Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent, uninspired comic book tale misses the mark.
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Venom
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 79 parent reviews
Parents say this movie is both entertaining and humorous, with many appreciating its clever storytelling despite the presence of some adult content, including swearing and mild violence. While some critics argue it's inappropriate for younger audiences due to darker themes and graphic scenes, many viewers believe it’s suitable for teens and older children who can handle the horror elements and understand the storyline.
- entertaining and humorous
- adult content
- mild violence
- suitable for teens
- clever storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 245 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie offers a blend of humor and action, though it features a notable amount of violence and swearing, which some viewers find excessive. While many feel it is suitable for older tweens and teens due to the frightening imagery and mature content, others argue that it's entertaining and well-executed for fans of superhero films.
- entertaining humor
- excessive violence
- suitable for older tweens
- inappropriate language
- frightening imagery
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In VENOM, a spaceship containing alien specimens crashes on Earth. One of the samples, a symbiote, gets away, while the others are taken to San Francisco for testing by the Life Foundation and its wealthy CEO, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed). Meanwhile, investigative reporter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) discovers damaging information about Drake on a computer belonging to his lawyer girlfriend, Anne (Michelle Williams), and tries to use it during an interview with Drake. The choice costs him his job—and his relationship. Later, Drake's assistant (Jenny Slate) starts to feel guilty about what's going on at Life Foundation and sneaks Eddie onto the premises. There, he becomes the host for another symbiote and turns into the powerful Venom. But Drake wants the creature back and will stop at nothing to get it.
Is It Any Good?
It moves quickly and is fairly good-natured, but otherwise this flatly written, uninspired comic book action movie feels less developed than other franchise films. Venom boasts some interesting creature visual effects, but Hardy is the only actor who seems to be trying. And he feels miscast as a character who's part intrepid reporter and part comical buffoon; he has trouble with the jokes' timing.
The other characters are badly underwritten, especially Williams' Anne and Ahmed's soft-spoken but maniacal villain, Drake. They never feel like more than just plot placeholders. As for Venom, while he's a full-fledged villain in the comics (and when last seen on-screen in Spider-Man 3), this movie takes several highly implausible logic turns to make him into a hero—and to justify Eddie's desire to leave the intruder inside his body. The story is softened into a cheerful, good-guy romp rather than taking the character to its natural extremes and making it a flat-out scary monster movie. Instead, it feels like a bungled attempt to make a movie that's widely appealing—as this Venom will appeal to very few.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Venom's violence. How does the lack of blood affect its intensity? What are the consequences of violence in the movie?
How does this version of Venom differ from the character shown in the comic books or in the movie Spider-Man 3? Did you like this one better? Worse? Why?
Would you allow something else to take over your body in exchange for superpowers? Why, or why not?
The villains argue that humans have destroyed the world's environment and that punishment is the only answer. What other solutions could there be?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 5, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : December 18, 2018
- Cast : Tom Hardy , Michelle Williams , Riz Ahmed
- Director : Ruben Fleischer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures Releasing
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Superheroes
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for language
- Last updated : December 29, 2025
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