The setup is simple: In a near-future America, all mind-altering substances are illegal every day of the year except for one 24-hour window called "The Binge." The story follows three high school seniors who are finally turning 18, which means they are legally allowed to participate for the first time. Their goal? Get to the "Big Party," impress their crushes, and survive the night without overdosing or getting arrested the second the clock strikes midnight.

It stars Vince Vaughn as a chaotic, fast-talking principal (doing a version of the same character he’s played since 2003) and a trio of young actors who spend most of the runtime acting out various stages of being "messed up."

This isn't a "PG-13 with some edge" situation. The Binge leans into its TV-MA/R rating with both hands.

In most teen movies, the "party" is a scene or a third-act climax. In The Binge, the party is the entire point. You will see:

The movie doesn’t really do the "drugs are bad" PSA thing. It treats the Binge as a rite of passage. While there are some consequences (mostly involving bodily fluids), the tone is celebratory and chaotic.

If your kid is sensitive to "bathroom humor," this movie is their nightmare. There is graphic, frequent, and loud vomiting. It’s used as a punchline over and over again. It’s the kind of humor that landed in 1999 with American Pie, but feels a little tired in 2026.

The script is saturated with F-bombs, sexual references, and "locker room" talk. It’s trying to capture how teens actually speak when parents aren't around, but it cranks the volume to eleven.

Beyond the content warnings, the biggest reason to skip The Binge is that it’s just not that good. It’s a one-note joke that gets stretched over 90 minutes. The parody of The Purge is clever for about ten minutes, but once the characters start the actual partying, it turns into a standard, lower-tier teen comedy.

For intentional parents, the "why" matters. We don't just avoid stuff because it's "bad"; we avoid it because there are better things to do with our time. If your teen wants a "one crazy night" movie, there are options that have better writing, more relatable characters, and actual emotional stakes.

If your kid is looking for that "teens on a mission" or "raunchy comedy" vibe, but you want something with a bit more substance (pun intended), here’s what hits the mark:

This is the gold standard for the modern teen comedy. It’s still R-rated, it still features a wild party and some drug use (accidentally), but it’s actually about the friendship between the two leads. It’s smart, hilarious, and feels human.

If you want something that feels like an adventure and handles "troubled youth" with incredible humor and heart, this Taika Waititi film is a masterpiece. It’s much more accessible for a wider age range while still feeling "cool" enough for a 14-year-old.

If they want a parody that is actually biting and weird, Bottoms is a satirical high school comedy that turns the "fight club" trope on its head. It’s R-rated and violent, but it’s doing something much more interesting than just "what if drugs were legal?"

If you're going to do the R-rated "quest for the party" movie, you might as well do the one that defined the genre. It has the same DNA as The Binge, but the chemistry between Jonah Hill and Michael Cera makes it a classic rather than a footnote.

If your teen has already seen The Binge at a friend's house or saw clips on TikTok, you don't need to give a lecture on the dangers of narcotics. They get it. Instead, lean into the critique of the movie itself:

The most important thing to know is that The Binge is a Hulu original, which means it’s very easy for a kid with a profile on a shared family account to stumble upon it. If you have your parental controls set to "Teen" or "PG-13," this movie will be blocked, as it is firmly in the TV-MA category.

Check our guide to setting up Hulu parental controls

Q: What age is The Binge appropriate for? It’s rated R/TV-MA for a reason. It’s intended for audiences 17 and up. Younger teens will likely find the drug use "edgy," but the movie doesn't offer much beyond the shock value.

Q: Is there nudity in The Binge? Surprisingly, there is very little actual nudity. The "R" rating comes almost entirely from the heavy drug use, constant profanity, and sexual dialogue.

Q: Is The Binge a sequel to The Purge? No, it’s a parody. It’s not affiliated with the actual Purge franchise, though it mimics the visual style, the "emergency broadcast" system, and the masks to make the joke land.

Q: Is it okay for a 14-year-old? Most 14-year-olds aren't ready for the level of casual, celebratory hard drug use depicted here. If they want a comedy, look at our best movies for kids list for titles that bring the funny without the cocaine-fueled musical numbers.

The Binge is a "skip it" for most families. It’s a movie that thinks being loud and high is a substitute for being funny. If you have older teens (17+) who are into raunchy comedies, it’s a harmless enough distraction, but for everyone else, there are much better ways to spend a Friday night.