if a 10-year-old drank a miniature bottle of alcohol? Parents can also discuss caring about the environment and how even one person's actions make a difference.

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