Is there actual nudity in Shiva Baby?

Yes, there is a brief scene featuring nudity (breasts) and some sexually suggestive photos shown on a phone. It's not a 'sexy' movie, but it is a very adult one.

How 'scary' is the anxiety in this movie?

It's not a horror movie with jump scares, but it uses horror techniques. If you've ever felt trapped at a family event where you're keeping a secret, this movie will trigger that exact feeling intensely.

Is it appropriate for a 14-year-old who is very mature?

Probably not. While they might follow the plot, the nuances of the sugar baby relationship and the specific post-college existential dread usually land better with those 16 and up.

Do you need to be Jewish to understand the movie?

Not at all. While the setting is a Jewish mourning ritual (a shiva) and the cultural jokes are spot-on, the themes of 'nosy relatives' and 'faking it until you make it' are universal.

Shiva Baby – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Shiva Baby

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Imagine a horror movie, but instead of a killer, it's just your parents, your ex-girlfriend, and your sugar daddy in a crowded house.

96%

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Shiva Baby

movie

M, 2021

74%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Imagine a horror movie, but instead of a killer, it's just your parents, your ex-girlfriend, and your sugar daddy in a crowded house.

96%

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96%

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Screenwise Verdict

Shiva Baby is a 77-minute panic attack disguised as a comedy. It’s brilliant, sharp, and deeply uncomfortable. If you’re looking for a 'fun family movie night,' run the other direction. But if you want a razor-sharp look at the messy intersections of youth, sex, and family expectations, it's a must-watch for older teens and adults.

It’s one of the best examples of 'anxiety-horror' in recent years, proving that you don't need a monster under the bed when you have a nosy aunt asking why you're still single. It's tight, well-acted, and doesn't waste a single second of your time.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. The themes of sexual power dynamics, financial desperation, and the specific brand of 'cringe' humor require a level of maturity that younger kids just won't have context for.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

This is a movie about lies, passive-aggression, and a sugar baby hiding her lifestyle from her overbearing family. It's the opposite of emotionally steady, though the family bonds are undeniably real.

Imaginative

The direction turns a single-location family gathering into a claustrophobic psychological thriller. It's a highly creative use of sound design and tight framing to evoke a specific feeling.

Safe

Contains sexual themes, brief nudity, and intense social anxiety. The sugar baby dynamic is the core plot point, making it unsuitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to high-stress social situations.

Enriching

A sharp, empathetic look at the crushing weight of family expectations and the messy reality of being a young adult in the 2020s. It offers great insight into modern Jewish-American cultural dynamics.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Rachel Sennott delivers a legendary breakout performance as Danielle, capturing the specific 'deer in headlights' energy of a 20-something in crisis.
Masterful tension that makes a 77-minute movie feel as high-stakes as a summer blockbuster, despite taking place almost entirely in one house.
Authentic dialogue that perfectly nails the specific way family members can be both deeply loving and incredibly intrusive.
Sharp humor that finds the comedy in the most uncomfortable social situations imaginable.

⚠

What to Watch For

The sugar baby relationship is central; there’s a scene involving a cell phone and a suggestive photo that is very explicit in context.
The anxiety levels are deliberate and intense. The sound design—crying babies, screeching violins, clinking plates—is designed to make the viewer feel as trapped as the protagonist.
There is brief nudity and several discussions about sex, power, and money that are definitely for the 16+ crowd.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Danielle feels like she has to lie to her parents about how she makes money?"
"How does the movie use sound and close-up shots to make you feel what Danielle is feeling?"
"What do you think about the 'sugar baby' dynamic—is it about empowerment, or is it just another form of pressure?"
"Why is it so hard for Danielle to talk to her ex-girlfriend, Maya, compared to everyone else at the shiva?"

Deep Dive

The Anxiety-Horror of the Family Gathering

Most movies about family gatherings lean into the 'wacky' or the 'sentimental.' Shiva Baby chooses violence—or at least, the psychological equivalent. Director Emma Seligman treats a shiva like a war zone. The camera stays uncomfortably close to Rachel Sennott’s face, the background noise is dialed up to a disorienting degree, and the social stakes keep escalating until you’re practically gasping for air.

What makes it work is that it isn't just 'cringe' for the sake of it. It’s a very specific exploration of identity and performance. Danielle is performing for her parents (the successful student), for her sugar daddy (the sophisticated companion), and for her ex (the person who actually knows her). When all those worlds collide in one hallway, the performance breaks down.

Why the 16+ Rating Matters

This isn't 'unsafe' because it's violent; it's 'unsafe' for younger kids because it deals with adult themes with zero hand-holding. The sugar baby plotline isn't glamorized, but it isn't treated as a simple morality tale either. It’s complicated, messy, and involves a lot of 'grown-up' baggage regarding money and sex. For a mature teen, it’s a great jumping-off point for talking about boundaries and the pressure to project a 'perfect' life. For anyone younger, it’s just going to be confusing and stressful.

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