A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls

movie

PG-13, 2016, Adventure, Drama

WISE
78%

WISE Score

86

Avg. Tomatometer

A visually stunning, emotionally devastating fantasy about a boy learning to say goodbye to his dying mother. Bring tissues and emotional support.

IMDb7.4
RT Critics86%
MC76
TMDB7.3
Common Sense Media
Where to Watch
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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be clear: this is not a fun family movie night pick. This is the movie you watch when someone in your life is dying, or has died, or when your tween is ready to grapple with the reality that life includes devastating loss.

That said, it's absolutely brilliant at what it does. The fantasy framework—an ancient tree monster telling moral fables—makes impossible emotions manageable. The animation sequences are breathtaking. And the core message—that you can love someone and still want the pain to end, that anger and grief can coexist, that saying goodbye is both necessary and unbearable—is handled with more honesty than almost any other kids' film.

The WISE score is high because this is genuinely enriching and imaginative, but the Safety score reflects reality: this will wreck you emotionally. It's 'safe' in that there's no inappropriate content, but it's not 'safe' in that it's gentle. Common Sense Media's 12+ rating is spot-on.

If your family is navigating loss, or if you have a mature tween who needs to understand grief, this is invaluable. If you're just looking for something to stream on a Tuesday? Pick literally anything else. Save this one for when you need it—and when you're ready to have some very big conversations afterward.

Age Fit

Best for ages 11-12+ who are emotionally mature enough to handle themes of death and terminal illness. This isn't entertainment for a random movie night—it's a tool for processing grief or building empathy. Adults will find it equally powerful, making it appropriate for family viewing when the timing is right.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
72

Emotionally mature and deeply empathetic exploration of grief, loss, and acceptance. Models emotional honesty and the importance of facing difficult feelings. However, the heavy subject matter (terminal illness, death of a parent) and intense emotional scenes make it challenging viewing—appropriate for its themes but not 'light' wholesome content. The bullying subplot is handled realistically but adds to the heaviness.

Imaginative
88

Stunning visual storytelling that blends live-action with animated watercolor sequences. The ancient tree monster and the three tales he tells are beautifully original, using fantasy as a lens to explore complex emotional truths. The imaginative framework—a literal monster helping a boy process grief—is both creative and purposeful. Strong critical reception (86% RT critics, Metacritic 76) supports its artistic achievement.

Safe
58

This is emotionally intense content dealing with terminal cancer, parental death, and childhood grief. While there's no gratuitous violence, gore, or inappropriate content, the subject matter itself is triggering and emotionally devastating. Kids unprepared for this level of emotional weight could be traumatized. The bullying scenes are realistic and sometimes violent. Common Sense Media rates it 12+, which is appropriate—this isn't something that should surprise a younger viewer. It's 'safe' in terms of content appropriateness but 'unsafe' in terms of emotional impact if not properly prepared.

Enriching
90

Extraordinarily enriching for viewers ready to engage with it. Offers profound lessons about grief, anger, acceptance, and the complexity of human emotions. The three tales the monster tells challenge simple moral thinking and teach that stories can hold multiple truths. Helps kids (and adults) understand that conflicting feelings—loving someone while wanting suffering to end—are normal and human. This is the kind of film that stays with you and builds emotional intelligence and empathy. High critical ratings across the board validate its depth.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Handles grief and loss with rare emotional honesty—teaches that anger, denial, and conflicting feelings are all part of processing loss
  • Visually gorgeous with imaginative animated sequences that make abstract emotions concrete and understandable
  • The monster's three tales challenge black-and-white thinking and teach moral complexity in age-appropriate ways
  • Strong critical acclaim (86% RT, 7.4 IMDb) and awards recognition validate its quality
  • Can open crucial conversations about death, illness, and emotional processing that many families need but struggle to start
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What to Watch For

  • This is HEAVY—terminal cancer, death of a parent, intense grief. Only for kids emotionally ready and ideally with parental co-viewing
  • Bullying scenes are realistic and sometimes violent (Conor gets beaten up, later retaliates)
  • The emotional climax is absolutely devastating—even adults will ugly-cry
  • Some kids may find the tree monster initially scary, though he's ultimately a guide and protector
  • Best saved for when your family is dealing with loss or serious illness, or for mature tweens/teens exploring complex emotions

Conversation Starters

  • "What did you think about the monster's three stories? Why do you think he told those specific tales to Conor?"
  • "Conor felt angry at his mom even though he loved her. Have you ever felt two opposite things about someone at the same time?"
  • "The monster said 'stories don't always have happy endings, but that doesn't make them any less important.' What do you think that means?"
  • "How do you think Conor changed from the beginning to the end of the movie? What helped him?"
  • "If you had a monster visit you to help with something hard, what would you want it to help you understand?"
Stills
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