The Croods
The Croods (2013) is an animated adventure-comedy film that follows a prehistoric cave family, the Croods, led by their overprotective patriarch, Grug. When their sheltered world is destroyed by cataclysmic events, they are forced to embark on a perilous journey through a vibrant and dangerous new landscape. Along the way, they encounter Guy, a more evolved and inventive human who introduces them to new ideas and the concept of "Tomorrow." The film explores universal themes of family bonds, the tension between fear of the unknown and the benefits of embracing change, and the importance of adaptation for survival. It combines fast-paced action and slapstick humor with heartwarming messages about parental love, unity, and progress. The narrative focuses on the family's physical survival and discovery in a fantastical, non-magical prehistoric setting. While generally considered family-friendly, the movie contains several intense chase sequences, animated peril, and comedic violence that may be frightening for very young or sensitive viewers. It also features a mild romantic subplot and themes of adolescent rebellion against parental authority. The overall content is suitable for elementary school-aged children and up, providing opportunities for discussion on family dynamics and facing change.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe film features frequent slapstick violence and animated peril as the prehistoric family navigates a dangerous world. Characters face predatory creatures and natural disasters. Injuries are typically comedic, exaggerated, and lack graphic detail, with no lasting harm depicted. The MPAA rating includes 'some scary moments' and 'peril.'
During a chaotic 'food heist' early in the film, the Crood family engages in physical altercations with various dangerous animals, including being chased, outsmarting predators, and Grug experiencing repeated cartoonish impacts and falls. More intensely, a scene depicts a flock of seemingly peaceful birds rapidly consuming a large animal, leaving only its carcass, and Gran, driven by hunger, viciously attempts to bite Thunk's foot.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe movie includes mild romantic elements focusing on the developing relationship between Eep and Guy, primarily through innocent flirting, hand-holding, and a kiss. Any suggestive content is minimal and generally played for comedic effect, often involving Grug’s overprotective reactions.
The budding romance between Eep and Guy is shown through their interactions and flirting, often eliciting Grug's discomfort and attempts to physically separate them when they stand close or touch. Limited visual suggestive content includes Eep wearing a 'slightly scanty outfit,' typical of a cave-dwelling character, and a brief comedic moment where Grug's underwear is exposed after a run-in with an animal.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe film includes several intense and potentially frightening scenes, primarily involving natural disasters and predatory prehistoric creatures. These elements contribute to its PG rating and may be unsettling for younger children, especially in 3D formats.
Characters experience significant peril from environmental catastrophes, such as a major earthquake that causes large rocks to fall, flames sweeping across the landscape, and the destruction of their cave home. The Croods are frequently pursued by dangerous and scary-looking prehistoric creatures, including a wild bird from which they attempt to steal an egg, and small carnivorous birds that rapidly skeletonize a large animal, causing terror in the family.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumA central theme of the movie is Eep's rebellion against her father Grug's excessively restrictive and fear-driven rules. Her defiance, while initially a source of conflict, is ultimately portrayed as necessary for the family's growth and survival, leading to positive outcomes.
Eep repeatedly disobeys Grug's strict mantra of 'never not be afraid' by venturing outside their cave and exploring the world, which directly challenges his authority and eventually leads the family to new discoveries and a safer future. Grug and Gran, the grandmother, frequently engage in combative, sometimes humorous, arguments, with Grug occasionally expressing a desire for Gran's demise, as seen when he 'tosses his mother-in-law up in the air like a coin'.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe film is set in a fictional prehistoric era that implicitly aligns with evolutionary concepts, which may conflict with literal Christian creationist views. While there is no explicit mockery or criticism of Christian beliefs, the narrative presents a secular worldview where characters rely on human ingenuity and natural forces for survival and progress, rather than divine intervention or guidance.
The movie's setting in a 'prehistoric Pliocene era known as 'The Croodaceous'' with early hominids and fantastical creatures implies an evolutionary timeline that may be at odds with the biblical account of creation for some Christian audiences. Christian reviews note the absence of God and an emphasis on humanism and self-reliance, with the characters' journey portrayed as finding 'faith in the unseen' (light/tomorrow) in a secular context, without explicit spiritual or religious elements.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowThe 2013 film 'The Croods' does not contain explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines within its narrative. While a film editor came out as transgender after the movie's release, this is a biographical detail about a crew member and not a thematic element of the film's content. Any discussions of 'gay subtext' or confirmed LGBTQ+ characters are explicitly tied to the sequel ('The Croods: A New Age') or the prequel animated series ('Dawn of the Croods'), not the original 2013 movie.
No explicit LGBTQ+ representation or gender identity themes are present in 'The Croods' (2013) itself. For example, searches for LGBTQ characters or themes in the 2013 film yielded zero results for on-screen content. While film editor Erika Dapkewicz came out as transgender in the 2010s, this is a personal aspect of a crew member's life and is not featured within the film's narrative or characters.
Profanity
LowThe language used in 'The Croods' is very mild, reflecting the primitive setting and character development. There is no use of strong profanity or offensive curse words throughout the film, consistent with a PG rating for family audiences.
Review sources confirm that 'no obscenities or profanities' are present in the film, with one noting 'nothing notable' regarding language. The only specific mild insults mentioned in reviews are 'dummy' and 'sucky,' indicating a very low level of objectionable language.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no presence of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or explicit supernatural themes in 'The Croods.' The narrative is set in a fantastical prehistoric world where events are driven by natural phenomena and creature interactions, not magic.
The prehistoric world features exaggerated and imaginative creatures, but these are presented as natural elements of their environment and not as products of magic or occult forces. The discovery of fire by Guy is presented as an invention and a tool, showcasing ingenuity and progress, rather than any form of magic or occult power.
Substance Use
LowThe film features very minimal and ambiguous references to substance use, limited to one comedic instance of a character mixing 'cocktail-like' drinks without any indication of actual alcohol consumption or intoxication. Multiple parental reviews explicitly state 'None of concern' regarding alcohol, drugs, and other substances for the 2013 movie.
Guy's pet sloth, Belt, is comically depicted mixing and serving 'cocktail-like drinks,' though the contents are not specified as alcoholic, and no characters are shown consuming alcohol or becoming intoxicated. Parental reviews consistently report no depictions or references to illegal drug use, smoking, or any other form of substance consumption by characters.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Recommended for children aged 6 and older. The PG rating is due to frequent animated peril and some intense, scary scenes that younger, more sensitive children may find frightening.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that while the 2013 film itself has minimal concerning content, later installments in 'The Croods' franchise, specifically 'The Croods: A New Age' and the prequel series 'Dawn of the Croods,' introduce elements such as implied LGBTQ+ subtext and confirmed gay characters. Therefore, parents considering the wider franchise should research each installment individually.
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