Parents' Guide to

Z for Zachariah

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Postapocalyptic sci-fi drama focuses on flawed characters.

Movie PG-13 2015 95 minutes
Z for Zachariah Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

chibi-sense
chibi-sense Adult
June 11, 2016
age 18+

Explicit and unpleasant sex

I think the reviewer must have popped out for a cup of tea mid movie, because the one sex scene between a drunk and confused young girl and an unscrupulous older man is quite explicit, and unpleasant. The movie is not a "love" triangle. There is very little love involved. The them e is what would happen if the last three people alive were two men and an innocent girl. 14 year olds just wouldn't get it.
rodria
rodria Parent of 10-year-old
August 29, 2015
age 14+

Dear Margot Robbie

Yesterday The Movie Premiered In The USA Thanks.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the wake of a nuclear disaster that's left the world a radioactive wasteland, a farmer named Ann (Margot Robbie) somehow survives, untouched by the destruction. She grows food, hunts, and gets water from a well. Then a stranger wearing a radiation suit, Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor), stumbles into her world. Ann nurses the sick man back to health, and Loomis, a skilled engineer, helps her prepare for the coming winter, teaching her things and building new energy sources. They slowly fall in love, but their world is further disrupted by the appearance of Caleb (Chris Pine), a blue-eyed smooth-talker who seems to know how to get what he wants. Can the trio survive, or will their volatile chemistry come to a head?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

This postapocalyptic drama does away with mutated monsters, evil power mongers, chases, explosions, and grisly effects and simply, effectively focuses on the deeds and emotions of three people. Robbie is wonderful, embodying a kind of spiritual, earthy innocence, while her beauty sneaks out almost as if by itself. Ejiofor plays a similarly complex role, patient and kind, but with a dark side, and Pine is efficient as a smoldering bad boy.

Z FOR ZACHARIAH doesn't delve into its backdrop very deeply, and it doesn't really use its essence as part of the love triangle. The characters' story seems to happen all on its own, regardless of the state of the world; there's very little feeling of the threat lurking at the edges of the story. But the movie's efforts to zoom in on its characters and forgo sci-fi cliches are admirable and efficient. The characters' strong chemistry and conflict are enough to make this one worth seeing.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Z for Zachariah depicts sex. How do the two men each view Ann? How does this add to their characters? What significance does sex play in the story? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values on these topics.

  • Why do you think the characters drink? Is drinking portrayed as appropriate and pleasurable or overdone and destructive?

  • What's the appeal of the postapocalyptic subgenre of sci-fi? What can these kinds of movies teach us about the way we live now? Did you miss not having mutants, chases, fights, etc. in this movie? Why or why not?

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

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