Duck Soup – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Duck Soup

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1933

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Marx Brothers' anarchic political satire is comedy gold—if your kids can handle black-and-white films from the Hoover administration.

7.7/10

91%

→

Duck Soup

movie

Approved, 1933

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

The Marx Brothers' anarchic political satire is comedy gold—if your kids can handle black-and-white films from the Hoover administration.

7.7

91%

Jump to

Also rated on

7.7/10

91%

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Duck Soup is objectively a comedy masterpiece—91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93 on Metacritic, and a legitimate influence on everything from Looney Tunes to Monty Python. The Marx Brothers are anarchic, clever, and genuinely funny.

But here's the truth: it's a 1933 black-and-white film with vaudeville rhythms and cultural references from the Great Depression. Unless your kid is already into classic cinema or you're doing a family film history project, this is going to be a tough sell. Parent reviews confirm some 8-11 year-olds love it, but those are likely the kids whose parents are actively cultivating appreciation for old movies.

If you want to try it, watch together and provide context. The mirror scene is legitimately worth seeing. But if your kid checks out after five minutes, don't force it—there's no shame in admitting that 90-year-old comedy doesn't land with the Bluey generation. Save this for when they're older and more curious about film history, or just enjoy it yourself.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 7+, and that tracks for content safety, but realistically this is for 9-12 year-olds who already like classic movies or have parents enthusiastically guiding them through film history. Teens and adults with an appreciation for comedy will enjoy it; most kids under 10 will be bored unless they're unusually patient with old films.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Classic slapstick comedy with absurdist humor that's fundamentally silly rather than mean-spirited. The Marx Brothers' antics model irreverence toward authority without genuine cruelty. Some dated gender dynamics (Groucho's character competes for a wealthy woman's affection) but nothing overtly problematic by modern standards. The chaos is cartoonish and the pacing, while fast, is theatrical rather than overstimulating.

Imaginative

Wildly creative wordplay, visual gags, and surreal comedic sequences that still influence comedy today. The famous mirror scene is a masterclass in physical comedy and timing. The absurdist political satire and nonsensical plot invite kids to think about comedy as an art form. Marx Brothers' anarchic style breaks every rule and shows how humor can subvert expectations—genuinely imaginative for 1933 and still clever now.

Safe

Rated G with Common Sense Media age 7+. War scenes are clearly comedic with fake props and sound effects—no real danger or fear. Some cigar smoking (it's Groucho Marx, after all) and one instance of a character being hit for being called an upstart, but all violence is slapstick and cartoonish. No gore, nudity, sexual content, or genuinely scary moments. The 'war' is pure farce with fruit-throwing and costume changes.

Enriching

Offers a window into classic American comedy and the vaudeville tradition. The political satire—though dated—can spark conversations about power, diplomacy, and how humor critiques authority. Wordplay and puns are clever brain-teasers. That said, the cultural references are 90+ years old, and much of the humor requires context kids won't have. It's more 'film history lesson' than deeply meaningful life lessons, but there's value in seeing where modern comedy comes from.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Legitimately brilliant physical comedy and wordplay that influenced generations of comedians—the mirror scene alone is worth the price of admission
Shows kids that humor can be smart, subversive, and totally absurd all at once; political satire that mocks authority figures without being preachy
Zero CGI, zero special effects—just pure comedic timing, clever writing, and physical performance that's honestly impressive
Parent reviews confirm 8-11 year-olds can genuinely enjoy it; multi-generational appeal if your family appreciates classic film
At 68 minutes, it's mercifully short—you can try it without committing to a 2+ hour slog

⚠

What to Watch For

Let's be real: it's a 1933 black-and-white film with vaudeville pacing and Depression-era references. Most modern kids will bounce off this hard unless they're already film buffs or you're watching together
Constant cigar smoking (it's Groucho's whole thing) and some dated gender dynamics—women are mostly love interests or wealthy benefactors
The 'war' scenes are pure slapstick but might confuse very young kids who don't get that it's all parody
Cultural references that will fly over everyone's head without context—this works better as a 'let's learn about film history' family project than casual Friday night viewing

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the movie makes fun of leaders and politicians? Is it okay to laugh at people in charge?"
"That mirror scene—how do you think they filmed it without mirrors? What made it so funny?"
"Groucho uses a lot of puns and word jokes. Did you catch any? Which ones made you laugh?"
"This movie is 90 years old! How is comedy different now versus then? What's changed and what's stayed the same?"

Deep Dive

The original live-action cartoon

If you’re worried that a movie from 1933 will feel like a history lecture, relax. Duck Soup is less like a black-and-white drama and more like a fever dream. While most films from the early thirties are stiff and stagey, the Marx Brothers operate with a level of anarchy that feels surprisingly modern.

If your kid grew up on the frantic, logic-defying energy of SpongeBob SquarePants or The Amazing World of Gumball, they might actually "get" this better than most adults. The brothers don’t care about the plot, they don't care about the rules of physics, and they definitely don't care about the political stability of Freedonia. They are there to break things, insult people, and cause as much chaos as possible in just over an hour.

The Looney Tunes connection

You can see the DNA of every great cartoon in this movie. Rufus T. Firefly is basically the prototype for the "wise-cracking instigator" role that Bugs Bunny eventually perfected. When people talk about the ultimate guide to classic comedy movies, this is the title they use to prove that old stuff isn't necessarily boring.

The humor isn't just about puns; it’s about disruption. There is a specific scene involving a sidecar that is pure slapstick genius, and the "lemonade stand" sequence is a masterclass in how to annoy someone into a state of total madness. If your kid enjoys "troll" humor or the kind of absurdity found in modern YouTube skits, the Marx Brothers were the original masters of that craft.

The mirror scene and the "slow" parts

The absolute peak of the film is the mirror scene. It is a wordless, perfectly timed piece of physical performance where two characters pretend to be each other’s reflection. Even if your kid spends the first twenty minutes complaining that the movie is in black and white, this sequence usually wins them over. It’s a bit of movie magic that doesn’t require CGI to be impressive.

However, you should be ready for the "musical" parts. Back in 1933, every movie needed a big production number. There are moments where the action stops for a song about going to war or a romantic subplot involving Mrs. Teasdale. To a modern kid, these scenes feel like a glitch in the pacing. It’s okay to tell them to hang in there or even fast-forward a minute; the movie is so short that these diversions don't last long before the next round of insults starts.

How to pitch it

Don't sell this as a "classic" or something they "should" see. Sell it as a movie about a guy who becomes the dictator of a country just because a rich lady thought he was funny, and then proceeds to ruin everything for a laugh.

If they like the idea of someone being "confidently wrong" or causing massive problems for people in power, they’ll find a lot to like in Rufus T. Firefly. It’s a great way to show them that being subversive isn't a new invention. Just keep the remote nearby for those musical interludes, and let the mirror scene do the heavy lifting.

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic