Dragonkeeper

NZ release: 16 January 2025

Violence Rated on: 30 October 2024

dragonkeeper poster

What’s it about?

In ancient China, dragons face the threat of extinction. When an enslaved girl named Ping discovers a rare and precious dragon egg, she sets out on a perilous journey to save the species and uncover her true destiny.

The facts 

  • Directed by Salvador Simó Busom and Li Jianping
  • Stars Bill Nighy, Mayalinee Griffiths, Anthony Howell, Bill Bailey 
  • English language 
  • Runtime: 100 minutes

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

This film has scenes with violence that may scare young viewers. The strongest moments include:

  • A character is chased, bitten by a poisonous insect, and revived by magical mist.
  • A dragon is shot with an arrow and crash-lands, injuring itself.
  • A character holds a blade to a child’s throat, and a dragon intervenes.
  • Venomous insects swarm characters, causing paralysis or near-death, with magical revivals.
  • A demon grows large and is ultimately destroyed in a burst of energy.

Additional scenes include a dragon attacking a palace, chains being used to restrain it, and a character using their powers to help the dragon escape. A glowing orb plays a central role in the plot, causing transformations and healing injuries. Several scenes involve physical confrontations, such as slapping, nosebleeds, and a girl being pushed or grabbed.

Sad scenes 

The film contains some emotional moments, the main ones being when a dying mother bids farewell to her son, and a character struggling with their identity as an orphan.

When content stays with you

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

Further information 

Recent featured decisions

20 August 2025

Violence, offensive language, drug use and content that may disturb

Hank Thompson, a burned-out former baseball player, is suddenly pulled into a deadly fight for survival in the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York, forced to navigate an underworld he never thought he’d enter.

Read more

21 August 2025

Violence

While working on a humanitarian placement in French Guiana, UK Prime Minister Abigail Dalton’s husband, Dr. Alex Anderson, is kidnapped. At the same time, French President Vivienne Toussaint is blackmailed, forcing the two leaders, despite their rivalry, into a dangerous political showdown where every choice comes with devastating consequences.

Read more