A Monster Calls (2016) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
12-year-old Conor encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.
Rated PG-13 • 2016 • 1h 48m
Rated PG-13 for its profound thematic content and some scary images, "A Monster Calls" is a powerfully emotional fantasy drama. The film centers on 12-year-old Conor as he navigates his mother's terminal cancer, relentless bullying at school, and the overwhelming feelings of grief, anger, and guilt that accompany his situation. Parents should be aware of the film's intense and often heartbreaking depiction of illness and loss, which is… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is A Monster Calls appropriate for kids?
Rated PG-13 for its profound thematic content and some scary images, "A Monster Calls" is a powerfully emotional fantasy drama. The film centers on 12-year-old Conor as he navigates his mother's terminal cancer, relentless bullying at school, and the overwhelming feelings of… Read more — free account
Content severity in A Monster Calls
What happens in A Monster Calls, moment by moment
- 0:05 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:10 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:22 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
Sex and nudity in A Monster Calls
None. Sexual content and nudity are absent from the film. A character's bruised back is briefly shown in a non-sexual, medical context.
Violence and gore in A Monster Calls
Violence is infrequent but includes some emotionally charged and intense scenes. Conor is bullied at school, including being pushed down and kicked. In a fit of cathartic rage, he (with the Monster's help) destroys his grandmother's living room. The film's most intense violent scene involves Conor brutally beating a bully, a sequence shown to be quite severe and resulting in the bully's hospitalization. Animated stories told by the Monster also contain non-graphic depictions of murder and peril.
Language in A Monster Calls
Language is extremely light. There is one use of "damn" and a few instances of exclamations like "oh God."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in A Monster Calls
Substance use is minimal and incidental. A character is briefly seen with a glass of wine in a home setting.
Mature themes in A Monster Calls
The film's central focus is its pervasive and intense thematic content. It deals directly and unflinchingly with a parent's terminal illness (cancer), a child's complex process of anticipatory grief, denial, and anger. The Monster itself can be frightening, with a loud, booming voice and intimidating appearance. The emotional weight of watching a child cope with impending loss, isolation, and guilt is very strong and may be profoundly upsetting for many viewers, particularly younger ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Monster Calls appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests A Monster Calls is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Rated PG-13 for its profound thematic content and some scary images, "A Monster Calls" is a powerfully emotional fantasy drama. The film centers on 12-year-old Conor as he navigates his mother's terminal cancer…
What age rating does A Monster Calls have?
A Monster Calls is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is A Monster Calls about?
Rated PG-13 for its profound thematic content and some scary images, "A Monster Calls" is a powerfully emotional fantasy drama. The film centers on 12-year-old Conor as he navigates his mother's terminal cancer, relentless bullying at school, and the overwhelming feelings of grief, anger, and guilt that accompany his…
Is there sex or nudity in A Monster Calls?
None. Sexual content and nudity are absent from the film. A character's bruised back is briefly shown in a non-sexual, medical context.
How violent is A Monster Calls?
Violence is infrequent but includes some emotionally charged and intense scenes. Conor is bullied at school, including being pushed down and kicked. In a fit of cathartic rage, he (with the Monster's help) destroys his grandmother's living room. The film's…
Is the language in A Monster Calls appropriate for kids?
Language is extremely light. There is one use of "damn" and a few instances of exclamations like "oh God."
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in A Monster Calls?
Substance use is minimal and incidental. A character is briefly seen with a glass of wine in a home setting.
What mature themes appear in A Monster Calls?
The film's central focus is its pervasive and intense thematic content. It deals directly and unflinchingly with a parent's terminal illness (cancer), a child's complex process of anticipatory grief, denial, and anger. The Monster itself can be frightening…
How long is A Monster Calls?
A Monster Calls runs 108 minutes, directed by J. A. Bayona, released in 2016.
Where can I read the full A Monster Calls 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.
Parents also checked these movies for 13-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like A Monster Calls with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More fantasy movies with parent guides
- Interstellar parent guide
- Inception parent guide
- The Avengers parent guide
- Avatar parent guide
- Deadpool parent guide
- Avengers: Infinity War parent guide
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone parent guide
- Guardians of the Galaxy parent guide
- Iron Man parent guide
- Avengers: Endgame parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring parent guide
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King parent guide
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- Sullivan's Travels parent guide
- To the Wonder parent guide
- Sibyl parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- Grand Piano parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar parent guide
- Them parent guide
- The Night Before the Exams parent guide
- When a Stranger Calls parent guide
- Scoop parent guide
- The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines parent guide