When does a smile become frightening? When it makes you completely uncomfortable and shows up on everyone you see- including people long dead. This horror movie is set to kick off the spooky season in a big way and your teens are likely asking to see it. But can they? What is the true age rating of Smile? We’re coving the 7 big things parents need to know about the age rating for Smile in this parents guide.
Table of Contents
About Smile
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can’t explain.
As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Watch the Smile trailer here.
Age Rating of Smile: Parents Guide (7 Big Things)
The beginning of October always brings out the horror movies- and horror movie lovers.
And this year, we have a lot of spooky movies on the slate, including Smile.
But can your kids watch this one? What is the age rating of Smile?
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 Smile age rating and age-appropriate recommendations.
Language
Smile has a ton of F-bombs.
If you’re willing to overlook the blood and gory nature of the horror film, but really don’t like your kids hearing concerning language, here’s what you should know:
- More than 10+ F-bombs and usage of the word in various forms. May be closer to 20- but we lost count
- sh!t
- d@mn
- h@ll
- OMG
- J@sus Chr!st
- dip sh!t, holy sh!t
- G-d forbid
Age Rating For Smile: Is It Safe For Teens When It Comes To Sex, Romance, and Nudity?
If there’s one good thing about this movie when it comes to teens: it skates clean on the sex and nudity scale.
A woman is seen taking a shower (you only see her shoulders from the back) and another woman is seen in her underwear with a tank top.
A woman and her fiance share a few kisses and are seen in bed together, but nothing happens of a sexual nature.
A woman and her ex-boyfriend spend time together but nothing romantic happens between them.
Violence and Gore: Is Smile Too Scary For Kids Under 17?
There’s a fair amount of blood and gory content in Smile.
Most of the gore happens in flash, jump scare-type moments, but they leave a lasting impression.
Most of the deaths are caused by suicide, which can be terrifying enough to think about.
A woman cuts her own throat, another is shown with her eyes gouged out, and another sets herself on fire. A man’s body in a morgue is shown and his face is greatly disfigured. Another man peels his face off, and a woman stabs a man repeatedly.
A creature peels its skin off and you see a huge monster. An animal is killed.
Perhaps the most disturbing moment is an absolutely horrific 7-year-olds birthday party. Trauma inducing for kids and parents to say the least.
There’s a lot of blood and a lot of graphic images that may make Smile too scary for kids under 17.
Is Smile Ok For Kids: Mature Topics
The movie also touches on a lot of traumas, specifically childhood trauma, that could trigger teens.
A mother is found by her 10-year-old daughter in bed, overdosed/dead by suicide in a graphic way.
A younger sister blames an older sister for abandoning her as a child.
Characters drink alcohol to numb the pain.
There’s the discussion of evil, monsters, and curses.
Smile Age Rating: What Ages Can Really Watch This One?
Smile is rated R for strong violent content, gory images, and language.
So can your teens watch Smile?
Parents Guide: Is Smile Appropriate For Kids Under 17?
As always, you know your kids best.
If this is their first horror movie, we’d say no.
It’s a lot in a lot of ways.
If they are horror movie veterans, then they are more likely to be able to handle Smile.
Overall, we’d suggest sticking with the 17 and up age rating for Smile but could see some teens in the 15 and up range making it through ok.
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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.