The King of Kings
Acceptable with guidance. Age: 8+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
In this cartoon, the writer Charles Dickens tells his son Walter the story of Jesus. Walter pictures himself right there as Jesus is born, heals people, dies on the cross and rises again. It shows how much Jesus loves us and why He died for us. The parts about King Herod and the cross are sad and may scare very small kids. It is good for most children, best with a parent. The King of Kings is a faithful, warm first telling of the Gospel for children, and the Catholic review of record (OSV News) classed it A-I, while noting it may be too much for the very youngest. It is an evangelical telling, so it shows the baptism of Jesus and the Last Supper but never explains Baptism or the Eucharist as the way Christ's life reaches us in His Church. Add those yourself.
For parents
All ages per the Catholic classification, though the same review says it may be too much for tots; Common Sense Media says eight and up. Read Matthew 20:28 together and find the word the film changed: ransom. See CCC 601 and 615. Walter is told faith will save him. Ask: how does Jesus give us that new life? Through Baptism and the Eucharist in His Church (CCC 1257, 1324). Ask where Mary was when Jesus died (Jn 19:25 to 27).