Parents' Guide to

X-Men: Apocalypse

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Superhero-size violence, fab effects in '80s-set threequel.

Movie PG-13 2016 144 minutes
X-Men: Apocalypse Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 18 parent reviews

Tony F.
Tony F. Parent of 11-year-old
April 10, 2023
age 13+

Okay

It’s alright. There are a couple violent scenes. Someone’s arm is twisted and his leg is broken. A person is thrown and his face is laying in blood.
fahimforid
fahimforid Adult
December 18, 2020
age 13+
See all 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

At the start of X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, it's the 1980s, and the mutants have scattered around the globe. Professor X (James McAvoy) now runs a school for kids gifted with superpowers, Magneto (Michael Fassbender) is living a quiet life as Erik Lehnsherr, a factory worker with a wife and young daughter, and Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) is keeping to herself. But then a 6000-year-old super-mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), is awakened from his deep slumber, ready to wreak havoc everywhere aided by his crew of evil mutants (Alexandra Shipp, Ben Hardy, and Olivia Munn). With stakes so high, it's hard for the team not to reunite, especially since Magneto is deeply troubled and has been lured to the dark side because of a deep loss. Will the X-Men prevail?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (60 ):

This adventure has the requisite gang's-all-here clash and bang of a Marvel superhero movie that's sure to enthrall franchise fans, but there's more to it: It has depth. Instead of just jumping from one mishap to the next, X-Men: Apocalypse takes some care unveiling its storyline, which touches on fairly intense themes.

Although we once again find Magneto teetering on the line between good and evil, the cast's game-on performances elevate the film from mere special-effects showcase. (And to be clear, those effects are astounding, right from the get-go with an impressive opening sequence.) At times, Apocalypse feels a bit overcrowded, as is the case with most ensemble action films, but for the most part, most of the franchise's big characters -- even Wolverine -- gets his or her moment in the sun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the action violence in X-Men: Apocalypse. Scenes of battle and mayhem are a big part of superhero movies: Do you think they're always necessary to the story? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How do the characters demonstrate teamwork? Why is that an important character strength?

  • What is the movie saying about being suspicious -- or accepting -- of others who may not be quite like you? How does this theme play out in the X-Men franchise?

  • The X-Men don't always agree about how to proceed with a mission -- or even if they all have the same intentions. Talk to your kids about the role that disagreement plays within a group of peers.

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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