Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Screenwise Verdict

Bernie is a genuinely interesting film—Richard Linklater's weird little true-crime comedy has intelligence and originality that earned strong critical praise. Jack Black is surprisingly good, and the documentary hybrid format is memorable.

But let's be clear: this is absolutely not for kids or even young teens. The opening scene literally shows corpse preparation. The whole movie is about a beloved mortician who murders a wealthy widow and stuffs her in a freezer, then keeps spending her money while the town looks the other way. It's darkly funny if you're an adult with a taste for morbid humor, but for teens under 14, it's just going to be confusing and disturbing.

Even at 14+, this requires a teen who's mature enough to process moral ambiguity and dark subject matter. The film somewhat sympathizes with a murderer, which is intellectually interesting but ethically complicated. If your older teen is into true crime, quirky indie films, or just wants to see Jack Black do something completely different, it's worth considering. Otherwise, there are better ways to spend 104 minutes.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (14+) and adults who can handle dark humor about real murder. The graphic opening, pervasive profanity, and morally complex story require maturity. Younger teens will find it disturbing; older teens interested in true crime and offbeat storytelling will get the most from it.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

42

Dark comedy about murder with an unsettling tone throughout. While Bernie himself is portrayed as kind and generous in the community, the film's core is about a real-life killing and hiding a body in a freezer. The campy, off-beat approach to serious crime creates moral ambiguity that's not emotionally healthy for younger viewers. Frequent strong profanity (f*ck, b*tch, damn) and sexual jokes undercut any wholesome messaging.

Imaginative

68

Richard Linklater's documentary-comedy hybrid format is genuinely creative—mixing real townspeople interviews with dramatized scenes creates an unusual narrative structure. The film explores the bizarre psychology of a small Texas town rallying behind a confessed killer, which is conceptually interesting. However, it's more intellectually curious than imaginatively engaging; it doesn't invite participation or creative thinking, just observation of a weird true story.

Safe

38

Multiple safety concerns for younger audiences: graphic corpse-preparation scene at opening, bloody car-crash sequence with multiple bodies, murder plot (shooting shown), sexual references and jokes, drawing of naked woman, pervasive strong language throughout. The dark humor around killing makes the violence feel unpredictable and tonally confusing. Common Sense Media's 14+ rating is appropriate—this has content that would be inappropriate and disturbing for kids to encounter unexpectedly.

Enriching

71

Offers genuine insight into small-town dynamics, mob mentality, and how charisma can override moral judgment. The true-crime basis prompts real questions about justice, manipulation, and community complicity. Jack Black's nuanced performance shows range beyond his typical roles. Strong critical scores (88% RT, 75 Metacritic) reflect its intelligence. However, the entertainment value comes from morbid curiosity rather than meaningful growth, and the moral lessons are murky at best.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Unique documentary-fiction hybrid format that's genuinely creative and unlike typical biopics
Jack Black delivers a surprisingly nuanced, restrained performance that shows serious acting chops
Explores fascinating questions about charisma, manipulation, and how communities rationalize the unthinkable
Strong critical reception (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) for its intelligence and originality
Real townspeople interviews add authenticity and bizarre humor to the stranger-than-fiction story

⚠

What to Watch For

Opening scene shows detailed corpse preparation (gluing eyes shut, applying makeup)—immediately sets a morbid tone
Murder and body disposal are central to the plot; the dark comedy approach may feel inappropriate or confusing to teens
Frequent strong language throughout (fck, btch, damn, hell)
Sexual jokes and references, including discussion of sheer nightgown 'showing off boobs' and implications about Bernie's sexuality
Graphic car crash scene with bloody bodies
Moral ambiguity—the film somewhat sympathizes with a murderer, which requires mature critical thinking

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the whole town defended Bernie even after he confessed to murder? What does that say about charisma and likability?"
"The movie is based on a true story—do you think it's okay to make a comedy about a real person's death?"
"Bernie was generous and kind to everyone except Marjorie. Does abuse justify what he did? Where's the line?"
"How did the documentary-style interviews with real people change how you watched the movie compared to a regular film?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic