Your kids want to watch a movie with you. Great. Family time is always good.
But finding the right film may be hard, especially if you’re looking for one that’s family-friendly.
After all, movies are slowly becoming more violent and non-family-friendly. For instance, gun violence trends are similar in both R-rated and PG-13 movies, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And, according to a study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, 90 percent of movies tend to have main characters taking part in violence, with 77 percent of the main characters engaging in sexual situations and alcohol and tobacco use.
Kids are affected by these behaviors, too. Parenting.com’s Sasha Emmons wrote last year that kids are more likely to show violence during playtime if their favorite characters, who are typically good guys, exhibit violent behavior.
So the question becomes, how do you keep your kids safe from these violent or unfriendly movies?
Here’s a list to help you and your family find the right film to watch:
Kids-In-Mind
This website has definitely got your kids in mind. Kids-in-mind.com allows adults to rate certain films on the categories of sex/nudity, violence/gore and profanity. This allows parents to see a rounded-out view of what films — both old and new — will be like.
OK.com
Want to know if that film is OK for you? OK.com has you covered. Not only does the site feature a rating system — showing whether or note a film is for ages 13 and up, 14 and up or 17 and up, for example — but it also allows users to look through films that are currently in theaters or are already released. The search function on the site also allows people to sweep through some of history’s best films.
Movieguide
Movieguide gives users a full experience when it comes to rating films for family. Films are rated on the amount of strong language, violence, sex and nudity seen in the film. Reviews also offer information on problematic situations that may arise in the film and whether or not it is a suitable option for your family overall.
Parent Previews
Parent Previews is one of the most extensive review pages for films when it comes to what is family appropriate. The review pages feature previews, content details, trailers and a primer of what violence, language, alcohol/drug use and sexual content people might see in the film. It also allows users to see what the film was rated in the nearby country of Canada.
Common Sense Media
Though Common Sense Media deals with more than just movies — it also reviews video games, TV shows, books and smartphone apps — the site’s greatest feature comes with its filtering ability. Users can sort content by age and filter what content they want to see in the film, allowing their families to find films that include cars, princesses or even dinosaurs.
Plugged In
Like Common Sense Media, Plugged In is great for users who want to find ratings for more than just movies. The site does well in its movie review pages where its “content caution” section notes what ages may want to avoid the film. Plugged In also gives viewers insight into the positive and spiritual content they will find in the movie.
The Dove Foundation
The Dove Foundation is a non-profit organization that’s looking to steer Hollywood back towards family friendly values. Reviews seen on the site note which films are family approved, faith friendly or even faith based. It also notes how many times certain cuss words are uttered throughout the film (did you know that “butt” was used four times in “The Lego Movie”?).
Email: hscribner@deseretdigital.com
Twitter: @herbscribner
