Is MALEFICENT too scary for kids?

MALEFICENT opens in theaters today! The number one question people keep asking me when they heard we saw a pre screening is “Is MALEFICENT too scary for little kids?”  I think people assume it is a Disney movie and a twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty animated film, so of course it is fine for kids. I typically bring one of the kids to a pre-screening, but this time it was a grown up outing because I wanted to check it out for myself first.

I am not sure what your kid’s threshold is, but it is too scary for my kids.  MALEFICENT is rated PG and I think that is a fair rating.

Hear me when I say, I loved this movie; start to finish, but it’s not for little kids.  It at least isn’t for my kids.  My kids are 8, 7, and 3.  Kids can handle things at all different ages, so I don’t feel super comfortable slapping an age I think would be appropriate on it.  Of all my kids I think the 7 year old might not have a problem with it…. but I am still going to wait a bit.

Why is it PG and not for the littlest of kids you ask?  For starters it is pretty dark.  It is spooky and scary for the better part of the film and I think that might be hard for kids.  There are spooky parts in Sleeping Beauty, but this is told from a different stand point and it is decidedly more spooky for the better part of the movie.

A couple people die, but it isn’t gory.  There are quite a few battle scenes that are not gory, just intense.  All are appropriate for the story, just letting you know.

MALEFICENT does this spooky thing where she puts people into a sleep-trance and it kinda gives me the willies just thinking about it.  It was important to the story, and I am a grown up, but my oldest (and I hope she doesn’t mind me saying this) would seriously have cried.

For those who have kids that are OK with spooky and wonder how sexy Angeline Jolie is in MALEFICENT – she isn’t.  I mean, she is because she is Angelina Jolie and she is kinda just sexy walking around no matter what, but the movie isn’t PG for any sexual reasons.  *Prudish Mama Kate’s stamp of approval*

I actually love the messages in this movie; that things aren’t always as they seem, power and prestige is not everything (and can actually drive you insane), that True Love does exist but it isn’t fast and simple – but honestly, a lot of that good would have been lost on my kids and their level of perception.  I honestly cannot wait to show it to my kids when they are a bit older. How much older?  I don’t know, I’m thinking 10-ish, but that’s our kids.  I hesitate to say every kid should wait til then, I’m just saying read up and decide what is best for your family.

So my suggestion is read lots of reviews because there are many out there.  My kids are perhaps more sensitive than yours.  If you have kids that scare easy or you are on the fence I suggest going and seeing it first – check it out as a date night or out with friends.  MALEFICENT is awesome and I LOVED it and I kinda want to see it again before it leaves the theaters.  If you think it isn’t too scary for your children I bet you won’t mind seeing it a second time, it’s seriously great!

All Images are Disney’s and used with permission.

Have you seen Disney’s MALEFICENT?  What are your thoughts about whether it is too scary for kids or not?  Let me know in the comment section!