Excess Baggage (1997) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A rich brat fakes her own kidnapping, but in the process ends up locked in the trunk of a car that gets stolen.
Rated PG-13 • 1997 • 1h 41m
Excess Baggage (1997) is a PG-13 light crime-comedy about Emily Hope (Alicia Silverstone) staging her own kidnapping that goes wrong when thief Vincent Roche (Benicio Del Toro) steals the car with her in the trunk. The film earned its PG-13 for on-screen threat and property damage—notably being locked in a trunk, car chases and a warehouse fire—plus mild sexual content, drinking/smoking, and some profanity (IMDb lists "moderate"… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Excess Baggage appropriate for kids?
Excess Baggage (1997) is a PG-13 light crime-comedy about Emily Hope (Alicia Silverstone) staging her own kidnapping that goes wrong when thief Vincent Roche (Benicio Del Toro) steals the car with her in the trunk. The film earned its PG-13 for on-screen threat and property… Read more — free account
Content severity in Excess Baggage
What happens in Excess Baggage, moment by moment
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:20 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
- 0:28 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
Sex and nudity in Excess Baggage
Light and brief. A few short kisses and flirtatious moments (mostly between Emily and Vincent) appear near the film's romantic resolution; there is no nudity or explicit sexual activity and no explicit language tied to those scenes.
Violence and gore in Excess Baggage
Moderate, non-graphic physical danger and property damage. Key moments include Emily being bound and trapped in a car trunk, a police chase that causes a multi-car crash, fistfights and menacing confrontations, and an accidental warehouse fire that threatens people and property. The film plays these for tension and comic effect rather than graphic harm.
Language in Excess Baggage
Mild profanity and casual cursing. Occasional swearing and multiple uses of religious exclamations (e.g., abuses of 'Jesus, Christ') appear in dialogue but there are no sustained explicit tirades.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Excess Baggage
Mild: characters drink alcohol in social settings and several characters smoke; a lit cigarette directly causes the warehouse fire. Substance use is shown but not glamorized or depicted as the central plot driver except for the accidental ignition.
Mature themes in Excess Baggage
Moderate themes of deception, kidnapping (staged but becomes real), family neglect and criminality. The plot centers on Emily's plan to manipulate her wealthy father and the moral consequences when her stunt endangers herself and others; there is also tension around theft, pursuit by hired goons, and reconciliation.
Scary moments in Excess Baggage
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for Excess Baggage 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 Excess Baggage appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Excess Baggage is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG-13. Excess Baggage (1997) is a PG-13 light crime-comedy about Emily Hope (Alicia Silverstone) staging her own kidnapping that goes wrong when thief Vincent Roche (Benicio Del Toro) steals the car with her in the trunk. The…
What age rating does Excess Baggage have?
Excess Baggage is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is Excess Baggage about?
Excess Baggage (1997) is a PG-13 light crime-comedy about Emily Hope (Alicia Silverstone) staging her own kidnapping that goes wrong when thief Vincent Roche (Benicio Del Toro) steals the car with her in the trunk. The film earned its PG-13 for on-screen threat and property damage—notably being locked in a trunk, car…
Is there sex or nudity in Excess Baggage?
Light and brief. A few short kisses and flirtatious moments (mostly between Emily and Vincent) appear near the film's romantic resolution; there is no nudity or explicit sexual activity and no explicit language tied to those scenes.
How violent is Excess Baggage?
Moderate, non-graphic physical danger and property damage. Key moments include Emily being bound and trapped in a car trunk, a police chase that causes a multi-car crash, fistfights and menacing confrontations, and an accidental warehouse fire that threatens…
Is the language in Excess Baggage appropriate for kids?
Mild profanity and casual cursing. Occasional swearing and multiple uses of religious exclamations (e.g., abuses of 'Jesus, Christ') appear in dialogue but there are no sustained explicit tirades.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Excess Baggage?
Mild: characters drink alcohol in social settings and several characters smoke; a lit cigarette directly causes the warehouse fire. Substance use is shown but not glamorized or depicted as the central plot driver except for the accidental ignition.
What mature themes appear in Excess Baggage?
Moderate themes of deception, kidnapping (staged but becomes real), family neglect and criminality. The plot centers on Emily's plan to manipulate her wealthy father and the moral consequences when her stunt endangers herself and others; there is also tension…
How long is Excess Baggage?
Excess Baggage runs 101 minutes, directed by Marco Brambilla, released in 1997.
Where can I read the full Excess Baggage parent guide?
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