
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
By Yvonne Condes,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sad, beautiful tale of boy genius and tragic gun accident.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet
Community Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Excellent Family Movie
If you care about future generations, don't let them watch this
What's the Story?
T.S. Spivet (Kyle Catlett) is a boy genius living on a beautiful ranch in Montana with his cowboy dad (Callum Keith Rennie), scientist mother (Helena Bonham Carter), teenage sister (Niamh Wilson), and twin brother. A terrible accident leaves T.S. guilt ridden and isolated, so -- after winning a contest from the Smithsonian for making a perpetual motion machine -- he runs away to collect his prize. His plan leads him on an incredible and emotional adventure.
Is It Any Good?
This offbeat, melancholy film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie), starts out quirky and then turns tragically sad as more information about what happened to T.S.' twin brother is revealed. The scenery is gorgeous, and the acting is wonderful -- especially on the part of Catlett, who plays T.S. He's compelling and tragic, which makes it easy to feel T.S.' isolation and guilt. His father doesn't appreciate T.S.' brilliance (or his wife's) and ends up being somewhat one-dimensional, though Bonham Carter is sympathetic as T.S.' dotty mother, Dr. Clair, who increasingly turns inward after the accident.
It takes a long time for anyone to take responsibility for allowing T.S. and his brother to play with guns -- or to acknowledge that their living son is in pain, which won't be easy for parents to watch. The story is moving and sometimes magical, but at other times odd (the dog starts talking), which takes you out of the story a bit. Overall, THE YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS T.S. SPIVET is a good, sweet film, but it's not for younger kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role that guns play in The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet. Do you talk about gun safety with your family? What's the impact on kids of seeing violence -- including gun violence -- in the media?
T.S. is upset with his parents and runs away. Kids: Have you ever felt so upset with an adult that you felt like running away? How did you get past that feeling? What are the dangers of doing what T.S. did? What can we learn from his story?
Do you think G.H. Jibsen was exploiting T.S. by making him speak to a crowd and coaching him before he went on a TV show? What do you do when people try to make you do things you don't feel comfortable doing?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 31, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: November 3, 2015
- Cast: Helena Bonham Carter , Judy Davis , Kyle Katlett
- Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: The Weinstein Company
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Adventures , Book Characters
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: thematic elements, language and some reckless behavior
- Last updated: July 16, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Offbeat Animated Movies
Best International Films for Kids
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