Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Alexander's day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. Though he finds little sympathy from his family and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him, his mom, dad, brother, and sister all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Rated PG • 2014 • 1h 21m
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is rated PG for rude humor and some reckless behavior; parents should expect mild slapstick accidents, brief bathroom/nudity jokes, a few crude words, and low-stakes substance mishaps. The film centers on Alexander Cooper (and his family — including parents Ben and Kelly) as a birthday wish swaps bad luck between him and his relatives, leading to comic but sometimes… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day appropriate for kids?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is rated PG for rude humor and some reckless behavior; parents should expect mild slapstick accidents, brief bathroom/nudity jokes, a few crude words, and low-stakes substance mishaps. The film centers on Alexander… Read more — free account
Content severity in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
What happens in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, moment by moment
- 0:02 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10
- 0:06 ⚔ Violence & Gore 2/10
- 0:09 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
Sex and nudity in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Mild and mostly played for laughs: brief nudity (a baby’s bare backside is seen) and repeated use of the word “penis” in a bathroom scene. There’s a gag where a boy’s head is photoshopped onto bikini bodies and an accidental hiring of male strippers who do not actually strip. No explicit nudity or sexual activity; humor is juvenile and non-sexual in intent.
Violence and gore in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
All physical incidents are slapstick and non-graphic: pratfalls, a vomit/sick moment, and a driving-test crash that results in a popped airbag and a black eye. A banner is knocked into trophy cases causing them to topple — played as embarrassment and consequences rather than injury. Nothing graphic or sustained; the tone stays comic rather than threatening.
Language in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Mild language: characters use words like “hell” and “damnit” (in a car crash scene) and anatomical words are used for bathroom humor. A children’s book typo leads to repeated readings of the crude-sounding phrase “dump on the potty.” There is no frequent harsh profanity or sexually explicit dialogue.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Light, comedic substance moments: a teen takes too much cough syrup and acts loopy (then vomits), and a toddler ingests a non-toxic green highlighter which causes concern. Adults are shown drinking in a restaurant but no heavy drinking is glamorized. These are presented as mistakes or minor consequences rather than glamorized substance use.
Mature themes in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Mild themes around embarrassment, family stress, unemployment, and illness (chickenpox causes a cancelled party). The film focuses on empathy and perspective-taking as the family experiences each other’s bad days and resolves to stay positive. No serious trauma, abuse, or mature psychological themes; emotional beats are kid-friendly.
Scary moments in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is best for ages 7+. It's rated PG. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is rated PG for rude humor and some reckless behavior; parents should expect mild slapstick accidents, brief bathroom/nudity jokes, a few crude words, and…
What age rating does Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day have?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 7+.
What is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day about?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is rated PG for rude humor and some reckless behavior; parents should expect mild slapstick accidents, brief bathroom/nudity jokes, a few crude words, and low-stakes substance mishaps. The film centers on Alexander Cooper (and his family — including parents…
Is there sex or nudity in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
Mild and mostly played for laughs: brief nudity (a baby’s bare backside is seen) and repeated use of the word “penis” in a bathroom scene. There’s a gag where a boy’s head is photoshopped onto bikini bodies and an accidental hiring of male strippers who do…
How violent is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
All physical incidents are slapstick and non-graphic: pratfalls, a vomit/sick moment, and a driving-test crash that results in a popped airbag and a black eye. A banner is knocked into trophy cases causing them to topple — played as embarrassment and…
Is the language in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day appropriate for kids?
Mild language: characters use words like “hell” and “damnit” (in a car crash scene) and anatomical words are used for bathroom humor. A children’s book typo leads to repeated readings of the crude-sounding phrase “dump on the potty.” There is no frequent…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
Light, comedic substance moments: a teen takes too much cough syrup and acts loopy (then vomits), and a toddler ingests a non-toxic green highlighter which causes concern. Adults are shown drinking in a restaurant but no heavy drinking is glamorized. These…
What mature themes appear in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
Mild themes around embarrassment, family stress, unemployment, and illness (chickenpox causes a cancelled party). The film focuses on empathy and perspective-taking as the family experiences each other’s bad days and resolves to stay positive. No serious…
How long is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day runs 81 minutes, directed by Miguel Arteta, released in 2014.
Where can I read the full Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad 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.
Parents also checked these movies for 7-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More family movies with parent guides
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- To the Wonder parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- The Layover parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Friends with Money parent guide
- Them parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Those Happy Days parent guide
- When a Stranger Calls parent guide
- Scoop parent guide
- The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines parent guide