The 4 Things to Know Before Taking Your Kids to See Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

As with all Star Wars films, Episode IX is intense from the get-go and filled with scenes that make your muscles tense up, moments that make you want to watch through your fingers, and reveals that cause you to jump out of your seat. And because the film is so dark — in terms of lighting, though the dark side's influence is ever-present, of course — all of the action tends to feel like it sneaks up on you. If your kids have seen a Star Wars movie and handled it well, all should be fine, but if you have a child who tends to get stressed or anxious when characters are in peril or giant fight scenes are occurring, know that there's more of that in this film than there are calm moments that give you a chance to breathe.

Spoiler alert: some of the most tense scenes are when Kylo Ren and Rey battle (like in the photo above), when Emperor Palpatine, back from the dead, is on the screen, and just the general fighting scenes (of which there are too many to count). A particularly jumpy scene comes right after Rey finds the second Wayfinder.

If you're taking your kids to see The Rise of Skywalker in theatres, know that from the text intro disappears into the starry sky there's loud noises and music, as well as flashing lights — and it all moves at (pun intended) light speed. If you have children who don't fare well with sensory overload, taking them to see Episode IX in theatres could be a lot for them to handle. As mentioned above, this movie is 90 percent go, go, go action, so let's just say that there aren't a lot of moments where it lets up and the characters are able to sit and have a slow tea break together.

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As expected, this last episode of the nine-part Skywalker saga has an air of finality to it that brings on tons of emotion. We say goodbye to a few beloved characters, some whom we've already said goodbye to appear for touching cameos, our heroes make brave sacrifices, and that C3PO moment from the trailer is a real doozy.

It's definitely a more intense film than it is an emotional one, but as with all of the episodes before it, the feeling that there's still hope in the resistance is enough to make anyone's heart swell. If you have particularly sensitive kiddos, there might be a couple of instances in which they get emotional, but you can definitely tell them that everything is going to be OK despite the sad moments, as it always manages to be!

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With a running time of two hours and 22 minutes, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be a long movie for younger kids and those with small bladders (ahem, like me) to sit through. If you know that two plus hours is a while for your little one to sit, make sure you're equipped with snacks and quiet things to keep them going (though honestly, there's so much action in this movie, they might stay gripped until the very end with no trouble).

If you or your kids have to go to the bathroom, there's a good time right smack in the middle of the movie: after being aboard Kylo Ren's ship, Rey escapes on the Millennium Falcon. This is your moment! As for what you'll miss? Minor spoiler alert incoming: Rey will seethe with the desire for revenge against Emperor Palpatine for a minute or so, then Kylo Ren will communicate with the emperor, who is hellbent on finding Rey.