Instructions Not Included (2013) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Valentin is Acapulco's resident playboy, until a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and him heading with her out of Mexico.
Rated PG-13 • 2013 • 2h 2m
Instructions Not Included is rated PG-13 largely for sexual content, mature thematic material (including a terminal childhood illness and a custody battle), and moderate language. The movie alternates between broad comedy — Valentín's playboy life and stunt-work — and very emotional scenes involving his daughter Maggie, including her medical crisis and eventual on-screen death. Parents should expect brief implied sex, a quick close-up… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Instructions Not Included appropriate for kids?
Instructions Not Included is rated PG-13 largely for sexual content, mature thematic material (including a terminal childhood illness and a custody battle), and moderate language. The movie alternates between broad comedy — Valentín's playboy life and stunt-work — and very… Read more — free account
Content severity in Instructions Not Included
What happens in Instructions Not Included, moment by moment
- 0:03 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:04 💬 Language 5/10
- 0:05 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
Sex and nudity in Instructions Not Included
Mild sexual content and implied sex throughout an early montage showing Valentín with multiple partners; no explicit nudity. IMDb's Parents Guide specifically notes brief sexual situations and a short medium close-up of an injured/bloodied buttock (under two seconds). There's also offhand mention of the child's mother being in a relationship with a woman later in the film. Overall these moments are brief and non-sexualized in their presentation.
Violence and gore in Instructions Not Included
Mild, mostly stunt-related physical danger and brief scuffles. There are several dangerous stunt sequences (Valentín jumps from a hotel into a pool and works as a Hollywood stuntman) and short fights: a school scuffle where Maggie pushes a bully and a few scenes of shouting and pushing. No graphic gore is shown — injuries are suggested or briefly visible but not explicit.
Language in Instructions Not Included
Moderate profanity across the film, including repeated uses of "shit," several uses of "hell/damn," and a couple of stronger expletives noted in the IMDb Parents Guide (two instances of "fuck"). Swear words occur in both comic and heated dramatic moments (arguments, a courtroom scene). Parents should expect intermittent strong language rather than nonstop profanity.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Instructions Not Included
Mild: brief on-screen medical injection and references to blood tests; no recreational drug use shown. IMDb's guide mentions a doctor giving a shot and discussing tests — these are short, matter-of-fact medical moments. Alcohol is present only in passing/comic contexts, not glamorized substance abuse.
Mature themes in Instructions Not Included
Strong emotional themes drive the movie: abandonment, single parenting, a custody battle, terminal childhood illness, and grief. Plot points include Julie abandoning baby Maggie, Valentín fabricating letters from the mother, a DNA test that removes legal custody, and Maggie's peaceful but on-screen death on a beach — all played for sincere drama. These are the film's most intense elements and likely to affect viewers emotionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Instructions Not Included appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Instructions Not Included is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Instructions Not Included is rated PG-13 largely for sexual content, mature thematic material (including a terminal childhood illness and a custody battle), and moderate language. The movie alternates between broad…
What age rating does Instructions Not Included have?
Instructions Not Included is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Instructions Not Included about?
Instructions Not Included is rated PG-13 largely for sexual content, mature thematic material (including a terminal childhood illness and a custody battle), and moderate language. The movie alternates between broad comedy — Valentín's playboy life and stunt-work — and very emotional scenes involving his daughter…
Is there sex or nudity in Instructions Not Included?
Mild sexual content and implied sex throughout an early montage showing Valentín with multiple partners; no explicit nudity. IMDb's Parents Guide specifically notes brief sexual situations and a short medium close-up of an injured/bloodied buttock (under two…
How violent is Instructions Not Included?
Mild, mostly stunt-related physical danger and brief scuffles. There are several dangerous stunt sequences (Valentín jumps from a hotel into a pool and works as a Hollywood stuntman) and short fights: a school scuffle where Maggie pushes a bully and a few…
Is the language in Instructions Not Included appropriate for kids?
Moderate profanity across the film, including repeated uses of "shit," several uses of "hell/damn," and a couple of stronger expletives noted in the IMDb Parents Guide (two instances of "fuck"). Swear words occur in both comic and heated dramatic moments…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Instructions Not Included?
Mild: brief on-screen medical injection and references to blood tests; no recreational drug use shown. IMDb's guide mentions a doctor giving a shot and discussing tests — these are short, matter-of-fact medical moments. Alcohol is present only in…
What mature themes appear in Instructions Not Included?
Strong emotional themes drive the movie: abandonment, single parenting, a custody battle, terminal childhood illness, and grief. Plot points include Julie abandoning baby Maggie, Valentín fabricating letters from the mother, a DNA test that removes legal…
How long is Instructions Not Included?
Instructions Not Included runs 122 minutes, directed by Eugenio Derbez, released in 2013.
Where can I read the full Instructions Not Included 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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