Knives Out Parent Movie Review: Is This One Safe For Kids?
KNIVES OUT PARENT MOVIE REVIEW
One can only hope that Knives Out is the first of a series of Benoit Blanc whodunnits because I can’t remember having a better time at the theater. The story, the lighting, the costumes (hello, all the Knives Out Sweaters!) and the actors combine for a fast, funny and clever mystery. But is Knives Out safe for kids? This Knives Out parent movie review will let you know just how kid-friendly the movie is. With a PG-13 rating, there are some things parents need to know.
Table of Contents
What’s Knives Out About?
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. – Lionsgate
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 130 minutes
Knives Out Review
This is one of the best movies of 2019 on a variety of levels and I was completely in love with the whole effect.
The whodunnit genre brings so much creativity to the screen when handled properly, and Rian Johnson absolutely makes great use of the genre to maximum effect.
From the outstanding use of color themes to the noir-favored use of lighting, Knives Out can stand with the likes of Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Clue and Edgar Allan Poe.
If those types of stories are your jam; you must see Knives Out in theaters as soon as possible before any spoilers leak.
A Family Murder Mystery
Harlan Thrombey celebrates his 85th birthday with his family and is found dead the next morning by the housekeeper. While the police are willing to rule this a suicide, famed detective Benoit Blanc is not so quick to close. He’s been mysteriously hired himself, adding an extra layer to the mystery encompassing this dysfunctional, morally questionable and filthy rich family.
By the first 25-minutes, it clear that just about everyone is a suspect with good reason.

Daniel Craig plays Blanc and with an energy and vibrancy that feels innately southern. That absurd accent actually works and I absolutely loved the gentleman sleuth at the center of this story.
If there’s a series to be made: don’t even try it without Daniel Craig in the Bennie Blanc role, Johnson.
Blanc is joined for most of the movie by Marta (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s nurse with an exceedingly kind heart. She plays Watson to Blanc’s Holmes as they unravel the mystery of the Thrombey family.
Armas turns in a sympathetic and likable portrayal, which is sorely needed in this family of very unloveable characters.
Clues are all around, and as one of the detectives states, “Thombey practically lived in a Clue board” gesturing toward the mansion.
An observant viewer might pick up on a few things as this movie has some predictability (especially for those of us who love a good murder mystery.)
But when Johnson is expected to zig, he throws in a zag, and that does manage to keep the audience guessing his next moves.
None of this would have been pulled off so eloquently if he hadn’t cast this show right. What a cast he had to work with on Knives Out: Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer, Katherine Langford, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, and Chris Evans are clearly having a blast on this movie.
With a large ensemble, it can be easy to get lost but these actors took advantage of the moments Johnson gave them. Even the smaller supporting characters make the most of their time on screen with Noah Segan as Trooper Wagner and K. Callan as Greatnana Wanetta snatching scenes.
I won’t say more in order to preserve the whodunnit nature of the film, but you gotta love the fact that Captain America is getting laughs by acting very non-Steve Rogers-like.
He has some of the sharpest Knives Out quotes in the movie. You almost appreciate that he’s hung up the shield and moved on. (Almost- cause I’m still in denial over here!)

Are there end credit scenes in Knives Out?
The mystery is solved, can you leave the theater when the credits start to roll? Are there end credit scenes in Knives Out?
Nope, there are not. While it’s always worthwhile to stay a bit and watch the filmmaker’s names scroll across the screen if you have to leave the theater don’t feel like you’ll miss any extra end credit scenes.
When Can You Pee During Knives Out?
Well. You can’t.
I hate to say that since this movie is on the long side of things, but you really don’t have a lot of window of opportunity here to dash out. Every time I thought I saw one, the next 30 seconds of the movie would prove otherwise.
For the most part, this is a limit your soda, stay in your seat kind of movie.
But if you do need to rush to the bathroom, you can pee during Knives Out
- Immediately after the reading of the will around 1:10 minutes. There’s a flurry of activity but nothing you won’t be able to put together once your back in your seat. Make it quick!
Knives Out Parent Movie Review
While this movie is rated PG-13, it doesn’t mean that Knives Out is safe for kids of all ages over 13. There are some concerns about the kid-friendly, even for the teens and tweens in your home.
We’ll break this down in the Knives Out parent movie review so you can decide if Knives Out is safe for your kids to watch.
Is Knives Out Safe For Kids?
There is a graphic death that occurs, but outside of this one incident, there is no gore to worry about.
The nature of this death is the center of the mystery, so without going into spoiler territory, parents should also be aware that suicide is discussed as well. Should you have a teen that is struggling with self-harm, you’ll want to take this into advisement.
There are not any big gunfights or even dramatic violence sequences in this movie. There are some mild drug use and discussion.
You will not see any sex or nudity on screen. Adult topics such as having affairs and sex, in general, are mentioned.
The Language of Knives Out Parent Movie Review: It’s Not Kid-Friendly
The true issue with Knives Out from a parent review standpoint is the language. I didn’t count all the swear words used in the show, but there were quite a few. And most are coming from Chris Evans, who your kids might know as Captain America.
This is definitely NOT Cap, y’all.
My friend who does count the swear words said Knives Out had well over 50 in the movie. That does include things like F-bombs and God D*mn.
If language is something your family avoids, then this movie may not be for any of you; you can get a taste of it in the trailers.
Overall, I think there are much more concerning movies out there for teens and tweens. So this one isn’t on my “heck no” list. But I would stick with the age recommendations and take 13 and up to this show.
If your kid is still in elementary school, its probably best to leave them at home!

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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.