Dickens & Rumi
Cover of Ad Astra

film

Ad Astra

2019

The near future, a time when both hope and hardships drive humanity to look to the stars and beyond. While a mysterious phenomenon menaces to destroy life on planet Earth, astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across the immensity of space and its many perils to uncover the truth about a lost expedition that decades before boldly faced emptiness and silence in search of the unknown.

Ages 13+Source checked

Why this age? PG-13 space peril, deaths, disturbing revelations about murder and emotional abandonment, weapons, and sustained psychological intensity make it better suited to teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age13+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Violence3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Good role models3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Multiple deaths are central, including a captain, mutinous crew members, a murdered expedition team, and the protagonist’s father’s apparent loss.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Deaths and danger are present, but the supplied plot indicates little emphasis on graphic blood or bodily injury.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

The film includes occasional profanity, but language is not a major focus and appears consistent with a moderate PG-13 level.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

An estranged marriage and renewed meeting with Roy’s wife are meaningful emotional threads, but romance is not central.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Space isolation, lethal malfunctions, cosmic threats, dangerous landings, combat, and drifting helplessly through space create sustained tension.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Minor references to alcohol use; not central.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Peril, armed conflict, a mutiny, a destructive confrontation, and crew deaths occur; violence is generally restrained rather than graphically staged.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Roy repeatedly faces lethal space hazards and painful truths, ultimately acting with perseverance and emotional openness rather than surrendering to despair.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The film strongly encourages wonder about space, imaginative speculation about distant worlds, and reflection on humanity’s place in the universe.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a multi-ethnic cast, though limited in scope due to the story's solitary nature.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It presents accessible ideas about space travel, astronaut procedures, planetary environments, antimatter, and the challenges of isolation, though it is fictionalized.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Compassion and reconciliation emerge, but the narrative includes profound neglect, betrayal, and lethal disregard for others.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes emotional honesty, accepting limits, valuing human connection, responsibility, grief, and choosing hope over obsessive isolation.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Roy shows discipline, courage, and growing empathy, though he also violates orders and makes risky choices; adults around him are morally compromised.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in Ad Astra would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Ad Astra, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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