Parents' Guide to

Passengers

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Interesting drama about love, mortality, iffy decisions.

Movie PG-13 2016 116 minutes
Passengers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 35 parent reviews

Rosita3232
Rosita3232 Adult
August 12, 2021
age 17+

Entertaining movie but...

I am a Christian, so this review will be filtered through a Biblical lens. I have to admit, I had misgivings about watching this movie. After reading the reviews and knowing that there were several sexual innuendos I was unsure, as I usually try to stay away from that. But as this movie was recommended by a friend and seemed positive otherwise, I went ahead and watched it. The sex scenes were not as visual as I had expected. There were two times Chris' rear was shown. Also two or three scenes where it was obvious they were naked and having/preparing for sex. However these were so brief and didn't show anything explicitly. Were these scenes necessary for the movie to be good? No. Honestly I wouldn't watch the movie again and that is just one of the reasons. Although it was entertaining and romantic it didn't have any core morals and values. It's not the kind of movie that makes you say "Wow, that was really good." The only other problem I had with the movie is about three quarters of the movie takes place in the bar room. For some people this could be something to avoid. All in all my opinion, a good movie if you like sci-fi romance. Not a family movie, not for kids or young teens. Better suited to adults. If want a movie like this but want to skip the sexy parts try Interstellar instead.
JEROME J.
JEROME J. Adult
May 21, 2021
age 14+

Don't look at the Bad reviews, because those are misjudging this wonderful movie.

It's a beautiful film, especially a romantic sci-fi film that I've never watched before. This film will touch the heart as well. I was so late to watch this great film because I had seen some of the bad reviews on it. This film might be a blockbuster, but Bad luck! I am very sad to see negative comments on this film. Please watch this film and understand the truth Thanks.
See all 35 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In PASSENGERS, Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) is an engineer who decides to join thousands of others on the Avalon, a spaceship whose passengers are supposed to stay in an induced state of deep sleep for 120 years while they travel to a deep space colony. But just 30 years in, Jim wakes up due to a mechanical glitch, effectively leaving him on a desert island, with the clock ticking toward death. He's alone and lonely, save for the company of an android (Michael Sheen). So when Jim spots Aurora Lane (Jennifer Lawrence), composed and beautiful in her sleep pod, he's smitten. He researches her and her life and grows more enamored by the day, ultimately arriving at the decision to wake her up. But this means taking away Aurora's plans to live out her days on the colony, forever altering her life plans and taking away her power over herself. Meanwhile, the Avalon seems to be in trouble.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (35 ):
Kids say (60 ):

Pratt and Lawrence are wonderful and share decent chemistry, and Sheen adds wit, but, there's no mistaking the disturbing nature of this movie's premise. Positioned as a romance and at times offering insight into the nature of relationships, Passengers nonetheless tries to succeed while grounded in a plot that's frankly off-putting. Are we to see Jim as a harmless romantic, when his love for Aurora is based on expectations he placed on her without truly knowing who she is and his subsequent decisions are pretty much positioned as forgivable in the face of love? The special effects make for a visually stunning movie, and the film's complicated themes make it a knotty, interesting watch. But the film's problematic nature does distract from its strengths.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Passengers depicts relationships. Is Jim and Aurora's relationship healthy? How does the movie portray sex? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding these topics.

  • Are the main characters role models? Why or why not? How do they/the movie promote courage and communication? Why are those important character strengths?

  • Why do you think someone would remove themselves from their present life to live one more than 100 years away?

  • How does the film handle a romance that's complicated and based on a pretty disturbing decision? Does it gloss over that decision? Does it find a way to justify it? Is Jim just "a hopeless romantic"? How would you feel in Aurora's position?

  • How does this movie compare to other sci-fi tales/dramas you've seen? Who do you think it's intended to appeal to? How can you tell?

Movie Details

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