The 2018 version of A Star Is Born (Bradley Cooper's directorial debut, starring Cooper and Lady Gaga) is actually the fourth film adaptation of this story. It follows Jackson Maine, an established country-rock musician struggling with alcoholism and hearing loss, who discovers and falls in love with Ally, a talented singer-songwriter played by Lady Gaga in her breakout acting role.

As Ally's career skyrockets, Jackson's addiction spirals. It's a love story, yes, but it's primarily a devastating portrait of how addiction destroys relationships and lives. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won Best Original Song for "Shallow."

Your teen probably knows it from TikTok—clips of "Shallow" and the iconic "I just wanted to take another look at you" line have been everywhere. The soundtrack genuinely is incredible. But the movie behind those viral moments? That's a different story.

Let's be specific about what you're signing up for:

Substance Abuse (Constant and Central) This isn't "character drinks at a party" content. Jackson is shown drinking constantly—beer, whiskey, pills. He drinks before performances, during performances, and after performances. He mixes alcohol with prescription drugs. The film doesn't glamorize this (it's portrayed as destructive), but it's relentless. There are multiple scenes of him stumbling drunk, slurring words, and making terrible decisions while intoxicated.

One particularly rough scene: Jackson wets himself on stage while drunk. It's humiliating and hard to watch—which is the point, but it's also a lot.

Suicide The film ends with Jackson's suicide by hanging. While the actual act happens off-screen, the aftermath is shown, and the emotional weight is devastating. If your teen has any history with suicidal ideation, depression, or has lost someone to suicide, this could be genuinely triggering. This is something to talk through carefully.

Language F-bombs throughout. It's not gratuitous—it feels natural to the characters and setting—but if you're counting, there are over 40 uses of "fuck" and various other profanity.

Sexual Content One sex scene (brief, not graphic, but clearly implied). Some partial nudity. Ally performs in drag bars early in the film where performers are in revealing costumes. Nothing exploitative, but definitely present.

Toxic Relationship Dynamics This is actually the part that might be most important to discuss. Jackson and Ally's relationship is deeply loving but also deeply unhealthy. He's jealous of her success. He embarrasses her publicly. She enables his drinking while also trying to help him. It's a realistic portrayal of how addiction poisons relationships, but teens might need help understanding why this isn't #relationshipgoals despite the romantic framing.

Emotional Intensity Even setting aside the specific content warnings, this film is emotionally heavy. The final 30 minutes are genuinely gut-wrenching. If your teen is going through a breakup, dealing with grief, or just having a rough time emotionally, this might not be the moment for this movie.

The soundtrack is genuinely phenomenal. "Shallow" became a cultural phenomenon, and songs like "Always Remember Us This Way" and "Maybe It's Time" are beautiful. Lady Gaga's performance is magnetic, and the film has this raw, authentic feel to the music performances that's compelling.

Also, let's be real: it's a romance about two attractive people making beautiful music together. The early scenes of their relationship—the bathtub conversation, the grocery store parking lot, the first time they perform "Shallow" together—are genuinely swoon-worthy.

Your teen has probably seen clips on TikTok that make it look like a straightforward romance. And on the surface, it is romantic. But the full context is much darker than those viral moments suggest.

Not recommended under 15: The suicide content alone makes this inappropriate for younger teens. Add in the constant substance abuse and you're dealing with content that requires emotional maturity to process.

Ages 15-16 (with co-viewing): Mature 15-year-olds might be ready for this, but I'd strongly recommend watching together and having real conversations afterward. This shouldn't be a "watch in their room" situation.

Ages 17+: At this age, most teens can handle the content, though it's still heavy. Even older teens might benefit from processing it with you afterward.

Red flags that suggest waiting: If your teen is dealing with depression, has shown concerning behavior around alcohol or drugs, has experienced loss through suicide, or is in an unhealthy relationship, this might hit too close to home. Trust your gut.

This isn't La La Land: If your teen loved La La Land and wants another musical romance, know that A Star Is Born is significantly darker and more mature. La La Land is bittersweet; A Star Is Born is devastating.

The music is the easy part: Your teen can listen to the soundtrack without any of these concerns. The album is genuinely great and age-appropriate on its own. If they just want the music, that's an easy yes.

It's a conversation starter: If you do watch together, this film opens up important discussions about addiction, codependency, mental health, fame, and healthy versus unhealthy relationships. These are valuable conversations, but you need to be ready to have them.

It's actually a good movie: Unlike some teen-targeted content that's just problematic, A Star Is Born is genuinely well-made and emotionally intelligent. The mature content serves the story rather than being gratuitous. That doesn't make it appropriate for younger viewers, but it does mean there's value in watching it when they're ready.

If you decide to watch together (or if they've already seen it), here are some conversation starters:

About addiction: "What did you notice about how Jackson's drinking affected his relationships? His career? Himself?" Talk about addiction as a disease, not a moral failing. Discuss how Ally tried to help but couldn't fix him—that's an important lesson about codependency.

About the relationship: "Did you see moments where their relationship was unhealthy, even though they loved each other?" Help them identify red flags like jealousy, public embarrassment, and enabling behavior.

About the ending: "How did Jackson's suicide affect you? What do you think the movie was trying to say about it?" Make sure they understand that suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems, and that help is available. Have the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number saved in their phone.

About fame and success: "Why do you think Jackson struggled with Ally's success?" This can lead to good discussions about ego, identity, and how we define our self-worth.

If your teen wants music-centered romance but isn't ready for A Star Is Born's heavy content:

For more music-focused content that's teen-appropriate, check out movies about music and musicians for teens.

A Star Is Born is a beautiful, devastating film that earns its R rating. The performances are incredible, the music is phenomenal, and the story is emotionally powerful. But it's also genuinely heavy content that deals with addiction, suicide, and toxic relationship dynamics.

For teens 16 and up with good emotional resilience: This can be a valuable, if intense, viewing experience—ideally with you.

For younger teens or those dealing with mental health struggles: Wait. The soundtrack is great on its own, and the movie will still be there when they're ready.

For parents: If you watch together, be prepared for a tough but important conversation afterward. This isn't light entertainment—it's a film that sticks with you and demands processing.

The fact that your teen is interested in a serious, adult film (rather than just wanting Euphoria for the shock value) is actually a good sign of growing maturity. But maturity means knowing when you're ready for something, not just consuming everything available. Trust your instincts about whether your specific teen is ready for this specific film at this specific moment.

And hey, if you decide to wait, at least you can all enjoy "Shallow" in the car together without the emotional devastation. Sometimes that's the right call.