Parents' Guide to William Tell

Movie R 2025 133 minutes
William Tell movie poster: Claes Bang as William Tell points a crossbow directly at he camera

Common Sense Media Review

Stefan Pape By Stefan Pape , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Historical drama features bloody violence, sexual assaults.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

WILLIAM TELL takes place in the 14th century, when the tyrannical Austrian Empire invades Switzerland. Bullied and humiliated by their occupiers, including the ghastly nobleman Gessler (Connor Swindells), the Swiss are in need of a hero. Step forward William Tell (Claes Bang), who vows to unite the masses and inspire a rebellion, to take down Gessler and reclaim what is rightfully theirs: their home.

Is It Any Good?

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

Directed by Nick Hamm, this historical action flick could, ironically, have benefited from being a little more hammed up. Based on Friedrich Schiller's 1804 play, William Tell takes itself too seriously to its detriment. Thankfully, Swindells lifts what would otherwise be a po-faced feature with his portrayal of the dastardly villain Gessler. It's his rise in prominence, particularly in the second half, that picks up the pace and injects some much needed fun into the mix. The action scenes are well devised, and the iconic apple scene—where the movie's titular hero is forced to shoot an arrow through an apple above his son's head—is a compelling set piece. But with so many characters and such a myriad of stories, the film might have been better served as a TV series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in William Tell. How does historical violence differ from modern violence in films? Does the historical context make the violence more acceptable or easier to watch? Why, or why not? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • Talk about some of the character strengths William Tell showed. What qualities made him heroic? What flaws did he have? How did he inspire others?

  • Discuss how the film portrayed women and their roles in this historical period. How have women's rights and roles changed since this time? What factors contributed to these changes?

Movie Details

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William Tell movie poster: Claes Bang as William Tell points a crossbow directly at he camera

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