Parents' Guide to

The Golden Child

By Terreece Clarke, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Murphy gets mystical in '80s adventure comedy.

Movie PG-13 1986 94 minutes
The Golden Child Poster Image

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

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What's the Story?

THE GOLDEN CHILD is a mystical, comedy adventure about Chandler Jarrell, a private detective who finds out his destiny is not just to find runaway children, but to save the "golden child," a bringer of compassion to the world, from the demon who has kidnapped him and will ultimately kill him. Beautiful, mysterious woman, Kee Nang, joins him on his quest. Though initially skeptical of Kee and her story of the golden child, he soon realizes that not only is the Golden Child real, the demons that are after him are, too.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

This is classic 1980s Eddie Murphy, as he sails through a pretty weak plot with his trademark humor, almost lending some validity to the nonsense going on around him. Murphy's Chandler is an endearing bad boy who can be a bit of a jerk when he encounters cultures that differ from his own.

Kids will love the adventure, the cute kid playing the Golden Child, and will probably get a good laugh at the '80s special effects. Parents may cringe at the thrown-together romance and the disturbing satanic imagery, but will also enjoy Murphy's great comedic timing and ad libs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about culture shock and comedy. Most of the laughs come from Eddie Murphy's character bumbling through unfamiliar traditions. What other comedies use this type of humor? When does it cross the line into stereotyping or laughing at other traditions? Does The Golden Child do that?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: December 12, 1986
  • On DVD or streaming: March 9, 1999
  • Cast: Charles Dance , Eddie Murphy , J.L Reate
  • Director: Michael Ritchie
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors
  • Studio: Paramount Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 94 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: violence, scary images, sexual humor, language and brief nudity
  • Last updated: March 16, 2024

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