Maleficent (2014) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Name: Maleficent
Director: Robert Stromberg
Released: 2014
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 7.1

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land. She rises to be the land's fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her heart into stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the invading King's successor and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the… Sign up for the full guide

Rated PG • 2014 • 1h 37m

Directed by Robert Stromberg

7.1

10K+

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

10+

This live-action retelling of 'Sleeping Beauty' earns its PG rating for its darker tone, fantasy violence, and mature themes. The story centers on the fairy Maleficent, who, after a brutal betrayal by her childhood love Stefan results in her wings being cut off, seeks revenge by cursing his daughter. Parents should be aware of several intense battle sequences with magical creatures and knights, as well as the emotionally heavy an… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Angelina Jolie

Elle Fanning

Imelda Staunton

Sharlto Copley

Lesley Manville

Juno Temple

Sam Riley

Brenton Thwaites

Kenneth Cranham

Sarah Flind

Michael Higgins

Isobelle Molloy

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Is Maleficent appropriate for kids?

Content severity in Maleficent

Sex Moderate 3/10

Violence Strong 6/10

Language None 0/10

Substances Moderate 4/10

Themes Strong 6/10

What happens in Maleficent, moment by moment

0:10 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
0:14 🍷 Substances 4/10
0:15 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10

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Sex and nudity in Maleficent

Very mild. Princess Aurora and Prince Philip share a brief, innocent kiss. The story's climactic "true love's kiss" is a maternal one Maleficent gives to Aurora on the forehead. There is no sexual content, nudity, or innuendo.

Violence and gore in Maleficent

Moderate. The film contains several sequences of fantasy action. An early battle shows magical tree creatures fighting human soldiers, with some men set on fire by a dragon's breath. The most intense scene involves Maleficent's wings being severed off-screen; her anguished reaction and the brief sight of the bloody stumps are shown. The final battle involves sword fighting, characters being thrown by magic, a dragon battling guards, and characters being burned by iron. A main character falls from a great height to…

Language in Maleficent

None. There is no profanity in the film.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Maleficent

A single, significant scene involves substance use. To steal her wings, Stefan gives Maleficent a drink that has been drugged to make her fall into a deep sleep, leaving her helpless.

Mature themes in Maleficent

The film explores several mature and intense themes. The central theme is a profound betrayal, when Stefan drugs and mutilates Maleficent by stealing her wings, which is handled with significant emotional weight and can be upsetting. This drives Maleficent to enact a cold-hearted revenge by cursing an infant. King Stefan's subsequent descent into paranoia and madness is also a key theme, as is the idea of true love being found in a maternal, non-romantic bond.

Scary moments in Maleficent

No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Maleficent yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maleficent appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Maleficent is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. This live-action retelling of 'Sleeping Beauty' earns its PG rating for its darker tone, fantasy violence, and mature themes. The story centers on the fairy Maleficent, who, after a brutal betrayal by her childhood love…

What age rating does Maleficent have?

Maleficent is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.

What is Maleficent about?

Is there sex or nudity in Maleficent?

How violent is Maleficent?

Is the language in Maleficent appropriate for kids?

None. There is no profanity in the film.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Maleficent?

A single, significant scene involves substance use. To steal her wings, Stefan gives Maleficent a drink that has been drugged to make her fall into a deep sleep, leaving her helpless.

What mature themes appear in Maleficent?

How long is Maleficent?

Maleficent runs 97 minutes, directed by Robert Stromberg, released in 2014.

Where can I read the full Maleficent parent guide?

Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.