TL;DR: Movie ratings like PG and PG-13 are increasingly vibe-based and inconsistent. To actually know if a film is right for your kid, you have to look at the specific content descriptors (like "thematic elements" or "pervasive language") and compare them against your own family’s boundaries.
Quick Links for Family Movie Night:
- Best for Emotional Intelligence: Inside Out 2
- The "Is my 10-year-old ready?" litmus test: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Actually good for all ages: The Wild Robot
- The "Brain Rot" avoid-list: Skibidi Toilet (YouTube)
We’ve all been there. You see a PG rating, think "Great, a safe bet," and twenty minutes later you’re scrambling for the remote because a character just dropped a joke that requires a thirty-minute talk about "adult themes."
The MPAA (the people who give out G, PG, PG-13, and R) is a bit of a black box. Their standards shift with the culture, which means a PG movie from 1984 (looking at you, Poltergeist) would easily be a PG-13 or even R today. Conversely, some modern PG-13 movies feel like they were rated that way just to seem "cool" to middle schoolers, while others contain enough psychological trauma to keep an adult in therapy for a month.
In 2026, a rating is just a starting point. It’s the "content warnings" underneath the rating—those tiny words in the corner of the Netflix or Disney+ splash screen—that actually tell the story.
Ask our chatbot for a specific breakdown of any movie's triggers
When you’re looking at a movie description on Amazon Prime Video or Max, you’ll see phrases that sound like they were written by a lawyer who hasn't seen a child in twenty years. Here is what they actually mean in "parent speak":
"Thematic Elements"
This is the ultimate catch-all. It usually means the movie deals with heavy stuff: death, grief, divorce, or existential dread. If your kid is sensitive to "sad" things rather than "scary" things, this is your red flag. Inside Out 2 is a masterclass in thematic elements (anxiety, puberty, identity), but it handles them brilliantly.
"Mild Language" vs. "Language" vs. "Pervasive Language"
- Mild: A "hell" or a "damn."
- Language: We’re moving into "sh*t" territory.
- Pervasive Language: The F-bomb is likely, or they just never stop swearing.
"Crude Humor"
Think fart jokes, burps, and the kind of stuff that makes an 8-year-old think they’re being rebellious. It’s usually harmless but can be annoying. If you're trying to avoid "brain rot" content that mirrors the worst of YouTube, keep an eye on this one.
"Brief Sensuality"
Usually means a heavy make-out session or some suggestive dancing. It’s rarely full nudity (which gets an R), but it’s that awkward moment where you suddenly find the floor very interesting while sitting next to your tween.
Learn more about navigating the transition to PG-13
Not all movies are created equal, even with the same rating. Here’s how to categorize some recent heavy hitters.
The "Actually Safe" PG Picks
These are the gold standards. They respect the audience (and the parents) without being boring.
- The Wild Robot: It’s visually stunning and emotionally deep. It has some "peril," but it’s the good kind that builds character.
- Bluey (The Sign): Yes, it’s a "kids' show," but the 28-minute special is basically a feature film in terms of quality. Zero brain rot, 100% heart.
The "Check the Vibe" PG-13 Picks
These are the ones where your 11-year-old is begging to watch it because "everyone else has," but you might want to do a quick Screenwise check first.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: It’s a masterpiece, but it’s loud, fast, and has some intense betrayal and "thematic elements."
- Stranger Things: Technically a show, but kids treat it like a movie series. This is "Ohio" levels of weird and actually quite scary. Many 10-year-olds handle it fine; many 13-year-olds have nightmares.
- Barbie: Rated PG-13 for "suggestive references" and "brief language." It’s mostly over kids' heads, but the existential crisis themes are the real "thematic elements" here.
The "Hard No" (For Most Kids)
- Deadpool & Wolverine: It’s Marvel, so kids think it’s for them. It is not. It’s a hard R for a reason. If your kid is saying it’s "sigma" to watch it, they’re just trying to be edgy.
- Skibidi Toilet: Not a movie, but if they're asking for the "Skibidi Movie" (which is reportedly in development), be prepared for absolute sensory overload and zero educational value.
Kids, especially in that 9-12 "tween" range, are desperate to age up. They want to watch what the "big kids" are watching because it feels like a rite of passage. In their world, watching a PG-13 movie is like getting a level-up in Roblox.
They aren't necessarily looking for the "adult" content; they’re looking for the social currency. Being able to talk about Five Nights at Freddy's at lunch is more important to them than actually enjoying the jump scares.
Check out our guide on the social pressure of media for tweens
- Ages 5-7: Stick to G and very mild PG. Focus on PBS Kids or Disney+ classics. At this age, "peril" (like a character being in danger) is the biggest trigger.
- Ages 8-10: This is the "transition" zone. Most PG is fine, but start looking at the specific descriptors. This is a great time for The Wild Robot or Inside Out 2.
- Ages 11-13: The PG-13 era begins. According to Screenwise community data, about 65% of parents allow PG-13 movies at age 11, but only with "vetted" content. This is where you use the Screenwise chatbot to check for specific "language" or "violence" levels.
If you decide a movie is a "no," don't just say "because I said so." That's the fastest way to make them watch it at a friend's house behind your back.
Try this:
- Acknowledge the interest: "I know everyone is talking about Deadpool & Wolverine and it looks funny."
- Explain the 'Why': "The reason it's rated R isn't just because of the jokes; it's because the violence is really graphic in a way that’s hard to unsee. I don't think you're ready for that quite yet."
- Offer a Pivot: "But, we can watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse which is also high-action but fits where you're at right now."
Ratings are a blunt instrument. They don't know your kid, and they don't know your family's values. You might be totally fine with "pervasive language" but strictly against "graphic violence." Or maybe "thematic elements" like loss are a huge trigger in your house right now.
Use the ratings as a filter, but use the content descriptors and Screenwise data as your guide.