More swearing than you probably remember. Multiple uses of "bitch," "bastard," "ass," "damn," and "hell." A few sexual slang terms. The profanity isn't constant, but it's definitely present throughout.

This is the big one. Cameron Diaz's character Tina is a nightclub singer whose introduction involves multiple slow pans of her body while she performs. When Stanley first sees her, his Mask persona does the full wolf-whistle, tongue-rolling, eye-bulging routine.

There's a scene where the Mask literally makes Tina's dress disappear (she's shown in a red swimsuit underneath). Multiple references to sex and sexual situations. Suggestive dancing. A running gag about a landlady trying to seduce Stanley. It's all played for laughs and never explicit, but it's a lot of objectification and innuendo.

Cartoon violence throughout—characters shot at, punched, hit with mallets, swallowed by the Mask's giant mouth. A character gets flushed down a toilet (he survives). Mobsters with guns appear frequently. A dog attacks someone. Nobody dies on screen in graphic ways, but there are implied deaths and people definitely get hurt. The tone keeps it from feeling scary, but younger kids might still find some scenes intense.

Smoking throughout (it's a noir-style story with gangsters, so cigarettes are everywhere). Drinking in nightclub scenes. The Mask himself smokes a cigar in one scene. All portrayed as normal adult behavior without consequences.

The Mask transformation itself can be unsettling—Stanley's face morphs and spins in a pretty intense special effect. Some kids find the green face scary. The climax involves a hostage situation with guns. A character nearly drowns. The villain is genuinely menacing at times.

Despite being 30+ years old, The Mask keeps popping up in kid rotation because:

Ages 7-10: Too much sexual content and innuendo. The cartoon violence might be fine, but the objectification of women and constant flirting will likely go over their heads in a "why is this funny?" way—or worse, normalize some problematic behavior.

Ages 11-13: The sweet spot, depending on the kid. Mature tweens who can handle PG-13 action movies and understand that the sexual humor is exaggerated for comedy might be ready. Good litmus test: if they've watched and handled Spider-Man: Homecoming or Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, they can probably handle this.

Ages 14+: Should be fine for most teens. The content is tame compared to what they're seeing on social media, and they're old enough to recognize the dated gender dynamics.

The real question: Can your kid understand that this is a product of its time? The way women are portrayed in The Mask is very 1994—objectified, existing primarily as eye candy or romantic prizes. If your tween is ready for a conversation about how comedy has evolved and why some of this humor doesn't age well, it becomes a teaching moment. If they're just going to absorb it uncritically, maybe wait.

This was Cameron Diaz's film debut, and she's incredibly charismatic. But her character exists almost entirely as a beautiful woman for Stanley to pursue. There's a "she sees the real him" arc, but it's thin. If you watch with your kid, you might want to point out how her character lacks agency compared to modern female leads.

Milo the Jack Russell terrier is genuinely delightful and steals scenes. If your kid loves the movie, they'll probably beg for a dog. Consider yourself warned.

Son of the Mask (2005) is universally panned and even more inappropriate for kids despite being PG. Skip it entirely.

Underneath the cartoon antics, there's a story about a "nice guy" who thinks he needs to become an aggressive, confident alpha to get the girl. The movie doesn't really interrogate this—it mostly just runs with it for laughs. Older teens might appreciate discussing whether Stanley needed the mask at all, or whether confidence without the toxic behavior would've worked.

If your 8-year-old desperately wants Jim Carrey physical comedy without the PG-13 edge:

For the 90s comedy vibe with slightly less edge:

If you decide The Mask is right for your family, here's how to make it a better experience:

Before watching: Set expectations. "This movie is from 1994, and some of the jokes about women haven't aged well. Let's talk about what feels weird or outdated."

During watching: Don't make it a lecture, but be present. If your kid laughs at the cartoon violence, great. If they seem uncomfortable during the more sexual scenes, you can fast-forward or pause to check in.

After watching: Ask what they thought. "Did anything seem weird to you?" "How do you think Tina felt being treated that way?" "Why do you think Stanley thought he needed the mask to be confident?" You don't need to turn it into a full media literacy seminar, but a few questions can help them process.

The Mask is a time capsule of 90s comedy—wildly creative, genuinely funny in parts, and also problematic in ways that are hard to ignore in 2026. It's not going to corrupt your tween, but it's also not the innocent kids' movie some parents remember.

Watch it with them. Use the outdated parts as conversation starters. Enjoy Jim Carrey's physical comedy genius. Skip the sequel. And maybe prepare for requests to adopt a Jack Russell terrier.

If you want to explore more 90s movies that hold up better, or you're looking for PG-13 movies that are actually appropriate for 11-year-olds, Screenwise can help you find exactly what works for your family.