Gretel & Hansel (2020) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.
Rated PG-13 • 2020 • 1h 27m
Gretel & Hansel (2020) is a dark, slow-burning reimagining of the fairy tale that earned its PG-13 for disturbing imagery, thematic material, and brief drug use. Parents should be aware of repeated child endangerment (Gretel strapped down, Hansel caged over a fire), graphic food imagery implying body parts and cannibalism, a scene of a young character being drugged, and brief sexual remarks from an older man toward Gretel. There is… Sign up for the full guide
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Is Gretel & Hansel appropriate for kids?
Gretel & Hansel (2020) is a dark, slow-burning reimagining of the fairy tale that earned its PG-13 for disturbing imagery, thematic material, and brief drug use. Parents should be aware of repeated child endangerment (Gretel strapped down, Hansel caged over a fire), graphic food… Read more — free account
Content severity in Gretel & Hansel
What happens in Gretel & Hansel, moment by moment
- 0:02 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:06 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:10 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Sex and nudity in Gretel & Hansel
Brief and non-graphic sexual content: no nudity but a few disturbing sexualized remarks. In one scene an older man asks Gretel if she is still a "maiden" or "intact," delivered with a leering tone that many viewers find unsettling (IMDb Parents Guide notes this exchange). A child also makes a throwaway comment about a female chess piece being "naked." These moments are short but meant to feel uncomfortable rather than erotic.
Violence and gore in Gretel & Hansel
Strong and sometimes graphic-feeling violence appears intermittently throughout the film. Examples include a collapsing horse early in the film, a huntsman shooting a ghoulish attacker, grotesque food imagery that suggests body parts and intestines, Gretel being restrained in a cellar, and Hansel being trapped in a cage over a fire before the climactic confrontation in which the witch burns. The film emphasizes atmosphere and slow, unsettling physical threat over explicit gore, but several scenes are intense and…
Read more — free accountLanguage in Gretel & Hansel
Very little strong language is used; there are no repeated profanity or f-bombs noted in the Parents Guide. Dialogue is generally formal, archaic, or curt, with occasional mild expletives or harsh words in heated moments. Overall language is not a primary concern compared with the film's imagery and themes.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Gretel & Hansel
Mild and brief drug-related material appears: the siblings eat mushrooms that cause disorientation, and the witch shares teas/tonics that act as sedatives. Potion-making and the use of herbal/psychotropic preparations are plot devices (IMDb notes the mushroom "tripping" and a sleep tonic). One scene shows a character drugged and rendered unconscious, but drug use is not glamorized.
Mature themes in Gretel & Hansel
Strong fairy‑tale themes: child endangerment, parental neglect and death, revenge, and cannibalism are central to the story. The film opens with a grim prologue about a wicked child and includes haunted-children imagery and ghosts of victims; Holda's backstory involves murdering and eating children to gain power. These mature themes are recurrent and handled in a folkloric, eerie way rather than as light children's fare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gretel & Hansel appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Gretel & Hansel is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Gretel & Hansel (2020) is a dark, slow-burning reimagining of the fairy tale that earned its PG-13 for disturbing imagery, thematic material, and brief drug use. Parents should be aware of repeated child endangerment…
What age rating does Gretel & Hansel have?
Gretel & Hansel is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Gretel & Hansel about?
Gretel & Hansel (2020) is a dark, slow-burning reimagining of the fairy tale that earned its PG-13 for disturbing imagery, thematic material, and brief drug use. Parents should be aware of repeated child endangerment (Gretel strapped down, Hansel caged over a fire), graphic food imagery implying body parts and…
Is there sex or nudity in Gretel & Hansel?
Brief and non-graphic sexual content: no nudity but a few disturbing sexualized remarks. In one scene an older man asks Gretel if she is still a "maiden" or "intact," delivered with a leering tone that many viewers find unsettling (IMDb Parents Guide notes…
How violent is Gretel & Hansel?
Strong and sometimes graphic-feeling violence appears intermittently throughout the film. Examples include a collapsing horse early in the film, a huntsman shooting a ghoulish attacker, grotesque food imagery that suggests body parts and intestines, Gretel…
Is the language in Gretel & Hansel appropriate for kids?
Very little strong language is used; there are no repeated profanity or f-bombs noted in the Parents Guide. Dialogue is generally formal, archaic, or curt, with occasional mild expletives or harsh words in heated moments. Overall language is not a primary…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Gretel & Hansel?
Mild and brief drug-related material appears: the siblings eat mushrooms that cause disorientation, and the witch shares teas/tonics that act as sedatives. Potion-making and the use of herbal/psychotropic preparations are plot devices (IMDb notes the mushroom…
What mature themes appear in Gretel & Hansel?
Strong fairy‑tale themes: child endangerment, parental neglect and death, revenge, and cannibalism are central to the story. The film opens with a grim prologue about a wicked child and includes haunted-children imagery and ghosts of victims; Holda's…
How long is Gretel & Hansel?
Gretel & Hansel runs 87 minutes, directed by Osgood Perkins, released in 2020.
Where can I read the full Gretel & Hansel 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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