Mary and Max (2009) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Mary and Max is best for ages 14+. It's rated NR. Mary and Max is a melancholic stop-motion animation that explores the long-distance friendship between an isolated young girl in Australia and an anxious, middle-aged man in New York. While the visual style is…

Mary and Max is officially rated NR. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 14+.

Mary and Max is a melancholic stop-motion animation that explores the long-distance friendship between an isolated young girl in Australia and an anxious, middle-aged man in New York. While the visual style is whimsical, the film deals with heavy, mature subjects including severe mental health struggles, alcoholism…

There are brief, non-gratuitous instances of adult content, including a drawing of a nude woman and a puppet featuring an exposed penis. The film also references sexual themes in a dialogue-heavy, clinical manner when explaining adult biology to a child.

Violence is infrequent but can be jarring due to the stop-motion style. It includes depictions of a character being crushed by an appliance with visible pooling blood and a flashback scene involving piranhas attacking legs.

The film uses sparse but clear profanity, including the word 'fuck,' which is shown written on screen during a moment of character frustration.

There is recurring depiction of alcohol abuse, specifically regarding Mary's mother, as well as the use of prescription medication for anxiety and smoking.

The film heavily centers on themes of depression, loneliness, mental illness (including Asperger syndrome), and suicide attempts. These topics are treated with narrative seriousness and emotional weight.

Mary and Max runs 92 minutes, directed by Adam Elliot, released in 2009.

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