Heartwarming action film counters stereotypes; language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Language includes "bitch," "goddamn," "f--k" (very sparingly), "bulls--t," "dumbass," "s--t." Exclamatory uses of "oh my God" and "Jesus Christ." Words that could be viewed as ableist, including "crazy," "psycho," and "insane."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Thelma shoots a gun at a computer. A trash can gets lit on fire, causing a minor, contained explosion. A scooter gets broken after a car crashes into it. Other scenes of peril include what the film's production team describe as "gentle stunts," such as standing on a bed, walking up stairs, and falling. These stunts are more perilous for a person in her 90s because of the potentially serious consequences of breaking bones and other injuries.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
People of all ages are complex human beings. Courage, friendship, compassion, and empathy are key factors in having a fulfilling life.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Thelma shows courage when she decides to prove to her family that she's still capable of living independently and goes after her stolen money. Thelma's friendship with Ben helps her accomplish her goals, and their empathy and compassion for each other grow throughout their journey. Thelma's family, especially her grandson Daniel, also develop more compassion and empathy for Thelma, seeing her less as a liability and more as an independent person.
Diverse Representations
some
Main character Thelma (June Squibb) is in her 90s, which is extremely uncommon in Hollywood. Thelma's character and experiences show how complex it is to age, come to terms with mortality, and convince society that you're still worthy of respect and independence. The film addresses the fact that older people are often viewed as liabilities and burdens, which is unfair. Black actor Richard Roundtree has a prominent role (his last screen role before his death in 2023), and Black actor Nicole Byer and Asian American actor Chase Kim appear in supporting roles. It's implied that Thelma's family is Jewish.
Parents need to know that Thelma is an action comedy about a woman in her 90s (June Squibb) who becomes the victim of fraud and sets out to get her money back. There's some strong language (including sparing use of "f--k," plus "s--t," "oh my God," and more), as well as situations that are cast in a perilous light due to their potential danger for older people. Thelma also shoots a gun at a computer, and a trash can is lit on fire, causing a minor, contained explosion. The movie has clear themes of compassion, friendship, empathy, and courage. And it offers commentary on how Western society often treats the elderly, consciously going against Hollywood standards by making Thelma the main character. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
THELMA follows a woman in her 90s named Thelma (June Squibb) who doesn't feel her age but is reminded of how vulnerable she is after she gets scammed out of $10,000. Not wanting to have her family think she's a burden, Thelma sets out to get her money back with the help of her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree). Along the way, Thelma and Ben talk about what it's like getting older, facing society as an elderly person, and how to feel independent in old age.
Thelma is one of the funniest, warmest action films you'll ever see. Squibb does a great job in her first ever leading role (!) as the title character, showing vulnerability, courage, and heart. The film hilariously turns action films on their head by showing how actions that younger people might view as no big deal—like walking up a flight of steps—can actually be terrifying for folks in their 90s. But Thelma takes on all of these challenges and inspires viewers to think more about how Western society often treats its older members.
In his final screen performance, Roundtree shines as Ben, a man who has lost much and blames his age for it. Ben and Thelma teach each other about what it means to be elderly. As they find out, there are some setbacks—such as not being able to do everything you used to do. But there's still a lot of life left to live, and there are still new things to learn. Thelma argues loudly and clearly that older people aren't burdens to dispose of; they're our family and deserve to be listened to, respected, and allowed to live their full lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why it's notable that the main character in Thelma is a woman in her 90s. Is that typical for Hollywood?
How does the movie challenge Western society's perspective on the elderly? Why does Thelma say she doesn't feel old? What incident lets her know that she's vulnerable in ways she didn't imagine?
Why is it problematic to view elderly people as a liability or a burden? How does the film suggest we can better support them?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
