Is Disney Crater movie safe for kids? Is Crater OK for children? Read the Disney Crater Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new 2023 Disney+ original coming-of-age science fiction film starring Isaiah Russell-Bailey and Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi). No spoilers! #Crater #DisneyPlus May contain commissioned links.
Disney Crater Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
“From the producers of Stranger Things…”
I’ll be honest. The premise of combining the powers of Disney and Stranger Things into a mysterious space adventure seems like a family friendly movie RUSH. Disney+ newest original film features a group of kids exploring a mysterious crater. But is this just another hole in the ground for a Disney original or another thrilling, unique, character developing, genius success story?
In this 2023 Disney Crater Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2023 Crater film parents guide to the new Disney Plus original film. A no-spoiler parent review of this space adventure, are we talking about an out-of-this-world story or out-of-this-galaxy failure?
The Visuals
It’s a live action kids movie – that went straight to Disney Plus streaming…without a lot of press behind it. Don’t expect Disney to supply out-of-this-world visuals here. Think more Apollo meets hints of A Wrinkle in Time. That sci-fi feel with a blend of futuristic fantasy, Disney Crater has just enough visual interest to get by.
Photosensitivity Warning. For being a movie set in space, I was shocked to see that overall there are no flashing or strobing lights or big visual effects to enhance the atmosphere (get the pun?). There are a few bright lights and scenes in darkness, but I do not suspect any photosensitive moments or seizure triggering events for this film (unlike The Super Mario Bros. movie).
The Story
From the producers of Stranger Things and directed by Kyle Patrick Alverez (“Easier with Practice“) comes an all-new live-action coming-of-age sci-fi adventure. Cast includes Isaiah Russell-Bailey (Netflix’s “Family Reunion“) as Caleb Channing, Mckenna Grace (“Gifted” and upcoming 2023 “The Marvels“) as Addison, Billy Barratt (“Mary Poppins Returns“) as Dylan, Orson Hong (“Only Murders in the Building“) as Borney, Thomas Boyce (“Neuroblast“) as Marcus, and Scott Mescudi aka Kid Cudi (“Entourage“) as Caleb’s father.
When you combine the powers of Stranger Things and the magic of Disney you get…a basic plot line apparently. A group of kids hijack a moon rover to explore a mysterious crater for “one last adventure.” Exploration, discovery, a few cool space features and a bunch of kids on a sugar rush without the sugar – I was expecting a WOW factor somewhere in this story through line.
Unfortunately, this film has more than just one crater – I think there are a few plot craters too. Crater feels like a low-budget film, and not in a good way. While I appreciate the addition of diversity and inclusion (an Asian kid with a lisp? So cute!), without a strong story to connect and relate to kids today, the gravity of this film falls short. But for young kids, it may peak just enough interest to keep them curious to see what is inside the crater.
Disney Crater PG Rating Explained
Is Disney Crater safe for kids? Another Disney+ series that’s rated TV-14? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option.
PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.
Why is Disney Crater rated PG? In this Crater Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, this Disney+ original film is rated PG for “thematic material, action/peril, and language.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Disney’s Crater movie is kid friendly. Is Disney’s Crater too scary for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG age rating in this Disney Crater parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. As far as that action and peril goes? Surprisingly VERY MILD for a space film. There’s a few out-of-space peril moments that may be concerning for young kids – loss of oxygen, a medical emergency, a few space versus gravity issues.
But there’s no blood, gore, or violence to worry about. There are a few scenes in darkness with suspenseful/eerie music – but no jump scares either. There are a few scenes of mayhem – breaking, throwing, trashing, stealing – but again very mild for a PG movie.
Adult Themes. Adult themes are overall mild for this film. But note that these themes can be lengthy at times – and could be boring for some young kids. Inferences and heavy discussion of death, grief and loss including visuals of a container of ashes. Heavy discussions of parent divorce that my be triggering for parents and kids. There’s also a child with a medical diagnosis concern.
Sensual content includes one visual of a head on a shoulder (very benign), discussion of holding hands, marriage and pregnancy. Overall very mild adult content for a 2023 Disney+ movie.
Language. Honestly, as basic as the storyline is, I was expecting a clean Disney film. While this Disney+ original film is milder when it comes to language (especially straight to streaming), it doesn’t count out the modern day swear words completely. Foul language in Disney Crater includes: 1 “d@mn,” 2 “H-E_double-hockey-sticks,” and 3 “sucks.”
Other bad language and milder insults include words and phrases like “freaking,” “idiot,” “loser,” “cowards,” “dumb,” “stupid,” “pissing and moaning,” “screwed,” “geez,” and “oh my g-d.”
Disney Crater Movie Age Rating for Kids
With a runtime of 1 hour 44 minutes, Disney+ Crater is right in the normal Disney live action movie wheelhouse. But with slow action/adventure, long dialogue and heavy sci-fi themes, younger kids (especially preschool age) may be easily bored, even with the help of a pause button.
There’s a disconnect in relatability and a lack of familiar cast faces to help engage kids to the story along with simplistic visuals. But if your kids are really into outer space and futuristic themes, this is the Disney film to help ease the child transition from animated to live action films.
It’s a mild Goonies meets Flight of the Navigator (remember that old school Disney film?) with maybe a hint of A Wrinkle in Time. Science fiction themes along with a group of kids in search of adventure – an overall mild live action Disney movie for 2023.
This 2023 Disney+ original film is rated PG for “thematic material, action/peril, and language.”
2023 Disney’s Crater movie does NOT have an end credit scene. No need to sit through the credits.
Based on my Disney Crater parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend The Muppets Mayhem series to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Disney Plus Crater movie to kids younger than the age of 5-6 years old. This Disney Crater PG rating is pretty light for a modern day Disney+ original film and easily comparable to the National Treasure movie series ratings.
I honestly could have gone younger for the rating. But with slower action, heavy dialogue and use of mild but some language, I feel that preschoolers and toddlers would have trouble paying attention without heavy use of the pause button. I recommend parents to prescreen Disney Crater for science-fiction themes and language.
The Overall
Disney Crater has more than one giant hole – it left a few plot holes too. I think the most surprising part is how shocked I was to NOT come up with good comparison movie like it. How has a kids’ live-action adventure movie set in space NOT been done yet? Or am I just a little spacey here?
Don’t expect to feel all of the Disney feels and come away with an Earth shattering new favorite movie. Crater is an easy to watch, easy to digest, and overall “forgettable” out-of-space film.
Follow Disney’s Crater on social media:
- Website: https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/crater
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlus/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyplus
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyplus/
- #Crater #DisneyPlus
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Disney+ all-new, original Crater movie premieres exclusively on Disney Plus streaming starting Friday May 12, 2023. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen the new 2023 Disney Plus original film Crater in exchange for this Disney Crater Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Disney+. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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