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A Christmas Story

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    Wonderful antidote to saccharine holiday tales.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence & scariness :

    Bully, kids' fight, kid touches an icy metal pole with his tongue on a dare and it freezes to the pole.
  • Sexy stuff :

    Mild (episode of prize lamp in the shape of a woman's leg).
  • Language:

    Some mild epithets, and episodes involving a father's and child's use of profanity (not heard). The child's swearing is punished with a mouthful of soap.
  • Consumerism:

    Main character is obsessed with getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About A Christmas Story

Parents need to know that in one scene, the main character is punished for swearing by having his mouth washed out with soap. He's also bullied and beats up his nemesis, then cries afterward. One child sticks his tongue on a flagpole on a dare and needs the fire department to unstick him.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about bullies: What makes people act like bullies? What makes people befriend bullies? How will the bully's life change after Ralphie fights him? Families can also discuss why Ralphie's father likes the lamp so much? Why does his mother dislike it? Why is it hard for Ralphie to talk to his parents about what he wants for Christmas? Why is Ralphie so disappointed by the decoder? Why is a "triple dog dare" so hard to resist?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer
    Age 11
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Best Christmas Movie Ever!!!!!

    This is funny no matter how many times I watch this. And the language is kinda bad, but CSM missed the child says b***h and one scene he says ffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge even though it's not heard it's implied he said the word. There's nothing bad with the bullying, it's just funny! I don't think the producer meant to tell kids to hit people in real life.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 4.0

    Funny for adults and teens, but language is terrible for younger kids

    I have watched this movie many times, and think it's really funny. I thought my 9-year old would like it this year, so we started to watch it, and I had apparently forgotten how bad the language is! MUCH more swearing that you would typically see in a PG or even PG13 movie these days... My daughter also really hated the bullying. We didn't finish watching the movie... we'll probably try again when she's about 12!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    a holiday classic

    i first saw this movie when i was 8 years old and i loved it! it's the perfect mix of humor for both adults and kids. the kids are going to watch this every christmas

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

  5. Kid Reviewer
    Age 10
    Lives in Wisconsin
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    ok...

    well um this movie is ok its swears and kids act horrible. not for kids under 7

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