Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 12+
Superhero film has action, thrills, tough moral questions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
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Products & Purchases
a lot
Tie-in to vast quantities of related merchandise.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Plenty of action, including super-powered combat featuring energy beams, fireballs, whirlwinds, and sonic blasts, as well as super-strength fistfights that send characters flying across the room. A fierce assault pits super villains against normal people, who are easily (and brutally) dispatched. There are major explosions, crashes (plane, submarine, more), gunshots, and several flying blades, and a coin is turned into a lethal weapon, shown in slow-motion close-up as it hits its mark. A boy's mother is killed in front of him, scarring him for life. A man's hand is stabbed through with a knife; people are slashed with knives and swords. Overhanging threat of nuclear war.
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Language
some
One memorable use of "f--k"; other language includes infrequent use of "ass," "hell," "goddamn," "oh my God," and "damn."
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
See AlsoFree Guy Movie ReviewFree Guy | Rotten TomatoesParent reviews for Free GuyThe Bad Guys Movie ReviewFrequent skimpy, Bond Girl-esque outfits and one blue, scaly female mutant who sometimes walks around nude (though it looks as though she's wearing all-over body armor). In one scene, a girl, seemingly naked under the covers, invites a man to join her in bed; other scenes show kissing/groping. One scene includes several women in lingerie who are implied to be call girls/escorts; another is set in what appears to be a strip club, though there's no actual nudity.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
A few scenes show people drinking, both in rowdy bars and in more quiet moments at home -- sometimes to excess. The younger mutants have one somewhat wild party. Occasional smoking (accurate for the 1960s setting).
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Positive Messages
a little
While many characters embrace the brand-new idea of mutants and humans living together in peace, others can't or won't; there's lots of conflict surrounding the idea of whether mutants should try to "fit in" or embrace their differences. But ultimately the message is that it's important to be yourself, whatever that self may be able to do or happens to look like. Still, some of the mutants feel justified in waging war against normal humans, who are afraid of them. And even the heroes feel like outcasts. Though the good guys are willing to protect non-mutants, there’s still a lively debate about why they should.
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Positive Role Models
a little
Although some characters are clearly good (Charles Xavier) or clearly evil (Sebastian Shaw), many represent various shades of gray and are pulled in conflicting directions. Erik is driven by revenge and anger, though Charles helps soften some of his edges. Ultimately, the X-Men must take a stand to protect the regular people who fear them, even though they don't show the same willingness to watch the mutants’ backs. The movie has some strong, powerful female characters and a somewhat diverse cast.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that X-Men: First Class is an exciting X-Men prequel/origin story has plenty of action as the heroes and villains battle it out using their wide variety of special abilities, many of which can be deadly. Though overall the film has a bit of a retro feel due to the 1960s setting, there are big explosions/attacks, as well as hand-to-hand battles and a few intense death scenes -- including one in which a boy's mother is killed in front of him and another in which a coin becomes a lethal weapon. The threat of nuclear war hangs over most of the movie. Expect moderate drinking and smoking; female characters sometimes appear in their underwear, skimpy costumes, or less, though there's no actual nudity. Language is infrequent but does include one use of "f--k." The movie includes weighty discussions about morality, self-acceptance, and fear of the unknown and -- staying true to the original comic books -- makes comparisons between the Holocaust and how people react to the presence of mutants. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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X-Men: First Class
- Parents say (46)
- Kids say (124)
age 13+
Based on 46 parent reviews
Julien1234 Adult
January 29, 2021
age 16+
Scenes & Time recorded
Scene to skip , not for children under 16I wrote down this for parents to avoid scene and protect their children from harm Scene 116”30 - 20”40Women’s walks around nude (though it looks as though she's wearing all-over body armor). But many women strippers there's also a scene in the beginning with dozens of women (strippers? prostitutes?) in scanty lingerie (including a CIA agent who doesn't hesitate to strip down to her black lace underthings) that is completely unnecessary for the story.Scene 224”30 - 25”05Men’s are in a bar A man's hand is stabbed through with a knife; and also shot dead Terrifying scene where a man die The knife stabbing him many time Scene 345”40 - 46”40 Scene set in what appears to be a strip club,With a women naked striping her clothes away Scene 448”00 - 48”10 go f** yourself from Logan Scene 558”05- 1”00”15Russian lady goes to meet the Russian president and play the escort girl Strong nudity scene a girl, seemingly naked under the covers, invites a man to join her in bed; Scene 61”28”50- 1”30”20Mystic seemingly naked under the bed sheet , invites magneto to join her in bed;other scenes show kissing/groping.
SSABLovesHorrorFilms03 Adult
January 21, 2021
age 15+
Not the best in the X-men series.
An awesome movie! However, it's very sexual, with lots of stripping and such. That's all I need to say; good film but sexual.
Rate movie
See all 46 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, James McAvoy stars as Charles Xavier, a powerful telepath who recruits a band of fellow mutants -- each with unique abilities -- in this prequel to the popular X-Men franchise. After a World War II-era opening sequence, the bulk of the story takes place at the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s, as Xavier teams up with another powerful mutant, Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), to track down the nefarious Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). Shaw and his colleagues are trying to kick off a nuclear disaster, while Xavier and the newly formed X-Men (including Xavier's childhood friend/foster sister, Raven/Mystique, who's played by Jennifer Lawrence) try to prevent World War III. Meanwhile, Erik may be pursuing his own agenda.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (46):
Kids say (124):
This movie isn't perfect, but it's more fun to focus on what's right: the brilliant casting, for starters, especially when it comes to McAvoy and Fassbender. Compared to the others, they're practically conducting a master class in thespianism, regardless of the movie's otherwordly plotlines. That said, X-Men: First Class is a bit too long, some scene transitions are abrupt, and the dialogue has its bumpy moments.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the messages in X-Men: First Class. What do the mutants' struggles have in common with other challenges that people have faced? Why do people tend to fear what is different?
What does the movie say about revenge? Is Erik justified in his pursuit of vengeance? Do the ends ever justify the means?
What distinguishes the "good guys" and the "bad guys" in this movie? Do any of Shaw's arguments make sense?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 3, 2011
- On DVD or streaming: September 9, 2011
- Cast: James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, Michael Fassbender
- Director: Matthew Vaughn
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language
- Last updated: June 28, 2024
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X-Men: First Class
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