Black Christmas (2019) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A group of sorority pledges are stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break. That is until the young women discover that the killer is part of an underground campus conspiracy.
Rated PG-13 • 2019 • 1h 32m
Black Christmas (2019) is a PG-13 holiday-slasher about sorority pledges at Hawthorne College who are stalked and murdered as a campus conspiracy unravels. The rating reflects repeated violent kills (stabbings, strangulation, an arrow impact, a neck snap and on-screen burning), plus an emotionally intense flashback of sexual assault involving protagonist Riley and scenes of drinking and some coarse language. Parents should be aware the… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Black Christmas appropriate for kids?
Black Christmas (2019) is a PG-13 holiday-slasher about sorority pledges at Hawthorne College who are stalked and murdered as a campus conspiracy unravels. The rating reflects repeated violent kills (stabbings, strangulation, an arrow impact, a neck snap and on-screen burning)… Read more — free account
Content severity in Black Christmas
What happens in Black Christmas, moment by moment
- 0:06 ⚔ Violence & Gore 7/10
- 0:08 ♥ Sex & Nudity 2/10
- 0:12 💬 Language 4/10
Sex and nudity in Black Christmas
Strong sexual-content themes: the film includes a brief but intense flashback revealing Riley's rape by Brian and an on-screen attempted sexual assault at a fraternity party that Riley interrupts. There is no explicit nudity, but the assault and its aftermath are central to Riley's trauma. A few innocuous kisses appear earlier in the film. IMDb's Parents Guide flags the rape flashback as a key content note.
Violence and gore in Black Christmas
Frequent, often abrupt violent attacks and deaths are shown: stabbing with an icicle, strangulation with Christmas lights, an arrow strike, a snapped neck, and characters set on fire. Several murders are shown directly or in brief graphic glimpses; some kills are off-screen but bodies are briefly visible. The sorority members also fight back and kill multiple hooded attackers late in the film. IMDb's Parents Guide documents multiple specific kills and visible blood in several scenes.
Language in Black Christmas
Mild-to-moderate profanity: there is one on-screen use of the F-word and several uses of "shit," "bitch," "damn" and similar swearing during arguments and panic. Language is not constant but punctuates key confrontations. No extended crude monologues.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Black Christmas
A few scenes feature alcohol at fraternity/sorority parties and characters who are visibly intoxicated; no sustained drug use is shown. Drinking is realistic party behavior rather than glamorized abuse. IMDb notes occasional alcohol at social scenes.
Mature themes in Black Christmas
Strong, mature themes drive the story: sexual assault and PTSD, institutional misogyny, fraternity complicity, ritualistic possession tied to the Hawthorne bust, and vigilantism. Campus authorities and professors are shown as dismissive or complicit, and the film ends with multiple deaths and the burning of the fraternity house — these themes are intense and may be distressing. The movie treats these issues as central to the plot rather than background flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Christmas appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Black Christmas is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Black Christmas (2019) is a PG-13 holiday-slasher about sorority pledges at Hawthorne College who are stalked and murdered as a campus conspiracy unravels. The rating reflects repeated violent kills (stabbings…
What age rating does Black Christmas have?
Black Christmas is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Black Christmas about?
Black Christmas (2019) is a PG-13 holiday-slasher about sorority pledges at Hawthorne College who are stalked and murdered as a campus conspiracy unravels. The rating reflects repeated violent kills (stabbings, strangulation, an arrow impact, a neck snap and on-screen burning), plus an emotionally intense flashback of…
Is there sex or nudity in Black Christmas?
Strong sexual-content themes: the film includes a brief but intense flashback revealing Riley's rape by Brian and an on-screen attempted sexual assault at a fraternity party that Riley interrupts. There is no explicit nudity, but the assault and its aftermath…
How violent is Black Christmas?
Frequent, often abrupt violent attacks and deaths are shown: stabbing with an icicle, strangulation with Christmas lights, an arrow strike, a snapped neck, and characters set on fire. Several murders are shown directly or in brief graphic glimpses; some kills…
Is the language in Black Christmas appropriate for kids?
Mild-to-moderate profanity: there is one on-screen use of the F-word and several uses of "shit," "bitch," "damn" and similar swearing during arguments and panic. Language is not constant but punctuates key confrontations. No extended crude monologues.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Black Christmas?
A few scenes feature alcohol at fraternity/sorority parties and characters who are visibly intoxicated; no sustained drug use is shown. Drinking is realistic party behavior rather than glamorized abuse. IMDb notes occasional alcohol at social scenes.
What mature themes appear in Black Christmas?
Strong, mature themes drive the story: sexual assault and PTSD, institutional misogyny, fraternity complicity, ritualistic possession tied to the Hawthorne bust, and vigilantism. Campus authorities and professors are shown as dismissive or complicit, and the…
How long is Black Christmas?
Black Christmas runs 92 minutes, directed by Sophia Takal, released in 2019.
Where can I read the full Black Christmas 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.
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