Metropolis

Review

Common Sense Media says

Legendary silent sci-fi masterpiece has semi-nudity, riots.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Metropolis is a classic of silent cinema, with some of the most striking and memorable science fiction images in movie history. It contains fighting and some frightening images, plus rioting, angry mobs, and destruction, but nothing comparable to today's movie violence. There are some sexual images, including a scene of a nearly topless woman dancing, and men leering and panting at her. Some women wear see-through clothing. There's one use of "damn" and minor characters are seen smoking.

  • Positive messages4
    In this era of huge corporate profits and Wall Street protests, the movie's themes related to class and labor still seem relevant. Rather than placing blame, its idea is that the "head" (the corporations and managers) and the "body" (the workers) need a "heart" or a mediator to get them together and help them to understand one another.
  • Positive role models4
    Freder is a wealthy playboy, who, when he discovers the drudgery and danger of the workers' conditions, risks his life and livelihood to help do something about it, although he is partly motivated by a beautiful woman. Maria, too, inspires and motivates the workers with her secret underground meetings; she promotes a non-violent revolution.
  • Violence2
    There are some fistfights, chases, and escapes as well as some frightening imagery. There are angry mobs rioting. A woman is chased through eerie catacombs, and there are nightmare sequences with creepy moving statues, skeletons, and skulls. Workers are injured and hauled away on stretchers, and a flood threatens to wipe out the city. A character is nearly burned at the stake.
  • Sex3
    In one scene, women are gathered and chosen as amusement for the sons of the wealthy, and some of them wear see-through clothing. The hero is seen beginning to seduce one of these women. The robot double of Maria dances for men in a nightclub; she's almost topless except for pasties covering her breasts. The men pant and leer while they watch, as if she's driving them into a sexual frenzy. There's a brief drawing of a topless woman in a book. The hero and heroine kiss twice.
  • Language1
    The title cards include one use of "damn."
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Some minor characters smoke cigarettes in a background way. One character has a glass of liquor on his desk, but doesn't drink.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

High over a sprawling city, evil Joh Fredersen (Alfred Abel) runs everything while workers toil underground on dehumanizing machines. One day, his privileged son Freder (Gustav Frohlich) spies Maria (Brigitte Helm), follows her, and discovers the horrors of the underground city. He switches places with a worker and attends a meeting, where Maria declares him the mediator ("the heart") between the "head" (his father) and the "body" (the workers). Unfortunately, an evil inventor, Rotwang (Rudolf Klein-Rogge), develops a robot, disguises it as Maria, and sends it off to destroy the workers' revolutionary morale. The newly enraged workers revolt and shut down the machine, causing flooding and calamity. It's up to Freder to save the day.
 

Is it any good?

 

Metropolis is actually an atypical movie in the career of Fritz Lang, who was normally known for his crime films and dark themes of cruel fate. This film is much larger in scale and more hopeful than was usual for him. Yet there's no question that the visuals in Metropolis are among the greatest in movie history, and they do not fail to impress, even today. Certain shots and clips have become familiar to many, and newer sci-fi epics are inevitably compared to it.

But the story was always a problem; H.G. Wells wrote in 1927 that it was "the silliest film." In short, the rudimentary story never quite lived up to the spectacular images. That is, until 2010, when a "complete" (lacking only about 5 minutes) version was finally released, and the story achieved new depths and complexities, making it worthy of its packaging. Subplots add new parallels to the story, and the rhythms and pacing have grown more poetic. It may not be Lang's best film, but its power is undeniable.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How do the one-on-one violent scenes differ from the group violence shots? How does the violence in this movie compare with modern movie violence?

  • What is the role of sex in this movie? What are the messages the movie is trying to communicate about the power of sex and sexuality? How does the movie handle romance and love?

  • How does the movie's message -- about a "mediator" between the "head" and "hands" -- apply to current events?

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Kino
Director:Fritz Lang
Cast:Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Frohlich
Genre:Science Fiction
Run time:148 minutes
DVD release date:April 25, 2010
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!

About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More visually spectacular sci-fi
For kids who love sci-fi and classics
Browse more movies
 

vote now

Will you see Metropolis?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it