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The Croods poster
Age Guide6+
MPAA RatingPG
Year2013
Runtime1h 38m
StudioDreamWorks Animation
DirectorKirk De Micco, Chris Sanders

Cast

Nicolas CageEmma StoneRyan ReynoldsCatherine KeenerClark Duke
AnimationAdventureComedyFamily

The Croods

2013

A prehistoric family is forced out of their cave by an earthquake and must follow a young man into a strange new world to survive.

Content Guide

⚔️
Violence & ScarinessMild
Violence & Scariness
💬
LanguageNone
Language
👀
Sex & NudityNone
Sex & Nudity
🍷
SubstancesNone
Substances
😱
Frightening ScenesMild
Frightening Scenes
💚
Positive MessagesStrong
Positive Messages
Role ModelsStrong
Role Models

What's in this movie

  • Characters are chased by dangerous prehistoric creatures
  • A father and daughter conflict about safety versus exploration
  • Near-death situations throughout
  • A climactic farewell that appears to be a sacrifice

🌍 Cultural & Representation Concerns

Low
  • The Croods family are depicted as primitive brutes who resist change and progress; Guy, the 'modern' young man, arrives to teach and guide them — a 'civilizing the savages' narrative structure
  • The prehistoric setting allows the trope to play as comedy, but the dynamic of the enlightened outsider leading a primitive family is a recurring colonialist story pattern

Educational Value

Explores the tension between protective fear and openness to discovery. The father-daughter dynamic is emotionally rich.

💬 Pause & Talk — Discussion Topics

  • 1.Why does Grug's strategy of fear and safety stop working?
  • 2.How does the arrival of Guy force the family to change?
  • 3.What does the film say about the difference between survival and living?

🏆 Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature