Is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Kid Friendly? | Movie Review

Maleficent is back, and this time is darker and a little more evil than the first, which I appreciate. However will kids appreciate it? Is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil kid friendly? For older kids, definitely, but for the younger ones I would be wary, because this is a movie about war. Let’s talk about the violence, language, and mature content in Maleficent 2.

Is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Kid Friendly?

This Maleficent is definitely darker than the first one, but still has important messages that are great for parents and children to talk about. While Elle Fanning grew up from the first Maleficent, so have the children who watched it and now can enjoy the sequel.

Violence in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

The opening starts off with an intense scene. This is a film about war, so there is fighting, people and creatures dying, weapons, explosions and frightening creatures that will be scary for small children and those sensitive to violence. This is not your classic Sleeping Beauty fairytale. 

Language in Maleficent 2

I did not count any uses of profanity in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil including zero references to the Lord’s name in vain.

Mature Content in Maleficent 2

There are kisses amongst characters, complicated child/parent relationships, and discord amongst kingdoms. Small children may not understand why the adults are fighting or why someone would be mean to cute little woodland creatures from The Moors.

Is Maleficent 2 Appropriate For Kids Under 8?

Is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ok for kids under 8? I would probably recommend it for children ages 10 and up unless they’re big fans of Disney Villains and can handle some violence. Three of my girls opted out of watching this one, and I think it was a good move for them. If the last scene of the first Maleficent makes kids uncomfortable, then I recommend skipping this one on the big screen.

At almost 2 hours, it’s just too long for some little kids to sit and watch a movie. But there are adorable creatures that they’d like, with some definite “awwwws” from the audience. However, when humans promptly try to kill them all, well that could prove to be traumatic.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is rated PG for intense sequences of fantasy action/violence and brief scary images, and it can get intense.

Is Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Worth Watching in the Theaters?

When I first watched Maleficent, I didn’t like it, because they changed the story. I wanted the evil villain Maleficent to rage on everyone and be a true villain. However, since all the remakes of classic Disney movies, I’m changing my tune. It’s refreshing to see a different take on a classic story, and isn’t that why I like the Disney Villains so much, because they’re misunderstood?

The scenery, CGI effects, and new character additions are visually pleasing and impressive. Sure, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has its imperfections. The story sometimes drags on, you want a little more strength from Aurora, and some elements just don’t add up. However, all in all, I was entertained. When Angelina Jolie gives you the look that only she can, you get those Maleficent chills.

The additions of the new characters help keep you interested and gave you some understanding to the how this war started. I’ll be darned if I wasn’t cheering internally when I saw two strong women (Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer’s characters) lead armies, however bad they might be. It was just refreshing to see them be the leaders, and their incredible performances make this sequel worth watching.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is not kid friendly for the little ones, but it’s a great Halloween-type movie for the older kids and one that is safe for teens so they’re not watching Beetlejuice drop the f-bomb. Not all Disney movies are created for small kids, and in my book, that’s just fine. 

Check out my ‘Is The Addams Family kid friendly‘ review to see if that’s a better option for young kids this Halloween season.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is in theaters Friday, October 18th!