Gripping, violent look at the future has drinking, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
The main character frequently drinks and smokes cigarettes, especially when upset (implied to be an unhealthy coping mechanism). Another key character grows, smokes, and sells marijuana. In background scenes, minor characters often smoke and drink. A fictional euthanasia drug called "Quietus" is advertised in the film and used by an important character to allow a loved one to die peacefully.
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Frequent use of "f--k" and "s--t." Characters also say "ass," "a--hole," "wanker," and "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation. A Roma character is referred to as a "gypsy" a couple of times.
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Realistic graphic violence includes a car chase and intense battle scenes filled with gunfire and shelling explosions, bloody amputated bodies, execution-style killings with guns, dead bodies, rows of body bags, a pile of charred horse remains, and gory one-on-one fighting. Armed law enforcement officials lock refugees into cages and send them into death camps. A key character uses a fictional euthanasia drug to allow a loved one to die peacefully (off-screen). A shaky handheld camera and several surprise killings that come without warning increase the film's sense of peril and intensity. There's blood, especially when a key character suffers a fatal gunshot wound, but the film avoids being cartoonishly gory and is less gruesome than many horror films.
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Naked breasts briefly visible in a nonsexual context. Brief scene shows a glimpse of a vagina and a baby being born. Two characters discuss their past romantic relationship.
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Most characters are portrayed as violent and untrustworthy, including two people who double-cross the leads for their own greed or beliefs. But a handful of helpers sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Kee shows incredible strength and courage as a woman who crosses a war zone while pregnant, giving birth, and carrying a newborn. Theo begins the film only helping Kee for money, but he soon becomes her most reliable protector. Supporting characters like Jasper and Julian also guide Kee to safety.
Diverse Representations
some
Mexican filmmakers behind the camera include writer-director Alfonso Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The movie is set in the United Kingdom, and the on-screen cast is majority White, including main character Theo (Clive Owen). But the other main character, Kee, is played by English actor Clare-Hope Ashitey, who's of Ghanaian descent. Women have strong roles, such as an activist leader, but they do fall into traditional gender norms as being fiercely protective and nurturing. In smaller roles, Luke is played by Nigerian English actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, and "Baby" Diego is played by Argentinian actor Juan Gabriel Yacuzzi. But Roma character Marichka is played by Oana Pellea, who's Romanian -- unrelated to Roma ancestry, which has roots in Punjab, India. Several supporting characters are over age 50, including Michael Caine's Jasper and Pam Ferris' Miriam. Brief stereotyping when a little person and Chinese refugees (who shout in Mandarin) appear in scenes meant to be foreign and frightening, and the film's only wheelchair user is in a coma and (spoiler alert!) gets euthanized by a nondisabled character, portrayed as a mercy -- though the immediate alternative is capture and death by shooting.
Set amid extreme violence and social unrest, the film is about hope for the future. It has mixed messages: Most people aren't to be trusted and can easily turn on you because of greed, but kind people do exist. It's virtuous to sacrifice your own life for the greater good. Children are precious gifts.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Children of Men is a dystopian drama based on the same-named novel by P.D. James. It has intense violence, including a car chase, battle scenes with gunfire and shelling explosions, execution-style killings, refugees locked up in cages, dead bodies, charred horse remains, and death camps. A key character uses a fictional euthanasia drug to allow a loved one to die peacefully (off-screen). A main character copes when upset by drinking whiskey and smoking cigarettes, while a positive supporting character grows and smokes marijuana. Bare breasts appear in a nonsexual context, as does a graphic birthing scene -- both are brief. The film has diversity, including Mexican filmmakers behind the camera -- writer-director Alfonso Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki -- plus Black characters, women, and actors over age 50 in important roles. But there's brief stereotyping when a little person and Chinese refugees (who shout in Mandarin) appear in scenes meant to be foreign and frightening, and the film's only wheelchair user is in a coma and has no agency. Most characters in the film are violent and untrustworthy, but a handful of positive role models include courageous and protective people who sacrifice their own lives to help save humanity. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Common Sense Media’s analysis does this film a disservice by saying positive messages are “not present”. The plot of this awe-inspiring masterpiece centers around hope and faith in a world that has embraced despair and chaos - or, as Jasper so eloquently puts it: “Everything is a mythical, cosmic battle between faith and chance.” It’s a story of imperfect people sacrificing everything — including their own lives — for hope. People helping each other and forming bonds and being kind and good and human despite the hopelessness of the world around them. The cinematography is pure magic. The actors do an amazing job convincing us of the stakes. The world-building portrays a realistically grim, hostile, dirty future. The plot puts you through an edge-of-your seat, real-time mission that feels both thrilling and terrifying. But the glue holding this movie together are the themes of hope, faith, and grace. It’s an apocalyptic nativity story. It’s probably my favorite movie.
One of the best films I’ve ever seen. I love the premise, the acting was great, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. I think it’s a must-watch.
I guess the problem with the content is the violence, which is very intense but mostly bloodless. A couple times the violence spikes but it’s overall not too common. There’s a lot of talk of infertility and pregnancy, but we never see any actual sex. There’s a bit of strong language but it’s not consistent. Overall, I highly recommend this movie and I hope that people will continue to discover it.
What's the Story?
Set in the United Kingdom in 2027, CHILDREN OF MEN envisions a dystopia in which humans are infertile and society has collapsed. When one of the last children born on Earth is murdered, his death sets off massive protests and violent conflicts between sectarian groups. Bureaucrat Theo (Clive Owen) is reluctantly drawn into the fray when his ex-wife, Julian (Julianne Moore) -- head of an underground opposition group -- asks him for help transporting a special passenger out of London. Theo finds himself protecting a miraculously pregnant West African woman named Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey) on the dangerous route to The Human Project, an organization operating from a ship offshore. But they get help along the way from friends like Jasper (Michael Caine), Miriam (Pam Ferris), Marichka (Oana Pellea), and others.
Working from a screenplay he co-wrote (based on P.D. James' novel), director Alfonso Cuarón paints a gritty, paranoid, and occasionally hopeful picture. Children of Men draws on modern anxieties about war, terrorism, immigration, race, class, and technology. The characters' struggle to reach The Human Project includes some of the most gripping filmmaking in recent memory, though it does use a lot of violence and death to get its message across. Cuarón's documentary-style camera work brings viewers right into this nail-biting action.
Caine's character is a bright spot: cheerful and passionate, enjoying food, music, and occasional company with heartfelt glee (helped along, perhaps, by the large quantities of marijuana that he smokes). And the movie's abrupt ending, while disorienting at first, offers relief from the film's intensity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Children of Men's vision of the future -- and your own thoughts about what it might be like. Why do so many movies have a bleak outlook? Are you optimistic about the future? Why, or why not?
How do you balance daily life with thoughts or fears about greater social problems, like war or climate change? What are some effective ways to maintain your mental health?
MPAA explanation:
strong violence, language, some drug use and brief nudity.
Last updated:
September 19, 2023
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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
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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.
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
