The One and Only Ivan
The One and Only Ivan
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The One and Only Ivan is a family film that blends live action and visual effects, with a gentle and often funny tone, yet it is also deeply emotional because it focuses on captivity, loss, and the longing for freedom. The main sensitive elements are the sadness of young animals separated from their families, the illness and death of a major character, and a few moderate danger scenes during an attempted escape, including nighttime tension and traffic risk. The overall intensity stays fairly mild, with no graphic violence and no truly frightening villain, but several scenes can strongly affect younger children because the animals' grief and confusion are emotionally clear and central to the story. For a child of 4, the themes may feel heavier than the warm presentation suggests. I would recommend watching with support from about age 7, with a parent ready to explain captivity, reassure during separation scenes, and talk gently about death and belonging.
Synopsis
A gorilla named Ivan who’s living in a suburban shopping mall tries to piece together his past, with the help of other animals, as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.
Difficult scenes
Ruby's arrival is tied to a painful separation from her family and from life in the wild. The scene is not handled in a shocking way, but her sadness and confusion are easy for young children to understand, which may prompt distress or questions about abandonment. Stella grows weaker and later dies after becoming an important emotional presence in the group. The film handles this moment gently, with no graphic imagery, but the sadness is clear and may deeply affect children who are sensitive to loss or to protective figures disappearing. Ivan describes memories from his childhood in the jungle, including the death of his father at the hands of poachers before Ivan was captured. The moment is told rather than graphically shown, but the idea of a parent animal being killed and a child being taken from home can be hard for very young viewers. An escape attempt creates several moderately tense scenes at night, with the animals hiding, tricking a guard, and crossing a busy road. Nothing is shown in a violent way, but the suspense is noticeable enough to unsettle children who are very sensitive to danger or fear of being caught.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2020
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Thea Sharrock
- Main cast
- Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell, Brooklynn Prince, Angelina Jolie, Danny DeVito, Ariana Greenblatt, Helen Mirren, Phillipa Soo, Mike White, Ron Funches
- Studios
- Allison Shearmur Productions, Digital Makeup Group, Jolie Pas Productions, Walt Disney Pictures
Content barometer
Violence
2/5
Moderate
Fear
2/5
A few scenes
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
The One and Only Ivan is a family film that blends live action and visual effects, with a gentle and often funny tone, yet it is also deeply emotional because it focuses on captivity, loss, and the longing for freedom. The main sensitive elements are the sadness of young animals separated from their families, the illness and death of a major character, and a few moderate danger scenes during an attempted escape, including nighttime tension and traffic risk. The overall intensity stays fairly mild, with no graphic violence and no truly frightening villain, but several scenes can strongly affect younger children because the animals' grief and confusion are emotionally clear and central to the story. For a child of 4, the themes may feel heavier than the warm presentation suggests. I would recommend watching with support from about age 7, with a parent ready to explain captivity, reassure during separation scenes, and talk gently about death and belonging.
Synopsis
A gorilla named Ivan who’s living in a suburban shopping mall tries to piece together his past, with the help of other animals, as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity.
Difficult scenes
Ruby's arrival is tied to a painful separation from her family and from life in the wild. The scene is not handled in a shocking way, but her sadness and confusion are easy for young children to understand, which may prompt distress or questions about abandonment. Stella grows weaker and later dies after becoming an important emotional presence in the group. The film handles this moment gently, with no graphic imagery, but the sadness is clear and may deeply affect children who are sensitive to loss or to protective figures disappearing. Ivan describes memories from his childhood in the jungle, including the death of his father at the hands of poachers before Ivan was captured. The moment is told rather than graphically shown, but the idea of a parent animal being killed and a child being taken from home can be hard for very young viewers. An escape attempt creates several moderately tense scenes at night, with the animals hiding, tricking a guard, and crossing a busy road. Nothing is shown in a violent way, but the suspense is noticeable enough to unsettle children who are very sensitive to danger or fear of being caught.