Dances with Wolves (1990) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
Rated PG-13 • 1990 • 3h 1m
Overall: A Union soldier stationed alone at a frontier outpost befriends a Lakota Sioux tribe and gradually becomes one of them. Kevin Costner. Won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The PG-13 rating covers period violence.
Cast
Is Dances with Wolves appropriate for kids?
Overall: A Union soldier stationed alone at a frontier outpost befriends a Lakota Sioux tribe and gradually becomes one of them. Kevin Costner. Won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The PG-13 rating covers period violence. Read more — free account
Content severity in Dances with Wolves
What happens in Dances with Wolves, moment by moment
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:18 💬 Language 2/10
- 0:22 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Sex and nudity in Dances with Wolves
The film features a romantic relationship between the lead characters that is portrayed with a warm and restrained tone. A wedding night scene shows the couple embracing and kissing, though it is filmed with soft lighting and remains tastefully non-explicit. Brief non-sexual nudity occurs during scenes of bathing in a river, consistent with the film's naturalistic style.
Violence and gore in Dances with Wolves
Battle sequences. A wolf killed. The film's violence is purposeful and not frequent — it is primarily a film of landscape and character.
Language in Dances with Wolves
The dialogue contains infrequent use of mild profanity and some period-typical insults consistent with a PG-13 rating. Most of the language is respectful, though a few stronger terms are used during moments of high tension or conflict between soldiers. The majority of the film is subtitled or focuses on visual storytelling, keeping the total count of modern expletives low.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Dances with Wolves
There is no significant illicit drug use or modern substance abuse depicted throughout the film. Occasional consumption of alcohol occurs in a historical context, such as soldiers drinking at an army post or celebrating milestones. These instances are brief and do not focus on intoxication or the glorification of drinking.
Mature themes in Dances with Wolves
A revisionist Western that takes the indigenous perspective seriously — the Lakota are depicted as a fully human community rather than an obstacle. The beginning of the end of their way of life. A man who chooses a people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dances with Wolves appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Dances with Wolves is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Overall: A Union soldier stationed alone at a frontier outpost befriends a Lakota Sioux tribe and gradually becomes one of them. Kevin Costner. Won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The PG-13 rating covers…
What age rating does Dances with Wolves have?
Dances with Wolves is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Dances with Wolves about?
Overall: A Union soldier stationed alone at a frontier outpost befriends a Lakota Sioux tribe and gradually becomes one of them. Kevin Costner. Won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The PG-13 rating covers period violence.
Is there sex or nudity in Dances with Wolves?
The film features a romantic relationship between the lead characters that is portrayed with a warm and restrained tone. A wedding night scene shows the couple embracing and kissing, though it is filmed with soft lighting and remains tastefully non-explicit…
How violent is Dances with Wolves?
Battle sequences. A wolf killed. The film's violence is purposeful and not frequent — it is primarily a film of landscape and character.
Is the language in Dances with Wolves appropriate for kids?
The dialogue contains infrequent use of mild profanity and some period-typical insults consistent with a PG-13 rating. Most of the language is respectful, though a few stronger terms are used during moments of high tension or conflict between soldiers. The…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Dances with Wolves?
There is no significant illicit drug use or modern substance abuse depicted throughout the film. Occasional consumption of alcohol occurs in a historical context, such as soldiers drinking at an army post or celebrating milestones. These instances are brief…
What mature themes appear in Dances with Wolves?
A revisionist Western that takes the indigenous perspective seriously — the Lakota are depicted as a fully human community rather than an obstacle. The beginning of the end of their way of life. A man who chooses a people.
How long is Dances with Wolves?
Dances with Wolves runs 181 minutes, directed by Kevin Costner, released in 1990.
Where can I read the full Dances with Wolves parent guide?
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