Ben Is Back (2018) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
19-year-old Ben Burns unexpectedly returns home to his family's suburban home on Christmas Eve morning. Ben's mother, Holly, is relieved and welcoming but wary of her son staying clean. Over a turbulent 24 hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother's undying love for her son is tested as she does everything in her power to keep him safe.
Rated R • 2018 • 1h 43m
Ben Is Back (directed by Peter Hedges) is rated R primarily for pervasive strong drug-related content and frequent strong language. The film centers on Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) as she spends a tense Christmas Eve trying to keep her son Ben safe after his return from rehab; parents should expect explicit depictions of drug dealing, visible injection use, and a near-fatal overdose. There is also brief implied sexual behavior discussed… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Ben Is Back appropriate for kids?
Ben Is Back (directed by Peter Hedges) is rated R primarily for pervasive strong drug-related content and frequent strong language. The film centers on Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) as she spends a tense Christmas Eve trying to keep her son Ben safe after his return from rehab… Read more — free account
Content severity in Ben Is Back
What happens in Ben Is Back, moment by moment
- 0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:15 💬 Language 7/10
- 0:22 🍷 Substances 7/10
Sex and nudity in Ben Is Back
Brief, implied sexual activity is mentioned but never shown on screen: a past implication that Ben traded sex for drugs is referred to in dialogue (no nudity or explicit sex scenes). This is an off-screen detail used to establish past exploitation, not a depicted sexual encounter.
Violence and gore in Ben Is Back
Mild and non-graphic physical aggression appears in a few scenes: an angry man smashes/pounds on a car/window, a short fistfight/tussle between Ben and Spencer, and a tense, threatening confrontation with a dealer. There are no graphic injuries or blood shown.
Language in Ben Is Back
Frequent strong profanity throughout the film, including numerous uses of the F-word and several instances of blasphemous language. Family arguments, confrontations with dealers, and emotional breakdowns contain repeated harsh expletives.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Ben Is Back
Central and explicit: drug addiction, needle use, street-level dealing, and drug exchanges are shown; a character tastes/handles heroin and other people are seen injecting. The film includes a near-fatal overdose (Ben is found unconscious) and a tense on-screen revival using an overdose kit — these scenes are intense and realistic.
Mature themes in Ben Is Back
Strong, adult themes of addiction, guilt, grief and family trauma run throughout: Ben confesses involvement in another young woman's death, Holly confronts burial imagery in a cemetery, and the family endures emotional breakdowns. The emotional weight is sustained and may be upsetting to viewers sensitive to death, parental anxiety, or relapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ben Is Back appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Ben Is Back is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. Ben Is Back (directed by Peter Hedges) is rated R primarily for pervasive strong drug-related content and frequent strong language. The film centers on Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) as she spends a tense Christmas Eve…
What age rating does Ben Is Back have?
Ben Is Back is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Ben Is Back about?
Ben Is Back (directed by Peter Hedges) is rated R primarily for pervasive strong drug-related content and frequent strong language. The film centers on Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) as she spends a tense Christmas Eve trying to keep her son Ben safe after his return from rehab; parents should expect explicit depictions…
Is there sex or nudity in Ben Is Back?
Brief, implied sexual activity is mentioned but never shown on screen: a past implication that Ben traded sex for drugs is referred to in dialogue (no nudity or explicit sex scenes). This is an off-screen detail used to establish past exploitation, not a…
How violent is Ben Is Back?
Mild and non-graphic physical aggression appears in a few scenes: an angry man smashes/pounds on a car/window, a short fistfight/tussle between Ben and Spencer, and a tense, threatening confrontation with a dealer. There are no graphic injuries or blood shown.
Is the language in Ben Is Back appropriate for kids?
Frequent strong profanity throughout the film, including numerous uses of the F-word and several instances of blasphemous language. Family arguments, confrontations with dealers, and emotional breakdowns contain repeated harsh expletives.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Ben Is Back?
Central and explicit: drug addiction, needle use, street-level dealing, and drug exchanges are shown; a character tastes/handles heroin and other people are seen injecting. The film includes a near-fatal overdose (Ben is found unconscious) and a tense…
What mature themes appear in Ben Is Back?
Strong, adult themes of addiction, guilt, grief and family trauma run throughout: Ben confesses involvement in another young woman's death, Holly confronts burial imagery in a cemetery, and the family endures emotional breakdowns. The emotional weight is…
How long is Ben Is Back?
Ben Is Back runs 103 minutes, directed by Peter Hedges, released in 2018.
Where can I read the full Ben Is Back parent guide?
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