Parents' Guide to

Knives Out

Movie PG-13 2019 130 minutes
Knives Out Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson By Jeffrey M. Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Expert, effortlessly entertaining all-star mystery-comedy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Harlan Thrombey sitting on a chair surrounded by his family
    1:06
  • Knives Out Movie: Scene #1
  • Knives Out Movie: Scene #2
  • Knives Out Movie: Scene #3

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 69 parent reviews

KarimSaliba
KarimSaliba Adult
June 2, 2021
age 10+

Great fun murder-mystery!

Great plot, great actors, and mostly family friendly. Many bad words are used (F-bombs, Jesus, etc), and there are two scenes that can be scary/shocking for younger children, such as when the body is revealed (blood) and when the Maid is found (scary), but they are very short and not emphasized. If your kids are OK with bad language, this is OK for tweens, so 10+. If your kids are sensitive, I believe this sticks to a PG13. Don't miss it - a great murder-mystery.
Your_Mom01
Your_Mom01 Adult
December 12, 2021
age 10+

Solid Entertainment

This should be PG in my opinion. There's no nudity, sex, meaningful violence etc. You only really see blood from a man that has supposedly committed suicide, but it's not gruesome and it's the whole point of the movie. I think it shows a great message to kids about the negative aspects of greed, and entitlement. The story itself was very entertaining and fun to watch, and my daughter and I had fun discussing who committed the crime. There's some bad language, but not much, and there's a seen of two younger characters smoking pot, but they don't dwell on it. Nothing my child hasn't seen online and we've haven't talked about.
See all 69 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In KNIVES OUT, wealthy, successful crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) celebrates his 85th birthday with his family. But at the party, he argues with just about everyone over money, business, or other things. Later, he's found with his throat slit, and Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), Richard (Don Johnson), Walt (Michael Shannon), Joni (Toni Collette), and Ransom (Chris Evans) are among the suspects. Master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called in to solve the seemingly impossible case. The key to the mystery, Blanc realizes, lies with Marta (Ana de Armas), who was Harlan's nurse and caretaker and who has a condition that causes her to vomit whenever she tells a lie. The reading of the will sends a shockwave throughout the family, and Blanc finds his final, elusive clue when the murderer prepares to strike again.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (69 ):
Kids say (179 ):

This delightful, hilarious, clever mystery-comedy is total entertainment, with expert, precision work at every level -- but also with an irresistible, gleeful sense of fun bursting from the screen. After taking Star Wars to a new level with The Last Jedi, writer-director Rian Johnson seems fully refreshed on Knives Out, keeping his feet on the ground and staying mostly in one beautiful location. From the ground up, he's crafted a solid moviegoing experience, starting with a sparkling gem of a screenplay. An Agatha Christie-inspired tale, the movie's mystery is airtight enough to puzzle most whodunit buffs.

But the movie is also beautifully balanced among its excellent cast, with each member feeling appealingly human and shining in individual moments. Visually, Knives Out is splendid, fluid in the way it moves around the nooks and crannies of the huge house and also when it lingers on its unforgettable "wheel of knives" centerpiece. The music by Nathan Johnson (Rian's cousin) is equally effective. Old-fashioned on the surface, the movie is nevertheless rooted in the modern-day, with several smart, sane references to current insanity. Finally, it's clearly designed for multiple viewings, not only to catch all the sly jokes but also the many concealed clues. If Knives Out has a flaw, it's that the movie is so effortless it might feel lightweight.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Knives Out's violence. Why is there so much fun being had around a murder in this story? What's the movie's attitude toward death and killing?

  • How are alcohol and drugs represented? Are they portrayed as cool or appealing? Are there consequences for using them? Why does that matter?

  • One character is incapable of lying without becoming physically ill. What does the movie have to say about honesty in general? Is it useful? Is it rewarding?

  • The family's true character is shown when it's revealed who gets the fortune. How does money impact relationships?

  • How does this movie compare with Agatha Christie stories? What makes it similar or different?

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