A Chinese Ghost Story (1987) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Name: A Chinese Ghost Story
Director: Tony Ching Siu-Tung
Released: 1987
Duration: 95 min
Rating: 7.3

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A naïve young tax collector for the imperial government winds up spending the night in a haunted temple. There he falls in love with a beautiful woman who, unfortunately, is dead. With the aid of a powerful Daoist Swordsman, he must defeat undead hordes, overcome a sinister Tree Demoness, and descend to the pits of hell, to fight for the spirit he loves.

Rated NR • 1987 • 1h 35m

Directed by Tony Ching Siu-Tung

7.3

200+

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

13+

A Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong fantasy romance that earned its various international teen ratings (14A, 15, TV-14) primarily through moderate supernatural violence and frightening creature-feature imagery. The film features stylized, high-energy sword fights against reanimated corpses, demons, and a monstrous Tree Demoness who attacks with a grotesque, elongated tongue. While there is no profanity or substance use, and… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Leslie Cheung

Joey Wong

Wu Ma

Lau Siu-Ming

David Lam Wai

Fanny Sit Chi-Lun

David Wu

Wong Jing

Huang Ha

Sze Mei-Yee

Chiang Kam

Yeung Yau-Cheung

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Is A Chinese Ghost Story appropriate for kids?

Content severity in A Chinese Ghost Story

Sex Moderate 3/10

Violence Strong 7/10

Language None 0/10

Substances None 0/10

Themes Strong 6/10

What happens in A Chinese Ghost Story, moment by moment

0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
0:15 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
0:22 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10

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Sex and nudity in A Chinese Ghost Story

Mild. A female ghost attempts to seduce a man without any nudity or explicit acts. The two protagonists share a few romantic kisses. The film's romance is central, but sexual content is minimal.

Violence and gore in A Chinese Ghost Story

Moderate. The film contains frequent stylized martial arts combat against supernatural foes. A Taoist swordsman fights and dispatches ghouls and reanimated corpses, some of which are shown decomposing. The primary antagonist, a Tree Demoness, engages in creature violence, most notably attacking characters with a very long, prehensile tongue to drain their life force. These scenes can be gooey and intense but are not graphically gory.

Language in A Chinese Ghost Story

None. There is no profanity reported.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in A Chinese Ghost Story

None. No characters are shown drinking alcohol, smoking, or using drugs.

Mature themes in A Chinese Ghost Story

Moderate. The film is built on supernatural horror and contains numerous frightening scenes. Characters are in constant peril from ghosts, demons, and reanimated dead. The central theme involves the enslavement of souls by a powerful demon and the threat of eternal damnation. A sequence involves the characters descending into the underworld, which features unsettling imagery. The bittersweet romance between a human and a ghost adds a layer of sadness and loss.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Chinese Ghost Story appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests A Chinese Ghost Story is best for ages 13+. It's rated NR. A Chinese Ghost Story is a 1987 Hong Kong fantasy romance that earned its various international teen ratings (14A, 15, TV-14) primarily through moderate supernatural violence and frightening creature-feature imagery…

What age rating does A Chinese Ghost Story have?

A Chinese Ghost Story is officially rated NR. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is A Chinese Ghost Story about?

Is there sex or nudity in A Chinese Ghost Story?

Mild. A female ghost attempts to seduce a man without any nudity or explicit acts. The two protagonists share a few romantic kisses. The film's romance is central, but sexual content is minimal.

How violent is A Chinese Ghost Story?

Is the language in A Chinese Ghost Story appropriate for kids?

None. There is no profanity reported.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in A Chinese Ghost Story?

None. No characters are shown drinking alcohol, smoking, or using drugs.

What mature themes appear in A Chinese Ghost Story?

How long is A Chinese Ghost Story?

A Chinese Ghost Story runs 95 minutes, directed by Tony Ching Siu-Tung, released in 1987.

Where can I read the full A Chinese Ghost Story parent guide?

Create a free Bontent account to unlock the full scene-by-scene notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your personal watchlist.