Content that may disturb children

Under 8

The movie includes images of ecological disasters, people in peril, and harm to animals, which children could find disturbing. For example:

• Hurricane winds blow cars about, and people run around scared and panicking.
• We see a rear view of a man’s emaciated body with his ribs and spine pressing tight against his skin.
• Fires rage through forests. 
• We see mushroom cloud images of an exploding atomic bomb.
• People are trapped in or wade through floodwaters.
• Dead bodies are piled on a tray-top truck.
• Houses explode from the force of hurricane winds and the roofs of houses are blown off.
• Cars float in floodwaters.
• We see emaciated cow carcasses.
• A bloated human body floats in floodwaters.
• A polluted lake burns.
• A crocodile eats and swallows a large fish.
• We see decaying sea creatures on a beach.
• Burning oil fields send up billowing clouds of black smoke.   

From 8-13

Children in this age group might also be disturbed by some of the following themes:

• the extinction of the human race
• a future where planet Earth resembles the planet Venus, with temperatures as high as 482° Farenheit and with sulphuric acid for rain
• the idea that the planet is sick and it might already be too late to turn the situation around
• the way humans are destroying themselves
• climate change as the biggest danger humans have ever faced
• more than 150 million environmental refugees by the middle of the 21st century
• the instability of living systems
• 55 000 species becoming extinct each year because of humans.

Over 13

Some children in this age group could also be disturbed by the scenes and themes descibed above.

Sexual references

None

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None

Nudity and sexual activity

None

Product placement

None

Coarse language 

None

Ideas to discuss with your children

The 11th Hour is a thought-provoking documentary that explores the reasons for the world’s current state of environmental crisis. Some narration is provided by Leonardo DiCaprio, but the main commentary is by world-acclaimed scientists and environmental activists. Children under the age of 10 could find the film uninteresting and beyond their ability to comprehend.

The main messages from this movie are that the people and governments of the world must act now to alter the current environmental crisis. Otherwise, it will be too late. We need to develop an awareness of the relationship between humans and nature.

You could discuss with your children how your family can reduce use of fossil fuels and waste production while increasing use of renewable resources and methods of recycling. You could also talk about the negative effects of selfishness and consumerism.