Is Disney’s Cruella safe for kids? You might be thinking, of course, Cruella is ok for kids! It’s Disney and it’s based on a favorite villain that kids love to hate. But this one is a touch darker than parents might be thinking: Cruella is rated PG-13 after all. Cruella, the dark alter ego of Estella and isn’t kid-friendly. This parent movie review and guide for Cruella will help you decide if this one is something your family should watch or wait on. Ps- here’s the parent review for Jungle Cruise movie as well!
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About Disney’s Cruella
Academy Award® winner Emma Stone (“La La Land”) stars in Disney’s “Cruella,” an all-new live-action feature film about the rebellious early days of one of cinemas most notorious – and notoriously fashionable – villains, the legendary Cruella de Vil.
“Cruella,” which is set in 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, follows a young grifter named Estella, a clever and creative girl determined to make a name for herself with her designs.
She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets.
One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute, played by two-time Oscar® winner Emma Thompson (“Howards End,” “Sense & Sensibility”).
But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable, and revenge-bent Cruella.
Are There End Credit or Mid Credit Scenes In Cruella?
YES!
So don’t turn off Disney+ or walk out of the theater as soon as the movie ends.
There’s one mid-credit scene that could leave the door open for Emma Stone to reprise Cruella for a future project.
More Cruella? YES PLEASE.
If you are a fan of the original story, you’ll definitely want to see this clever set up.
When Can You Pee During Cruella?
If you elect to watch this one at home on Disney+, the answer is easy: hit pause and go whenever you need to!
But if you, like me, decide to head into the theater to watch this gorgeous film on the biggest screen you can find, knowing when you can pee during Cruella will save you from missing precious plot points.
- 20 minutes in as Estella is rushing to her new job
- 60 minutes in when Cruella visits Anita at the newspaper
Is Cruella Safe For Kids? Parent Movie Guide and Review
This one feels like it will be a hot topic discussion amongst parents, so I put together some reasons why Cruella may not be ok for some kids.
As a PG-13 rated movie, Cruella isn’t the worst option you could think of for young kids, but there are some issues you should be aware of before buying into the movie.
We’ll get to those in a moment, but first off, let’s talk about this gorgeous film!
Cruella Review
Cruella is a feast of the senses.
It’s stunning and I’m not just talking about Emma Thompson’s flawlessness as the Baroness. #Swoon!
The colors- even when it’s striking a black and white motiff- and the fashion (zomg the FASHION!) beg to be soaked in from the biggest screen you can find.
Yes, it’s on Disney+ for $29.99. And that is tempting, I know.
But if you are ready to visit theaters again, I highly recommend watching this one on the biggest screen you can find.
Do not- we repeat- DO NOT watch this one on your phone.
Bonus if you can do Dolby for the sound, because the soundtrack for Cruella is perfect for this period peice.
And this is most definitely a period piece set in the 70s West End London, where music and fashion blended gloriously.
While the plot is serviceable, the acting carries the movie with a strong cast and there are some killer quotes from Cruella and the Baroness that will have you cackling.
The two Emma’s (Stone and Thompson) are pure delight and the affable sidekicks Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) and Jasper (Joel Fry) brings heart to the film.
Will you love it?
Maybe not. There are flaws with the length of the story and some missed opportunities for character development but overall this is a fun, at times wickedly delightful and enjoyable movie.
Not everything has to be deep to be enjoyable.
It’s dark, however, and that’s something families need to keep in mind before they take their kids to see Cruella.
Parent Guide For Disney’s Cruella: Is Cruella Ok For Kids?
As always, you know your family best.
But we like to provide a heads up for any possible concerns that might affect a small or sensitive child when watching the movie so parents can be informed before settling in for a movie night.
Cruella isn’t what I’d call kid-friendly, but it’s also not the worst movie you could take a kid to.
Here’s what you need to know to decide if Cruella is safe for kids in your household.
Language In Cruella
Huzzah! There’s really no traditional cuss words (even British ones) to worry about for families in Cruella.
You do hear things like imbecille and psycho spoken in unkind ways, however. But no actual swears are spoken.
Violence In Cruella
There’s a bit here to unpack.
A character falls to their death after being attacked by a pack of dogs, which could certainly be an issue for small children to watch.
There’s murder, arson, and chase scenes that could all impact your decision when deciding if Cruella is ok for kids.
The movie is about revenge so you can’t expect things to be completely kid-friendly!
Deaths In Cruella
Its Disney, so you know what that means: a parent has to die.
Look, we don’t make the rules!
This is something that could affect kids, so keep that in mind. Estella watches it go down (literally) and that may have a traumatizing effect on some kiddos.
BUT… no dogs are harmed in this movie. Cruella’s actually a dog lover, who knew?
What Ages Should Watch Disney’s Cruella?
Is Cruella safe for kids?
The two main characters (Estella/Cruella and the Baroness) are both big bullies with lines that cut and hurt others. This could be a problem for sensitive or bullied children to watch as entertainment.
We think Cruella is ok for kids ages 9 and up who aren’t too sensitive and who can appreciate dark humor.
If that’s your kid, you know they can handle this one.
The PG-13 rating is actually pretty spot on, however, for most kids.
One note: the movie is over 2 hours long with long stretches between the action. Children with short attention spans may struggle to make it through this one.
More Parent Movie Reviews
Is The Falcon and The Winter Soldier Safe For Kids?
Is Bridgerton On Netflix Safe For Kids?
Is Quiet Place 2 Safe For Kids?
Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.
Wendy Kroy
Thursday 24th of June 2021
There is arson and chase scenes in the incredibles and murder in tangled too...this movie is not dark at all...there is bullying in Luca...