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Is Maleficent safe for your child?

Age guide

9+

We advise Maleficent from age 9 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk).

5-8
The dark themes, intense magical battles, and transformation scenes in Maleficent, particularly the dragon form, may be frightening for younger children.
9-12
Children in this age range can generally follow the complex narrative of Maleficent, which explores themes of betrayal and redemption, but may still find some fantasy violence or Maleficent's initial villainy intense.
13-15
Teenagers can appreciate the nuanced character development and the darker, more mature interpretation of the classic fairy tale in Maleficent, including its themes of revenge and forgiveness.
16+
Older teens will likely engage with the sophisticated storytelling and visual effects of Maleficent, understanding its allegorical elements and the subversion of traditional villain tropes.

This film retells the classic Sleeping Beauty story from the perspective of its iconic villain, Maleficent, revealing the events that hardened her heart and led her to curse Princess Aurora. It explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and ultimately, redemption.

Age guide
9+
Overall risk
4/10
Violence
5/10
Toxic behaviour
2/10
Stranger contact
1/10
Addiction risk
7/10
Language
2/10
Influence
7/10

What parents should know

Maleficent is a live-action fantasy film on Disney+ that reinterprets the Sleeping Beauty story from the villain's perspective. It contains dark themes, intense magical sequences, and some frightening imagery that may be unsuitable for very young viewers. Parents should consider the film's PG rating and their child's individual sensitivity to fantasy violence and emotional intensity before viewing.

What to do about Maleficent

Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.

  • The age-by-age verdict
    What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Maleficent is 9+, and the answer changes with your child's age.
  • The one setting to change tonight
    The exact Maleficent setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it.
  • What to say
    Word-for-word openers for talking about Maleficent without a row.
  • Red flags to watch for
    The signals in Maleficent that mean it is time to step in.
See what to change tonight

Maleficent age rating and parents guide: common questions

What age rating is Maleficent?

Parentwise puts Maleficent at 9+. We advise Maleficent from age 9 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). Violence scores 5/10, language 2/10, stranger contact 1/10 and addiction risk 7/10.

Can a 10 year old watch Maleficent?

Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Maleficent (9+). Children in this age range can generally follow the complex narrative of Maleficent, which explores themes of betrayal and redemption, but may still find some fantasy violence or Maleficent's initial villainy intense.

Can a 12 year old watch Maleficent?

Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Maleficent (9+). Children in this age range can generally follow the complex narrative of Maleficent, which explores themes of betrayal and redemption, but may still find some fantasy violence or Maleficent's initial villainy intense.

Can a 13 year old watch Maleficent?

Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Maleficent (9+). Teenagers can appreciate the nuanced character development and the darker, more mature interpretation of the classic fairy tale in Maleficent, including its themes of revenge and forgiveness.

Is Maleficent appropriate for kids?

Maleficent is a live-action fantasy film on Disney+ that reinterprets the Sleeping Beauty story from the villain's perspective. Parentwise rates Maleficent overall as medium risk (4/10), with stranger contact at 1/10 and addiction risk at 7/10.

Is Maleficent family friendly?

Maleficent sits in the middle: fine with settings changed and an occasional check-in. It contains dark themes, intense magical sequences, and some frightening imagery that may be unsuitable for very young viewers.

Maleficent parents guide: what should a parent know first?

Maleficent is a live-action fantasy film on Disney+ that reinterprets the Sleeping Beauty story from the villain's perspective. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (1/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (7/10).

Is Maleficent safe for kids?

We advise Maleficent from age 9 and up. Overall risk 4/10 (medium risk). It contains dark themes, intense magical sequences, and some frightening imagery that may be unsuitable for very young viewers.

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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.