Parents' Guide to

Pearl Jam Twenty

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Music comes first in commemorative grunge-rock docu.

Movie NR 2011 146 minutes
Pearl Jam Twenty Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Daniel L.
Daniel L. Adult
August 1, 2020
age 16+

A very fun movie

PG-13: some strong language
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Blending one-on-one interviews, extensive live concert footage, and rare behind-the-scenes clips, Oscar-winning director Cameron Crowe crafts a definitive portrait of Pearl Jam, one of the most influential bands to emerge from the alternative rock "grunge" movement of the 1990s. But PEARL JAM TWENTY also commemorates the band's two decades together by exploring the group's habitual refusal to compromise their art and values amid mainstream commerical success.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

There's no doubt avid Pearl Jam fans will love Crowe's well-crafted portrait of their favorite band. But even the casual music buff will find Pearl Jam Twenty worthwhile, thanks to the film's thoughtful handling of serious topics like the corporate influence on artistic expression and an artist's level of control over his or her own fame. Even if you show up with little to no knowledge of Pearl Jam prior, you'll walk away with real appreciation for the band's story, music, and career.

Crowe's former life as a Rolling Stone journalist who covered the band's early rise on the Seattle grunge scene no doubt propelled the final product beyond a basic rock doc, granting him the familiar access of a good friend who just so happens to be a great filmmaker. But his obvious admiration for his subjects doesn't keep him from telling their story as it should be told; it merely serves to enhance the passion with which he tells it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the central theme of the commercialization of art. How much control or input do artists have into what happens to their art? How does fame play into the process?

  • What are the negative effects of fame, particularly when it comes on suddenly as opposed to gradually? What role does our society play in the culture of fame and celebrity/rock-star worship? Are fans solely to blame, or are they merely influenced by media and marketing?

  • How do the members of Pearl Jam measure up as role models? How have they changed over the course of 20 years together as a band, particularly as they've come into adulthood?

Movie Details

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