Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Queen's biopic is more tender romance than historical saga.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Young Victoria
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 19 kid reviews
Kids say this movie offers an enjoyable viewing experience, particularly for those interested in the life and struggles of Queen Victoria. While it features a blend of romance and historical elements, some viewers note the inclusion of implied sexual content and violence, making it more suitable for older children and teens rather than younger audiences.
- historical insights
- romance focus
- suitable for older kids
- mild content warnings
- strong performances
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) is often best remembered as a long-time ruler bedecked in black, forever grieving her beloved husband, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), who died decades before she did. Before all of that, however, she was an overprotected young girl -- she wasn't even allowed to walk up and down stairs on her own -- fending off her mother's (Miranda Richardson) efforts to establish regency and share her reign. THE YOUNG VICTORIA recounts the legendary monarch's rise to power and, once there, how she grew to embrace her position -- both alone and with kind, idealistic Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg by her side.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fascinating biopic. For starters, we've never seen Queen Victoria quite like this before: a flirty coquette deeply determined to learn how to rule and years away from mourning. And the circumstances behind her ascendance to the throne are intriguing. Blunt's performance is steeped in wit and whimsy, saving it from the stuffiness that sometimes grips dramas about historical figures. (Though only just: Some moments play like British History 101, stringing important royal milestones together to speed the story along.)
But as intriguing as its subject may be, The Young Victoria really ought to be re-titled The Young Victoria and Albert. Though the movie delves into politics, it's really more of a sweet romance chronicling how the two met and fell madly in love. The times may have been Victorian, but the marriage was quite modern: Victoria and Albert worked in tandem and strove to bring out the best in each other. It's wonderful to witness, but in the end, the audience is left with the feeling of having watched two different movies: a historical drama in the first half, a youthful romance in the other. Instructive as the former may be (despite moments that suffer from slack pacing), the latter is far more bewitching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Victoria adjusts to her new role as queen. Does she handle it gracefully? Does her youth get in the way? What, ultimately, gives her the confidence to rule?
Is Victoria a strong role model? How does she compare to other movie and TV potrayals of famous queens?
Why does Victoria resist Albert at first? And when they're finally married, why does she still fend off his offers to help? What is she trying to prove?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 18, 2009
- On DVD or streaming : April 20, 2010
- Cast : Emily Blunt , Paul Bettany , Rupert Friend
- Director : Jean-Marc Vallee
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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