Poster for A Hard Day

A Hard Day (2014) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

After trying to cover up a car accident that left a man dead, a crooked homicide detective is stalked by a mysterious man claiming to have witnessed the event.

Rated PG-13 • 2014 • 1h 51m

7.1
400+
Average rating by Bontent members
Sign up for full access
Age
13+

A Hard Day (2014) is a tense South Korean crime thriller about corrupt detective Ko who, after accidentally killing a homeless man, covers up the death and becomes entangled with a blackmailing lieutenant, Park. The PG-13 rating reflects repeated violent deaths and intense criminal actions (a hit-and-run, an explosion, a crushed car) plus frequent coarse language, drug references, and strong moral/ethical themes. Parents should be… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Lee Sun-kyun
Lee Sun-kyun
Cho Jin-woong
Cho Jin-woong
Jeong Man-sik
Jeong Man-sik
Shin Jung-keun
Shin Jung-keun
Shin Dong-mi
Shin Dong-mi
Heo Jung-eun
Heo Jung-eun
Kim Dong-young
Kim Dong-young
Ju Seok-tae
Ju Seok-tae
Park Bo-gum
Park Bo-gum
Lee Ji-hoon
Lee Ji-hoon
Kim Bo-kyung
Kim Bo-kyung
Kim Kang-hyun
Kim Kang-hyun
Sign up to get 40,000+ Bontent parent guides
Unlock ratings, reviews, recommendations and guides for all content types

Is A Hard Day appropriate for kids?

A Hard Day (2014) is a tense South Korean crime thriller about corrupt detective Ko who, after accidentally killing a homeless man, covers up the death and becomes entangled with a blackmailing lieutenant, Park. The PG-13 rating reflects repeated violent deaths and intense… Read more — free account

Content severity in A Hard Day

Sex Mild 2/10
Violence Intense 8/10
Language Strong 5/10
Substances Strong 5/10
Themes Strong 7/10

What happens in A Hard Day, moment by moment

  1. 0:02 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
  2. 0:05 🍷 Substances 5/10
  3. 0:07 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Unlock all 16 flagged moments — free account →

Sex and nudity in A Hard Day

Minimal sexual content. There are brief scenes of men drinking with prostitutes and a locker-room sequence showing many men in underwear and tattoos, but no explicit sex or nudity (IMDb parents note these moments as brief). These are fleeting, non-graphic moments and are not central to the plot.

Violence and gore in A Hard Day

Strong, sometimes graphic-seeming violent incidents and multiple on-screen deaths drive the plot. Notable moments include the initial hit-and-run death, discovery of bullet wounds on a corpse, a subordinate crushed when a shipping container is dropped onto his car, an explosive detonation that blows a van off a bridge, and a later accidental self-inflicted gunshot. Violence is typically sudden and intense rather than prolonged gore, but several scenes are dramatic and may be upsetting.

Language in A Hard Day

Moderate coarse language throughout the film, including frequent swearing and heated shouted threats during confrontations. IMDb user notes indicate recurring profanity in police-station arguments and during aggressive exchanges between Ko and Park. Expect strong words in tense scenes.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in A Hard Day

Moderate portrayals of alcohol, smoking and drug-related crime. The protagonist is driving while intoxicated at the time of the fatal accident, there are scenes of casual drinking and smoking, and the plot revolves in part around stolen/confiscated cocaine. Drug money and use are plot drivers rather than glamorized.

Mature themes in A Hard Day

Strong mature themes of corruption, moral compromise, death and the abuse of power. The story repeatedly examines police corruption (internal affairs, cover-ups), grief (Ko's mother's funeral), blackmail and threats to family members, and the lengths a protagonist will go to hide wrongdoing. These themes are central and emotionally weighty.

Bontent Member Reviews

Register for free to join the conversation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Hard Day appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests A Hard Day is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. A Hard Day (2014) is a tense South Korean crime thriller about corrupt detective Ko who, after accidentally killing a homeless man, covers up the death and becomes entangled with a blackmailing lieutenant, Park. The…

What age rating does A Hard Day have?

A Hard Day is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is A Hard Day about?

A Hard Day (2014) is a tense South Korean crime thriller about corrupt detective Ko who, after accidentally killing a homeless man, covers up the death and becomes entangled with a blackmailing lieutenant, Park. The PG-13 rating reflects repeated violent deaths and intense criminal actions (a hit-and-run, an…

Is there sex or nudity in A Hard Day?

Minimal sexual content. There are brief scenes of men drinking with prostitutes and a locker-room sequence showing many men in underwear and tattoos, but no explicit sex or nudity (IMDb parents note these moments as brief). These are fleeting, non-graphic…

How violent is A Hard Day?

Strong, sometimes graphic-seeming violent incidents and multiple on-screen deaths drive the plot. Notable moments include the initial hit-and-run death, discovery of bullet wounds on a corpse, a subordinate crushed when a shipping container is dropped onto…

Is the language in A Hard Day appropriate for kids?

Moderate coarse language throughout the film, including frequent swearing and heated shouted threats during confrontations. IMDb user notes indicate recurring profanity in police-station arguments and during aggressive exchanges between Ko and Park. Expect…

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in A Hard Day?

Moderate portrayals of alcohol, smoking and drug-related crime. The protagonist is driving while intoxicated at the time of the fatal accident, there are scenes of casual drinking and smoking, and the plot revolves in part around stolen/confiscated cocaine…

What mature themes appear in A Hard Day?

Strong mature themes of corruption, moral compromise, death and the abuse of power. The story repeatedly examines police corruption (internal affairs, cover-ups), grief (Ko's mother's funeral), blackmail and threats to family members, and the lengths a…

How long is A Hard Day?

A Hard Day runs 111 minutes, directed by Kim Seong-hun, released in 2014.

Where can I read the full A Hard Day 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.

Sign up for access to 40,000+ parent guides.