Is Stargirl Kid Friendly? A Quirky Disney Plus Original Movie

Stargirl is a Disney+ original movie starring Grace VanderWaal, winner of America’s Got Talent. Overall, Stargirl is kid friendly with a positive message of loving who you are. This coming of age story can be bland at times, but one of its thoughts on slowing down life rings particularly true right now. Here’s what parents need to know about Stargirl and what ages should see it.

Is Stargirl Kid Friendly?

Stargirl starts off with Leo, a boy whose father passed away when he was young, moves to Arizona, and generally tries to stay under the radar at school. He notices Stargirl Caraway on his 16th birthday, a girl who doesn’t seem like the rest – quirky and confident.

I usually have a soft spot for movies about kids deemed weird or different. However, in this film, Stargirl doesn’t seem to suffer from that insecurity until Leo makes her feel that way.

Is Stargirl ok for young kids? Some of the content may seem slow for little kids, but content wise, Stargirl is family friendly. I recommend it for ages 8 and older. 

Language

There is no bad language in Stargirl. 

Violence

No violence or use of weapons. One character gets injured playing football, but nothing gruesome.

Mature Content

There are a couple of teenagers who kiss and perhaps a joke or two that will go over children’s heads. Some of the topics addressed will be good for discussion like being a single mother, death of a family member, insecurities and loneliness in school, friendships, jealousy, and relationships. 

Why Kids Will Like Stargirl

Fans of Grace VanderWaal will definitely enjoy the songs, and yes, she brings her signature ukelele. The music was actually my favorite part. And co-star Graham Verchere also shows off his vocal skills. Music can be healing.

My oldest daughters had read the book Stargirl, and there were some things that were different. They would have liked more conflict in the movie. Some parts were boring and confusing, and my younger daughters just “didn’t get it.” 

However, for the older ones, they were able to relate to some of the pressures of conforming to who someone wants you to be or to be “normal.” When Stargirl makes a mistake, then people turn on her. Aren’t we allowed to make mistakes? 

At one point, Stargirl gives a speech about watching a flower grow. She says, “It’s easy to get confused when we’re moving so fast and to think we’re doing the right thing when really we’re not. But if we’re lucky we could find a balance.”

The whole speech proves to be cathartic right now in this time of quarantine, perhaps making sense in a state of confusion. There are also other Stargirl quotes to make you smile.

Yes, Stargirl is quirky and needs a little oomph at times. It also has beautiful scenery, lovely music, and a message that is needed (love yourself and stop being jerks, kids). No matter how many times you tell kids and adults to be true to themselves, you have to tell them again. 

If your kids are running out of things to binge, add Stargirl on Disney+ to the list. It’s a great one to watch with the family, and you can run to the kitchen for more snacks if you need them. 

For more kid friendly movie reviews:

Is Jumanji: The Next Level kid friendly?

Is Knives Out kid friendly?