The MPAA slapped Vacation Friends with an R rating for "crude sexual content, language throughout, and drug use." Let's unpack what that actually means:

This movie is a profanity showcase. We're talking consistent F-bombs throughout the entire runtime—not just one or two for emphasis, but the kind of frequency where it becomes part of the dialogue rhythm. There's also plenty of other strong language (shit, ass, dick, etc.) and sexual references woven into conversations.

If you've got kids who've heard curse words before, this won't introduce them to anything new. But the sheer volume and casualness of it makes this inappropriate for anyone under 17.

The drug content is where things get particularly heavy. The movie depicts:

The movie doesn't exactly glorify drugs—there are consequences shown—but it's also not a cautionary tale. The drug use is played for laughs and presented as part of the "live free" lifestyle that Ron and Kyla represent. This isn't Euphoria-level darkness, but it's not subtle either.

The sexual content includes:

Nothing reaches explicit territory (this isn't NC-17), but there's enough sexual content that you'd be deeply uncomfortable watching this with teenagers in the room, let alone younger kids.

Compared to the profanity, drugs, and sex, the violence is relatively mild—mostly slapstick comedy violence and some physical altercations played for laughs. There's also some dangerous behavior (cliff jumping, reckless activities) that's treated as adventurous rather than stupid.

Here's the thing: Vacation Friends stars John Cena, who many kids recognize from WWE or family-friendly roles in movies like Ferdinand or The Suicide Squad (which, despite the violence, has become a teen favorite). The movie's marketing also emphasized the comedy over the raunchiness.

Additionally, it's on Hulu, which families often browse together looking for something to watch. The thumbnail and description might make it look like a harmless buddy comedy. It's not.

Honestly? For adults, it's a decent-enough comedy if you're in the mood for something brainless. The chemistry between the leads works, and there are genuinely funny moments. The movie also has themes about loosening up, accepting people who are different from you, and finding balance between responsibility and joy.

But none of that makes it appropriate for kids or teens. The R rating is earned and accurate.

Vacation Friends 2 came out in 2023, also on Hulu, and carries the same R rating. The sequel has similar content—profanity throughout, drug use, sexual content—so if the first one was too much, the second one won't be any different.

If you're looking for vacation comedies the whole family can enjoy, try:

For more options, check out family-friendly comedies on streaming.

Vacation Friends is rated R for very good reasons. This is an adults-only comedy with pervasive profanity, explicit drug use, and sexual content throughout. Despite having recognizable stars and a lighthearted premise, it's not appropriate for anyone under 17.

If your teen is asking to watch it, the answer should be no—not because you're being overprotective, but because this genuinely isn't teen content. The drug use alone makes it a hard pass for adolescents, and the sexual content and language are constant enough that there's no "just skip those parts" option.

Save this one for adult movie night after the kids are asleep, and if you want something the whole family can laugh at together, there are plenty of better options.