Teens might be asking if they can see this one. The star power is there and it looks funny! But can they? What is the true age rating of Joy Ride (2023)? Can your kids watch this one? We’re covering the 7 big things parents need to know about the age rating for Joy Ride (2023) in this parents guide.
Table of Contents
About Joy Ride (2023)
The hilarious and unapologetically explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure.
When Audrey’s (Ashley Park) business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the aid of Lolo (Sherry Cola), her irreverent, childhood best friend who also happens to be a hot mess; Kat (Stephanie Hsu), her college friend turned Chinese soap star; and Deadeye (Sabrina Wu), Lolo’s eccentric cousin.
Their no-holds-barred, epic experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging, and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.
Age Rating of Joy Ride (2023): Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
Can your kids watch this one? What is the age rating of Joy Ride (2023)?
This parent’s guide will help you decide if your family can handle the seven big issues with movies and shows: mature topics, gore, violence, language, sex, romance, and nudity. We’ll also give the age rating and age-appropriate recommendations.
Language
If you’re worried about language, this is NOT the movie for your kids.
Every version of every swear word you can imagine is said in the movie, and most of them are repeated. The characters do not shy away from expressing themselves!
Your kids will hear:
- F-bombs (many many manyyyyy times! at least 2 by children)
- middle finger gestures, including by children
- p@ssy
- @ss
- d!ck
- g-d d@mn
- boobs
- balls
- t!tty
- p@@n
- vageen
- sh!t
- b!tch
- H@ll
- d@mn
- ethnic slurs toward Asians
Age Rating of Joy Ride (2023): Is It Safe For Teens When It Comes To Sex, Romance, and Nudity?
While I wouldn’t sum up the entire movie as being all about sex, I would say that a majority of the jokes and dialogue revolve around sex. This is a highly sexualized (and non-apologetically so) movie similar to No Hard Feelings.
Characters openly express their desires and their past experiences with each other.
Not only is there discussion of sex, but there are also sexual acts, sounds, and gestures.
An artist shows off her highly sexualized creations.
One character is shown being pleasured by a sports massager.
One female has a group sex scene with 2 men who are shown going down on her for oral sex at the same time.
There is nudity in Joy Ride (2023) in the form of frontal female genitals (though to be fair, you kinda have to blink because it’s heavily tattooed and hairless. Yes, I’m serious.)
You’ll also see shirtless men and presumed naked women, but the tattoo scene is the biggie to know about.
Violence and Gore: Is Joy Ride (2023) Too Scary For Kids Under 17?
There are not really any scary scenes, but there is one scene with simulated violence.
One character is an actress and the scene she is filming has a man die by suicide with a long sword. Bright red blood sprays everywhere- but it’s clearly a scene being filmed so no one thinks he is dying.
But yes, there’s fake blood in this one.
We also want to warn of a quick but possibly triggering animal violence scene; while you don’t see it happen on screen, a chicken has its head snapped.
There is also a scene where a woman vomits due to excessive drinking.
Is Joy Ride 2023 OK For Kids: Mature Topics
Outside of the sexual discussions and acts, this movie is for a mature audience.
One possible trigger for kids could be around adoption and all the complicated feelings that go along with it. Especially if your child is an adoptee from another country or race, we think this movie might bring up some strong emotions.
I thought it was handled beautifully but just wanted to suggest parents pre-screen this one if they have any concerns with that type of storyline.
Discussions of race and racism, friendships, and family also go pretty deep in Joy Ride (2023).
There is also a plot line with a deceased parent that- I won’t lie- brought us to tears.
There is drug and alcohol use throughout the movie as well. In one scene, characters discuss hiding drugs up their bums to evade the police.
Joy Ride Age Rating: What Ages Can Really Watch This One?
Joy Ride is rated R for language, sexual content, nudity, and mature content.
Parents Guide: Is Joy Ride (2023) Appropriate For Kids Under 17?
As always, you know your kids best.
If raunchy humor with a heart of gold is your family genre, then your teens can watch this one.
But the language, the sexual content, and the mature topics truly make this a solid 17 and up movie in most households.
Pre-screening is always advised if you have teens on the bubble asking to see this rated-R movie.
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Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.