Poster for Is Anybody There?

Is Anybody There? (2009) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A young boy who lives in an old folks' home strikes up a friendship with a retired magician.

Rated PG-13 • 2009 • 1h 35m

6.3
Average rating by Bontent members
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Age
13+

Rated PG-13, "Is Anybody There?" is a bittersweet drama centered on the friendship between a death-obsessed 10-year-old boy, Edward, and a retired magician, Clarence, who is succumbing to dementia. The film's rating is primarily for its mature thematic material, including an implied suicide attempt, the emotional realities of aging and death, and some language including a single use of 'fuck'. There is also a brief but startlingly… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Bill Milner
Bill Milner
David Morrissey
David Morrissey
Anne-Marie Duff
Anne-Marie Duff
Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Harris
Ralph Riach
Ralph Riach
Linzey Cocker
Linzey Cocker
Elizabeth Spriggs
Elizabeth Spriggs
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Sylvia Syms
Sylvia Syms
Thelma Barlow
Thelma Barlow
Peter Vaughan
Peter Vaughan
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Is Is Anybody There? appropriate for kids?

Rated PG-13, "Is Anybody There?" is a bittersweet drama centered on the friendship between a death-obsessed 10-year-old boy, Edward, and a retired magician, Clarence, who is succumbing to dementia. The film's rating is primarily for its mature thematic material, including an… Read more — free account

Content severity in Is Anybody There?

Sex Moderate 4/10
Violence Strong 6/10
Language Strong 7/10
Substances Mild 2/10
Themes Strong 7/10

What happens in Is Anybody There?, moment by moment

  1. 0:05 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
  2. 0:15 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
  3. 0:25 🔥 Mature Themes 7/10
Unlock all 12 flagged moments — free account →

Sex and nudity in Is Anybody There?

Contains a few sexual references. An older man tells some mature stories with sexual undertones, and in one scene, a character briefly describes the male anatomy in a crude manner. There are also a few instances of kissing between married characters.

Violence and gore in Is Anybody There?

Violence is infrequent and not severe, but one scene contains a disturbing image. During a magic show, a trick appears to go horribly wrong, showing a finger being severed with a small guillotine, resulting in a spurt of blood and screaming. A multi-car pile-up occurs due to a driver's confusion, but no injuries are shown. A boy also throws mud at an older man in anger.

Language in Is Anybody There?

Language is moderate, but includes one use of 'fuck' during an argument. Other profanity includes 'shit', 'wanker', and 'damn'. There are also some sexual references and mature jokes, including an older character recounting sexual stories.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Is Anybody There?

Substance use is present but not a focus. Adult characters are occasionally seen smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol (beer, wine) in social settings, as is typical for the 1980s setting.

Mature themes in Is Anybody There?

The film's central themes are mature and emotionally intense. It deals directly with aging, dementia, mortality, and grief as a young boy and an elderly man confront the end of life. A main character with dementia experiences confusion and memory loss. There is a scene depicting an apparent suicide attempt via carbon monoxide poisoning, and a main character dies peacefully on screen.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Is Anybody There? appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Is Anybody There? is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Rated PG-13, "Is Anybody There?" is a bittersweet drama centered on the friendship between a death-obsessed 10-year-old boy, Edward, and a retired magician, Clarence, who is succumbing to dementia. The film's rating is…

What age rating does Is Anybody There? have?

Is Anybody There? is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is Is Anybody There? about?

Rated PG-13, "Is Anybody There?" is a bittersweet drama centered on the friendship between a death-obsessed 10-year-old boy, Edward, and a retired magician, Clarence, who is succumbing to dementia. The film's rating is primarily for its mature thematic material, including an implied suicide attempt, the emotional…

Is there sex or nudity in Is Anybody There??

Contains a few sexual references. An older man tells some mature stories with sexual undertones, and in one scene, a character briefly describes the male anatomy in a crude manner. There are also a few instances of kissing between married characters.

How violent is Is Anybody There??

Violence is infrequent and not severe, but one scene contains a disturbing image. During a magic show, a trick appears to go horribly wrong, showing a finger being severed with a small guillotine, resulting in a spurt of blood and screaming. A multi-car…

Is the language in Is Anybody There? appropriate for kids?

Language is moderate, but includes one use of 'fuck' during an argument. Other profanity includes 'shit', 'wanker', and 'damn'. There are also some sexual references and mature jokes, including an older character recounting sexual stories.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Is Anybody There??

Substance use is present but not a focus. Adult characters are occasionally seen smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol (beer, wine) in social settings, as is typical for the 1980s setting.

What mature themes appear in Is Anybody There??

The film's central themes are mature and emotionally intense. It deals directly with aging, dementia, mortality, and grief as a young boy and an elderly man confront the end of life. A main character with dementia experiences confusion and memory loss. There…

How long is Is Anybody There??

Is Anybody There? runs 95 minutes, directed by John Crowley, released in 2009.

Where can I read the full Is Anybody There? parent guide?

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