Back to the Future (1985) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Eighties teenager Marty McFly is accidentally sent back in time to 1955, inadvertently disrupting his parents' first meeting and attracting his mother's romantic interest. Marty must repair the damage to history by rekindling his parents' romance and - with the help of his eccentric inventor friend Doc Brown - return to 1985.
Rated PG • 1985 • 1h 56m
Back to the Future earned its PG rating for action violence, thematic elements, and some language. The film follows teenager Marty McFly as he is accidentally sent 30 years into the past, where he must ensure his parents fall in love. While mostly a sci-fi adventure comedy, parents should be aware of a scene depicting an attempted sexual assault, a character being shot by terrorists, consistent bullying, and moderate profanity… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Back to the Future appropriate for kids?
Back to the Future earned its PG rating for action violence, thematic elements, and some language. The film follows teenager Marty McFly as he is accidentally sent 30 years into the past, where he must ensure his parents fall in love. While mostly a sci-fi adventure comedy… Read more — free account
Content severity in Back to the Future
What happens in Back to the Future, moment by moment
- 0:05 🍷 Substances 3/10
- 0:09 💬 Language 4/10
- 0:21 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Sex and nudity in Back to the Future
Content is primarily thematic and lacks nudity. The central plot involves the uncomfortable, incestuous theme of a teenage mother becoming infatuated with her son from the future, including one scene where she makes an aggressive advance. One scene features a character as a "peeping tom," spying on a girl as she undresses (no nudity shown). Marty is briefly seen in his underwear in one scene.
Violence and gore in Back to the Future
Violence is moderate but contains some intense moments. In a key scene, a main character is shot multiple times by terrorists with an automatic weapon; this is not graphic but is shown clearly. Another scene involves an attempted sexual assault where a bully physically overpowers a girl in a car. Recurring bullying is central to the plot, involving slapping, shoving, and threats. A climactic punch knocks a character unconscious.
Language in Back to the Future
Language is moderate for a PG film. The dialogue includes several uses of "shit," "son of a bitch," "bastard," "ass," "hell," and "damn," as well as exclamations like "Jesus Christ." Notably, a dated racial slur ("spook") is used twice by a townsperson.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Back to the Future
Substance use is mild but present. In the original 1985 timeline, Marty's mother is briefly portrayed as an alcoholic, drinking vodka at the dinner table. In 1955, the same character, as a teenager, drinks from a flask and smokes a cigarette in a car before a dance. In one scene, a man refers to a band as "reefer addicts."
Mature themes in Back to the Future
The film contains several strong thematic elements that may be upsetting for younger viewers. The most intense is a scene depicting an attempted sexual assault. Other significant themes include gun violence and terrorism, pervasive bullying, and the uncomfortable incestuous advances of a mother on her unwitting son. The primary source of suspense is the existential threat of Marty being erased from existence, symbolized by his siblings fading from a photograph.
Scary moments in Back to the Future
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Back to the Future 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 Back to the Future appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Back to the Future is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. Back to the Future earned its PG rating for action violence, thematic elements, and some language. The film follows teenager Marty McFly as he is accidentally sent 30 years into the past, where he must ensure his…
What age rating does Back to the Future have?
Back to the Future is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is Back to the Future about?
Back to the Future earned its PG rating for action violence, thematic elements, and some language. The film follows teenager Marty McFly as he is accidentally sent 30 years into the past, where he must ensure his parents fall in love. While mostly a sci-fi adventure comedy, parents should be aware of a scene depicting…
Is there sex or nudity in Back to the Future?
Content is primarily thematic and lacks nudity. The central plot involves the uncomfortable, incestuous theme of a teenage mother becoming infatuated with her son from the future, including one scene where she makes an aggressive advance. One scene features a…
How violent is Back to the Future?
Violence is moderate but contains some intense moments. In a key scene, a main character is shot multiple times by terrorists with an automatic weapon; this is not graphic but is shown clearly. Another scene involves an attempted sexual assault where a bully…
Is the language in Back to the Future appropriate for kids?
Language is moderate for a PG film. The dialogue includes several uses of "shit," "son of a bitch," "bastard," "ass," "hell," and "damn," as well as exclamations like "Jesus Christ." Notably, a dated racial slur ("spook") is used twice by a townsperson.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Back to the Future?
Substance use is mild but present. In the original 1985 timeline, Marty's mother is briefly portrayed as an alcoholic, drinking vodka at the dinner table. In 1955, the same character, as a teenager, drinks from a flask and smokes a cigarette in a car before a…
What mature themes appear in Back to the Future?
The film contains several strong thematic elements that may be upsetting for younger viewers. The most intense is a scene depicting an attempted sexual assault. Other significant themes include gun violence and terrorism, pervasive bullying, and the…
How long is Back to the Future?
Back to the Future runs 116 minutes, directed by Robert Zemeckis, released in 1985.
Where can I read the full Back to the Future parent guide?
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