Parents' Guide to Trainwreck: Storm Area 51

Movie NR 2025 97 minutes
Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 movie poster: In Nevada desert, a sign says, "Alien Rave This Way" amidst other signs advertising an alien themed bar

Common Sense Media Review

JK Sooja By JK Sooja , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Language, drugs, sex in compelling potential disaster docu.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 Trailer
  • Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 movie: Alien statues and signs advertise for Little A'LE'INN, saying, "Earthlings Welcome Little A'LE'INN"
  • Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 movie: Matty Roberts, White man with long brown hair, glasses, and goatee, in red shirt, center, talks to interviewer
  • Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 movie: Outside fencing and gates of Area 51, police in vests watch a mime in full green body suit and hat juggle, right

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In TRAINWRECK: STORM AREA 51, an online meme joke almost goes too far. When Matty Roberts casually made a post on his website I'm S--tposting Because I'm in Shambles titled "Storm Area 51 They Can't Stop All of Us," he had no idea that people would take the post seriously. Within days, thousands signed up for the event. Within weeks, millions signed up. Suddenly, Roberts was in way over his head.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This Trainwreck is about an online joke in 2019 that almost went too far. Many viewers will find Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 a fascinating watch, as it works as a case study of how "something on the internet" can so easily and quickly morph into something dangerously real. Other viewers, however, might find this film a tough watch because of how frustrating some of the characters are. The main character, Matty Roberts, is laughably naive and young and not that bright, and the documentary kind of does him dirty by the end. Every time Roberts exclaims, "Who knew this would happen?" or "I didn't mean any of this to happen!" most viewers will either be frustrated by his idiocy and naivety or find it funny or possibly both.

Roberts is frustratingly dumb and inconsiderate, and younger viewers might not appreciate this kind of representation. But it isn't just Roberts. Most of the main players in this story are unlikable. Zeke is just chasing a story (and maybe doing so a bit unethically, at times), Carrie is chasing money, as are Disco Donnie and Frank DiMaggio, and the content creators are simply there for fame, clicks, and, well, content. Unfortunately, this two-part story runs a little long, and there doesn't seem to be a good reason for why it couldn't have been cut down to one.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about online or internet memes that went too far. Are you surprised by what Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 reveals about stories like this? What are you most surprised about and why?

  • How do you feel about Matty Roberts, the originator of this whole thing? Do you feel like he knew what he was doing the whole time? Why, or why not?

  • Do you think people overreacted? Would you have made the same decisions as the police and military? Why, or why not?

Movie Details

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Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 movie poster: In Nevada desert, a sign says, "Alien Rave This Way" amidst other signs advertising an alien themed bar

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