10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
On the first day at his new school, Cameron instantly falls for Bianca, the gorgeous girl of his dreams. The only problem is that Bianca is forbidden to date until her ill-tempered, completely un-dateable older sister Kat goes out, too. In an attempt to solve his problem, Cameron singles out the only guy who could possibly be a match for Kat: a mysterious bad boy with a nasty reputation of his own.
Rated PG-13 • 1999 • 1h 37m
This teen romantic comedy, a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," earns its PG-13 rating for its focus on teen social dynamics, including sexual humor, underage drinking, and some language. The main reasons for the rating are a prominent high school party scene where characters get drunk, with one becoming ill, as well as frequent crude dialogue and sexual innuendo (e.g., a guidance counselor writing an erotic… Sign up for the full guide
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Is 10 Things I Hate About You appropriate for kids?
This teen romantic comedy, a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," earns its PG-13 rating for its focus on teen social dynamics, including sexual humor, underage drinking, and some language. The main reasons for the rating are a prominent high school party… Read more — free account
Content severity in 10 Things I Hate About You
What happens in 10 Things I Hate About You, moment by moment
- 0:07 ♥ Sex & Nudity 4/10
- 0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 6/10
- 0:19 💬 Language 5/10
Sex and nudity in 10 Things I Hate About You
Contains moderate sexual humor and innuendo typical of teen comedies. A guidance counselor is seen writing an erotic novel, with the words "pulsating member" visible on her screen. There are crass jokes about a girl having "beer-flavored nipples" and a crude drawing of a penis on a character's face. A girl implies she flashed a teacher to create a distraction (seen only from the back, with no nudity). The film also features frequent kissing between teen characters.
Violence and gore in 10 Things I Hate About You
Violence is infrequent, brief, and played for comic effect. There are two short, un-athletic fights: one at a party and one at the prom where Joey punches Cameron, and Patrick then gets into a brief scuffle with Joey. In other scenes, Kat purposely rams Joey's car with her own, shoots a teacher with a soft-tipped arrow during archery practice, and she and Patrick shoot each other during a paintball date. A scene in biology class shows students dissecting frogs.
Language in 10 Things I Hate About You
Language is moderately strong for a PG-13 film. The word "bitch" is used frequently, often directed at the main character, Kat. Other language includes multiple uses of "shit" (some in a background song), "piss off," "asshole," "damn," and "hell." There are also insults like "whore" and references to a character being a "virgin."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in 10 Things I Hate About You
Underage drinking is a significant element in one major sequence. A house party features widespread beer and liquor consumption by high schoolers. Bianca becomes very intoxicated, hits her head, and is later shown vomiting. Patrick is seen smoking cigarettes on a few occasions, including lighting one with a Bunsen burner in science class. The negative consequences of binge drinking are clearly, though briefly, depicted.
Mature themes in 10 Things I Hate About You
The film explores themes of social conformity, deception, and emotional vulnerability. A central plot point involves Cameron paying Patrick to date the rebellious Kat so that he can date her younger sister, Bianca; the eventual reveal of this deception is a moment of intense emotional betrayal and hurt. The father is loving but extremely overprotective, imposing strict dating rules. Kat's character deals with a reputation she didn't earn and her emotional final poem in front of the class is a moment of strong…
Read more — free accountFrequently Asked Questions
Is 10 Things I Hate About You appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests 10 Things I Hate About You is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. This teen romantic comedy, a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," earns its PG-13 rating for its focus on teen social dynamics, including sexual humor, underage drinking, and some language. The…
What age rating does 10 Things I Hate About You have?
10 Things I Hate About You is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is 10 Things I Hate About You about?
This teen romantic comedy, a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," earns its PG-13 rating for its focus on teen social dynamics, including sexual humor, underage drinking, and some language. The main reasons for the rating are a prominent high school party scene where characters get drunk, with…
Is there sex or nudity in 10 Things I Hate About You?
Contains moderate sexual humor and innuendo typical of teen comedies. A guidance counselor is seen writing an erotic novel, with the words "pulsating member" visible on her screen. There are crass jokes about a girl having "beer-flavored nipples" and a crude…
How violent is 10 Things I Hate About You?
Violence is infrequent, brief, and played for comic effect. There are two short, un-athletic fights: one at a party and one at the prom where Joey punches Cameron, and Patrick then gets into a brief scuffle with Joey. In other scenes, Kat purposely rams…
Is the language in 10 Things I Hate About You appropriate for kids?
Language is moderately strong for a PG-13 film. The word "bitch" is used frequently, often directed at the main character, Kat. Other language includes multiple uses of "shit" (some in a background song), "piss off," "asshole," "damn," and "hell." There are…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in 10 Things I Hate About You?
Underage drinking is a significant element in one major sequence. A house party features widespread beer and liquor consumption by high schoolers. Bianca becomes very intoxicated, hits her head, and is later shown vomiting. Patrick is seen smoking cigarettes…
What mature themes appear in 10 Things I Hate About You?
The film explores themes of social conformity, deception, and emotional vulnerability. A central plot point involves Cameron paying Patrick to date the rebellious Kat so that he can date her younger sister, Bianca; the eventual reveal of this deception is a…
How long is 10 Things I Hate About You?
10 Things I Hate About You runs 97 minutes, directed by Gil Junger, released in 1999.
Where can I read the full 10 Things I Hate About You parent guide?
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