Is this film suitable for younger kids who like Adam Sandler?

No. This is an R-rated indie drama, not a slapstick comedy like Waterboy or Hubie Halloween. It contains dense dialogue about divorce and emotional neglect, continuous profanity, and explicit artistic nudity.

What kind of sexual content is in The Meyerowitz Stories?

There are no traditional sex scenes between main characters, but a college student character creates experimental art films that feature full-frontal nudity, bizarre sexual references, and provocative themes shown on screen during family viewings.

Is there violence in the movie?

There is no graphic or dangerous violence. There is one awkward, comedic physical scuffle between two adult brothers on a college campus that results in minor scrapes and broken art objects.

Why is the movie rated R?

The MPAA rated it R primarily for pervasive language (f-bombs and general swearing throughout) and sexual references/artistic nudity in the student film scenes.

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller play half-brothers suffocating under Dustin Hoffman's narcissistic artist patriarch in Noah Baumbach's talky NYC comedy.

6.9/10

92%

72%

→

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

movie

R, 2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller play half-brothers suffocating under Dustin Hoffman's narcissistic artist patriarch in Noah Baumbach's talky NYC comedy.

6.9

92%

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6.9/10

92%

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Screenwise Verdict

If you are looking for classic Adam Sandler comedy, keep scrolling. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is a talky, razor-sharp, deeply uncomfortable comedy about adult siblings trying to survive the gravitational pull of a narcissistic father. Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller give extraordinary dramatic turns as half-brothers suffocating under their dad's self-involved artistic legacy.

For mature high schoolers who appreciate indie cinema, sharp character writing, or human dynamics, it is a masterclass in realistic family dialogue. But for anyone under 15, it will just feel like two hours of stressed-out adults yelling over each other.

Age Fit

Strictly for high schoolers (15+) and adults. Younger kids will be completely bored by dense NYC character drama, and the explicit student-art-film subplot makes it awkward for younger viewers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Heavy emotional family dysfunction, narcissistic parenting, unresolved childhood trauma, and frequent swearing throughout.

Imaginative

Razor-sharp, witty screenwriting from Noah Baumbach with inventive overlapping dialogue and distinct character studies.

Safe

Contains frequent strong profanity, intense adult arguments, and avant-garde student art films featuring full nudity and sexual themes.

Enriching

Offers compelling, nuanced insights into sibling dynamics, emotional neglect, and how adult children untangle themselves from a parent's shadow.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Adam Sandler's dramatic performance proves once again that when given brilliant material, he is a genuinely top-tier actor.
Noah Baumbach's dialogue catches the chaotic, overlapping, hyper-literate way real families talk past one another.
Sharp emotional truth about how adult siblings harbor childhood grievances and rivalries decades into adulthood.

⚠

What to Watch For

Provocative artistic nudity in a running subplot where a college daughter screens her bizarre, highly explicit student films for her uncomfortable family.
Constant strong profanity including dozens of f-bombs and heated verbal screaming matches.
Zero slapstick comedy—if your kid expects Billy Madison, they will be intensely disappointed by two hours of neurotic adults arguing in Manhattan apartments.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Harold so obviously favored Matthew over Danny, and how did that shape their personalities?"
"Is Harold actually a brilliant artist who deserves leeway, or just an insecure narcissist using art as an excuse?"
"Why is it so hard for adult siblings to stop slipping back into childhood roles when they get together?"

Deep Dive

A Masterclass in Dysfunctional Family Dynamics

Director Noah Baumbach has spent his career dissecting the neuroses of upper-class intellectuals, and The Meyerowitz Stories is one of his most accessible and emotionally resonant films. At its center is Harold (Dustin Hoffman), a retired sculptor who feels perpetually overlooked by the art world. His adult children—played by Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Elizabeth Marvel—are left navigating the wreckage of his extreme self-absorption.

Why it lands for mature teens

If you have a 16- or 17-year-old interested in filmmaking, creative writing, or drama, this is a fantastic watch together. Sandler's performance as Danny, an unappreciated stay-at-home dad recovering from a divorce, is remarkably quiet and grounded. The film treats emotional neglect with nuance: Harold isn't a villain, just an intensely self-centered man whose children are still desperate for his approval well into middle age.

Content and friction points

The R rating is earned through persistent profanity and awkward adult themes. The primary speed bump for family viewing is a recurring comedic subplot involving Danny's college-age daughter, Eliza (Grace Van Patten). She makes experimental student films that feature explicit themes, simulated sex acts, and full frontal nudity, which she casually plays for her father and grandfather. It's meant to highlight generational discomfort, but it definitely pushes the content into older-teen territory.