Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Peele's bloody, startling, inventive horror movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Us
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 47 parent reviews
Parents say the film has garnered polarizing opinions, with some praising its suspenseful storytelling and strong performances, particularly from its leading actors, while others criticize it for a confusing plot and excessive bloodshed that may not be suitable for younger viewers. Many reviews highlight the presence of strong language and violence, suggesting it's appropriate for teens and adults, but not for kids under 13.
- strong performances
- confusing plot
- excessive violence
- age-appropriate
- dark comedy elements
- strong language
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 154 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a smart and cleverly crafted horror experience that provides a mix of thrilling suspense and gory violence, though the portrayal of violence often skews more towards implication than graphic display. While some articulate mixed feelings about the plot's complexity and perceived shortcomings, many praise the performances and thematic undertones, indicating it is best suited for mature teens due to its intense scenes and frequent language.
- clever storytelling
- intense suspense
- mixed reviews
- mature themes
- strong performances
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
US begins with young Adelaide enjoying the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with her parents in 1986. While her father is distracted, she wanders off and winds up in a house of mirrors. The power winks off, and she finds herself standing next to what looks like her own reflection ... except that it's not a reflection. Flash forward to the present: Grown-up Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) is now married to Gabe (Winston Duke), with a teen daughter, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph), and a young son, Jason (Evan Alex). While the family vacations at their summer home, Gabe suggests going back to Santa Cruz; though the idea terrifies Adelaide, she reluctantly agrees. Jason is briefly missing, but otherwise the day goes well. But when they get home, they discover a strange family of four standing in their driveway. And they look a lot like the Wilsons ... except that they don't seem friendly.
Is It Any Good?
Jordan Peele's horror shocker can't compete with its sensational predecessor Get Out, but it doesn't have to. Made with precision, intelligence, and humor, Us is inventive and wildly entertaining in its own right. It can be said that Us has something to do with doppelgangers, but just how far the story goes and what it all means is best left to individual discussion. It's like a carnival ride of crazy ideas -- it's startling and also actually sometimes funny. While Get Out had little pockets of comic relief inserted into strategic places, the laughs in Us, based both on ironic jokes and on the happy feel of relief and release, are scattered throughout. Any character in this film can earn a laugh.
Since Peele -- well known as part of the comedy team Key & Peele -- understands the primal, bodily sensations of both laughter and fear, he approaches the filmmaking in Us with supreme confidence. His camera never shakes but rather moves in such a way to hide or reveal information for maximum impact. He's as precise here as Hitchcock or Kubrick. He also understands the use of music and sound, merging back and forth between a chilling, chanting orchestral score and pop songs, each adjusted at just the right volume or tone. It's an undeniably well-crafted and brutally effective movie, but where Get Out created a sharp, satirical commentary on race relations, this one very simply presents a positive portrayal of an African American family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Us. Do the blood and gore seem over the top? Do the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Is it shocking or thrilling? Why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of scary movies?
What is a doppelganger? Do you think they exist in real life? Could there be a "good" and "evil" version of a person? Why or why not?
How many movies have you seen that portray an average/regular African American family? How did this one compare? Why is the family's ordinariness notable?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 22, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : June 18, 2019
- Cast : Lupita Nyong'o , Wilson Duke , Elisabeth Moss
- Director : Jordan Peele
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 116 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence/terror, and language
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 4, 2026
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