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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes poster

Is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes OK for Kids?

Science FictionAdventureAction
11+
PG-13⭐ 6.8 / 102024 · 2h 25m
Wes Ball

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United States

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What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
🗡️Violence
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Cartoon / Comedic
8
Action & Peril
2
Injuries & Death Shown
0
Graphic & Disturbing
  • The film opens with apes attacking Noa's village — scouts are killed, the settlement is burned, and the chaos is sustained and loud with screaming and fire throughout.
  • Noa's father Koro is killed by marauders during the raid — this is an emotionally significant, clearly shown on-screen death that is a major emotional anchor for the rest of the film.
  • Mae kills the human character Trevathan by strangulation — shown directly, not implied, and performed coldly, which may disturb some viewers given the method.
  • Proximus crushes his own enforcer Sylva in machinery during the final act, killing him — a villain-on-villain death that underlines how ruthless Proximus has become.
  • Staff combat between Noa and a marauder features electrical crackling effects, and the extended final battle involves apes fighting, eagles attacking, and structures collapsing around the characters.
  • Proximus shoots and kills Soona's bird in a deliberate act of cruelty — a small but affecting moment of violence against an animal that may particularly upset younger or animal-loving children.
  • Violence throughout is action-adventure in style rather than gory or graphic — no blood is shown in detail — but deaths are treated with emotional weight rather than brushed aside.
💬Language
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
0
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
3
Strong
(sh*t)
0
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Characters say 's**t' three times across the film — the only confirmed profanity in the extraction.
  • No use of 'hell' or 'da**' was detected in the screenplay.
  • No f-words, c-words, slurs, or extreme language of any kind detected.
👻Scary Scenes
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Mildly Tense
1
Startling Moments
2
Genuinely Scary
0
Deeply Disturbing
  • The initial village raid — featuring fire, chaos, screaming, and Koro's death — is the single most frightening sequence in the film and comes early, before younger viewers have settled into the story.
  • Proximus publicly threatens to execute Noa in front of his captured clan — a sustained, realistic threat of death against the protagonist that represents the film's peak moment of tension and dread.
  • An abandoned facility contains a doll that suddenly says 'Mama' — a genuine jump-scare moment in an otherwise quiet scene that is likely to startle even older viewers.
  • The final battle with Proximus becomes increasingly violent and unhinged as he strangles Noa — the villain is portrayed as genuinely dangerous rather than cartoonishly evil, which amplifies the threat.
  • The vault explosion escape sequence is tense and claustrophobic, with apes running from collapsing structures and fire — prolonged and loud.
  • Scary scenes are ultimately resolved through collective action — Noa's eagles intervene, his clan unites — so the film does not leave children without resolution or hope.
💕Romance
Very Mild▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Crushes & Holding Hands
0
Kissing & Dating
0
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Noa and Soona, two young apes, share a bond that develops across the film — their connection is emotional and implied rather than explicitly romantic.
  • No kissing, dating, physical intimacy, or sexual content of any kind is present in the film.
  • Romance is entirely background-level — the film is focused on adventure and survival rather than any romantic storyline.
🍺Substances
Mild▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Mentioned in Passing
1
Shown Casually
0
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • There is a brief reference in dialogue to a virus that was created by humans and affected apes — mentioned as historical context, not depicted.
  • The human character Trevathan discusses books including Roman history in casual conversation — no substance use is depicted in this scene.
  • No alcohol, drugs, or substance use of any kind is shown on screen at any point in the film.
⚡Stimulation
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
3
Intense
0
Overwhelming
  • The film contains three sequences rated as 'Intense' in terms of sensory load: the extended village raid with fire and screaming, the vault escape with climbing and explosions, and the climactic final battle with eagles attacking and structures collapsing.
  • The final battle with Proximus is the most overwhelming sequence — rapid action, loud sound design, and multiple simultaneous threats make it a lot to process for younger or sensory-sensitive children.
  • The scene in which Noa leads his clan in collective vocalization and grunting — while not violent — is loud, rhythmic, and emotionally intense in a way that may feel overwhelming in a cinema environment.
  • The film is not continuously intense — there are quieter passages during the journey sequences — but the loud action bookends and the climax are significant.
  • Not recommended for sensory-sensitive children under 10 in a cinema setting; home viewing with volume control would be more manageable.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — Heads Up for Parents

Despite its PG-13 adventure framing, Mae's cold strangulation of Trevathan — a human character she appears to be aligned with — is sudden, prolonged, and performed with disturbing calm, and may shock parents and children who expect violence in this film to be limited to the ape-versus-ape action sequences.

About Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Set generations after the legendary Caesar, 'Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' follows Noa, a young ape whose peaceful Eagle Clan village is violently attacked by a warlord named Proximus Caesar, who twists Caesar's teachings to justify tyranny and conquest. Noa embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his captured clan, forming an unlikely alliance with a traveling ape philosopher named Raka and a mysterious human woman called Mae. The film is a sweeping adventure with a serious, epic tone — more political thriller than popcorn blockbuster, with themes of power, deception, and what it means to lead.

👨‍👧
Best watched together
The death of Noa's father, Mae's strangulation of Trevathan, and Proximus's public execution threat carry real emotional and moral weight that younger teens — particularly those 11 to 13 — will benefit from processing with a parent who can discuss the themes of corrupt leadership, betrayal, and when deception might feel justified.

Family Takeaways from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

What it gets right

  • ✓The film treats grief seriously — Koro's death during the village raid is not glossed over, and Noa's loss visibly drives his choices throughout, giving children a model for how loss can motivate purpose rather than only despair.
  • ✓Mae's arc — acknowledging her deception and saying goodbye honorably — shows that admitting wrongdoing and making amends is possible even after significant betrayal, which is a rare and valuable message in an action film.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes
●Traditional family values

The film centers on Noa's deep commitment to his clan and the bonds between apes as they rebuild civilization. Family loyalty and protecting one's community drive the entire narrative arc.

Community Notes

  • Some critics have noted that the film's depiction of ape society — in which an ambitious leader uses misappropriated philosophy to justify enslaving weaker clans — invites allegorical readings about colonialism and authoritarian populism that parents may wish to discuss with older children.
Cast:Owen TeagueFreya AllanKevin DurandPeter MaconWilliam H. Macy

Is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Appropriate for Your Child's Age?

✗Age 5: Not recommended for 5-year-olds
✗Age 8: Not recommended for 8-year-olds
✗Age 10: Not recommended for 10-year-olds
✓Age 12: Generally appropriate for 12-year-olds
✓Age 13: Generally appropriate for 13-year-olds
✓Age 15: Generally appropriate for 15-year-olds
✓Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary — use your judgment.

Parents also ask about Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

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  • What is the age rating for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes?

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