Flatliners (2017) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Five medical students, hoping to understand the mystery of what lies beyond life, embark on a dangerous experiment. When their hearts are stopped for a short period of time, they have a near-death experience…
Rated PG-13 • 2017 • 1h 51m
This PG-13 horror-thriller follows a group of medical students, led by Courtney, who conduct dangerous experiments to experience the afterlife by temporarily stopping their own hearts. "Flatliners" earned its rating for sequences of violence and terror, sexual content, some strong language, and intense thematic material. The film features frequent jump scares, disturbing supernatural-style hauntings, a character's shocking death, and a… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Flatliners appropriate for kids?
This PG-13 horror-thriller follows a group of medical students, led by Courtney, who conduct dangerous experiments to experience the afterlife by temporarily stopping their own hearts. "Flatliners" earned its rating for sequences of violence and terror, sexual content, some… Read more — free account
Content severity in Flatliners
What happens in Flatliners, moment by moment
- 0:10 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
- 0:16 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:26 ♥ Sex & Nudity 4/10
Sex and nudity in Flatliners
A few scenes feature sexual content. Two characters have sex on a kitchen counter; the scene is brief with moaning and implied movement but no nudity. In another scene, a man and woman lie together on a sofa under a blanket, with partial nudity implied but not shown. During a party sequence, a man strips to his underwear and a woman dances in her sports bra. A character also comments that a near-death experience made her feel sexual.
Violence and gore in Flatliners
Violence is moderate and primarily medical or psychological. The central premise involves characters repeatedly stopping their own hearts and being violently resuscitated with defibrillators. A fatal car crash is shown in a jarring flashback. A main character falls from a significant height to their death, and their body is briefly seen on the ground. Characters are also physically tormented by their hallucinations, with one being stabbed in the hand and another being suffocated with a plastic bag.
Language in Flatliners
Language includes some strong profanity. The film contains at least one use of "fuck," as well as multiple uses of "shit," "bitch," "ass," and "dick." A middle finger gesture is also used.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Flatliners
Substance use is mild. Characters drink alcohol, primarily beer and liquor, in social settings like a party and at a bar. There is also a passing verbal reference to the drug LSD.
Mature themes in Flatliners
The film is built on intense and mature themes. The primary focus is on guilt, trauma, and the consequences of past sins, which manifest as terrifying hallucinations. Specific themes include a character being haunted by a sister who died in a car crash she caused, another by a forced abortion, another by a past act of cruel bullying, and one by a fatal medical error. The concept of death, the afterlife, and self-harm (as characters willingly induce clinical death) are central to the plot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flatliners appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Flatliners is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. This PG-13 horror-thriller follows a group of medical students, led by Courtney, who conduct dangerous experiments to experience the afterlife by temporarily stopping their own hearts. "Flatliners" earned its rating for…
What age rating does Flatliners have?
Flatliners is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Flatliners about?
This PG-13 horror-thriller follows a group of medical students, led by Courtney, who conduct dangerous experiments to experience the afterlife by temporarily stopping their own hearts. "Flatliners" earned its rating for sequences of violence and terror, sexual content, some strong language, and intense thematic…
Is there sex or nudity in Flatliners?
A few scenes feature sexual content. Two characters have sex on a kitchen counter; the scene is brief with moaning and implied movement but no nudity. In another scene, a man and woman lie together on a sofa under a blanket, with partial nudity implied but…
How violent is Flatliners?
Violence is moderate and primarily medical or psychological. The central premise involves characters repeatedly stopping their own hearts and being violently resuscitated with defibrillators. A fatal car crash is shown in a jarring flashback. A main character…
Is the language in Flatliners appropriate for kids?
Language includes some strong profanity. The film contains at least one use of "fuck," as well as multiple uses of "shit," "bitch," "ass," and "dick." A middle finger gesture is also used.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Flatliners?
Substance use is mild. Characters drink alcohol, primarily beer and liquor, in social settings like a party and at a bar. There is also a passing verbal reference to the drug LSD.
What mature themes appear in Flatliners?
The film is built on intense and mature themes. The primary focus is on guilt, trauma, and the consequences of past sins, which manifest as terrifying hallucinations. Specific themes include a character being haunted by a sister who died in a car crash she…
How long is Flatliners?
Flatliners runs 111 minutes, directed by Niels Arden Oplev, released in 2017.
Where can I read the full Flatliners 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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