The Iron Giant
In the small town of Rockwell, Maine in October 1957, a giant metal machine befriends a nine-year-old boy and ultimately finds its humanity by unselfishly saving people from their own fears and prejudices.
Tap a marker to jump to that scene. · Nothing flagged after 1:18:43.
What the levels mean
A low rating can still include your child’s fear.
| Mark | Ages 5–7 | Ages 8–10 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 · Low | Little upset in the dialogue. | Little upset in the dialogue. |
| 1 · Mild | Brief scare, worry, or sadness. | Brief, pretend, or comic danger or sadness. |
| 2 · Strong | Chasing, being trapped or lost, or lasting fear. | Lasting danger, injury, or humiliation. |
| 3 · Very strong | An attack, a child taken, or someone dying or seeming to die. | Someone dies or seems to die, a child is taken, or family is in serious danger. |
For a 4-year-old, use 5–7; expect some scenes to feel stronger.
Not checked. The subtitles cannot tell us. It is never shown as a zero.
Filter scenes
MildShip Lost in Storm0:01:14–0:01:41
Be ready at 0:00:44 · ends around 0:01:56
A fishing boat captain radios for help as his boat takes on water in a storm and he loses his bearings near rocks.
StrongSomething Unseen in the Dark0:07:17–0:08:31
Be ready at 0:06:47 · ends around 0:08:46
Alone at night, Hogarth hears strange sounds and something unseen eats the TV antenna, leaving him frightened and confused in the dark.
StrongHogarth Missing at Night0:11:27–0:14:02
Be ready at 0:10:57 · ends around 0:14:17
Hogarth's mother searches desperately for him at night calling his name, and he is heard crying for help before she finds him safe, both of them shaken.
StrongMeeting the Giant Robot0:18:23–0:21:55
Be ready at 0:17:53 · ends around 0:22:10
Hogarth lures a huge, unfamiliar metal giant out of hiding by offering it metal to eat, an encounter that starts unsettling before becoming friendly.
StrongGiant Hit by Train0:24:59–0:26:14
Be ready at 0:24:29 · ends around 0:26:29
The giant robot is struck by an oncoming train and appears destroyed, with Hogarth fearing he has died before discovering he can repair himself.
StrongThe Deer is Shot0:50:38–0:53:56
Be ready at 0:50:08 · ends around 0:54:11
The giant and Hogarth watch hunters shoot and kill a deer in the woods, leading to a sad conversation about death, guns, and souls.
StrongMansley Threatens Hogarth0:54:09–0:55:59
Be ready at 0:53:39 · ends around 0:56:14
A government agent interrogates Hogarth under a harsh light, threatening to take him away from his mother unless he reveals the giant's location.
StrongGiant Attacked, Turns into Weapon1:01:19–1:03:36
Be ready at 1:00:49 · ends around 1:03:51
Soldiers with guns confront the giant in the junkyard, causing him to transform defensively into a weapon and fire, terrifying everyone including Hogarth.
StrongBoys Trapped, Giant Rescues1:04:12–1:04:40
Be ready at 1:03:42 · ends around 1:04:55
Two boys cling to a high structure crying for help as they nearly fall, and the giant swoops in to save them just in time.
Very strongArmy Attacks the Giant in Town1:04:55–1:10:12
Be ready at 1:04:25 · ends around 1:10:27
The army opens fire on the giant as he moves through town with Hogarth, causing chaos, near misses with vehicles, and a desperate flight before he catches Hogarth mid-air.
StrongMissile Launched, Facing Death1:10:10–1:14:40
Be ready at 1:09:40 · ends around 1:14:55
Military leaders decide to launch a nuclear missile to destroy the giant even though it will kill everyone nearby, and characters brace for what they believe is certain death.
StrongThe Giant's Sacrifice1:14:41–1:16:33
Be ready at 1:14:11 · ends around 1:16:48
The giant tells Hogarth he loves him and flies off alone to intercept the incoming missile, sacrificing himself to save the town.
MildMissing the Giant1:17:20–1:18:43
Be ready at 1:16:50 · ends around 1:18:58
Sometime later, Hogarth and his friends quietly grieve the giant, with Hogarth admitting he misses him after receiving a piece of the giant that was recovered.
How this guide was made
We read the film’s subtitles and list each scene in them that could scare or upset a child: when it happens, what happens, and how strong it is for ages 5–7 and 8–10.
Subtitles cannot see, and these ones only carry speech. A scare that is only shown, or only heard, can be missed.
Times follow one subtitle release. Another edition or streaming version can run a little earlier or later.
Children under 5 are not rated. If you use the 5–7 marks for a younger child, expect some scenes to feel stronger.