The "Eat the Rich" energy you're looking for
If you’ve seen Knives Out or The Menu, you know the vibe: wealthy, eccentric families with too much time and some very dark secrets. Ready or Not takes that setup and adds a heavy dose of splatter. It’s a tight, mean, and hilarious survival thriller that works because it doesn't take itself too seriously, even when characters are being dispatched in increasingly creative ways.
The 89% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is well-earned. This isn't a "elevated horror" film that spends an hour on metaphors; it’s an action-comedy that starts with a crossbow bolt to the face and ends with a literal bang. It’s the kind of movie that makes you root for the protagonist not just because she’s the "final girl," but because her in-laws are so catastrophically incompetent and entitled.
The "Ready or Not" name trap
Before you hit play, make sure you and your teen are talking about the same thing. There is a popular, gritty tactical shooter video game also called Ready or Not. If your kid is talking about "precision teamwork" or "SWAT simulators," they are talking about the game. If they are talking about a bride in a wedding dress wielding a shotgun, they are talking about this movie.
If they are asking for the movie, they've likely seen clips of the ending on TikTok. The finale is legendary in horror circles for its sheer audacity and gore. While the film is a blast for adults, it sits firmly in the "hard R" category. If you have a younger teen who is desperate for a thrill but isn't quite ready for exploding bodies, you’re better off checking out 12 family friendly suspense movies that trade the blood for actual tension.
Where the friction is
The "Comedy" tag in the genre list is doing a lot of work here. This is dark humor. The movie finds the absurdity in murder, which can be a jarring tone for some viewers. It’s less about "jump scares" and more about the "oh no, that’s going to leave a mark" kind of tension.
The violence is graphic. We aren't talking about off-screen bumps in the night; we’re talking about nails through hands and high-velocity impacts. If your teen has handled must-see slashers and thrillers like Scream, they might be okay, but Ready or Not is significantly more visceral. It’s a movie about the consequences of a deal with the devil, and it makes sure you see every bit of the fallout.
How to watch it
This is a perfect "Friday night with friends" movie for the 17+ crowd. It’s fast-paced, clocking in at a very lean runtime that never drags. If you’re trying to gauge if your 15 or 16-year-old can handle it, look at our Ready or Not movie age rating guide for a deeper breakdown of the specific gore beats. It’s a great litmus test for whether they’re ready for the sequel or if you should stick to the best horror movies for 15 year olds that keep the R-rated carnage to a minimum.
