Mean Girls (2004) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
Rated PG-13 • 2004 • 1h 37m
Mean Girls received its PG-13 rating for sexual content, language, and teen partying, and this iconic teen comedy warrants it. The film's primary focus is on the intense psychological bullying and social manipulation within a high school clique known as "The Plastics," led by Regina George. Parents should be aware of frequent, derogatory language (including "slut," "whore," and a homophobic slur), pervasive themes of public… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Mean Girls appropriate for kids?
Mean Girls received its PG-13 rating for sexual content, language, and teen partying, and this iconic teen comedy warrants it. The film's primary focus is on the intense psychological bullying and social manipulation within a high school clique known as "The Plastics," led by… Read more — free account
Content severity in Mean Girls
What happens in Mean Girls, moment by moment
- 0:05 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
- 0:16 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:22 🍷 Substances 4/10
Sex and nudity in Mean Girls
Moderate sexual content and innuendo are present. This includes suggestive outfits (especially at a Halloween party where one character wears lingerie), lots of dialogue about virginity and cheating, and a scene where a character implies she can perform a weather forecast with her breasts. A coach's "sex ed" speech is rife with inappropriate innuendo about students. Two characters kiss, and a couple is briefly surprised while canoodling.
Violence and gore in Mean Girls
Violence is moderate but generally comedic or brief. The most intense scene involves a main character being suddenly hit by a school bus; the impact is shown but it is not gory. Another scene features a school-wide brawl with pushing, shoving, and chaos after malicious gossip is released. A fantasy sequence shows a character imagining tackling another person into a fountain, and another character accidentally hits someone in the face with a boombox.
Language in Mean Girls
Language is strong and a key part of the film's rating. Cruel, derogatory terms like "bitch," "slut," and "whore" are used frequently by the teens to insult each other. The homophobic slur "dyke" is written in a book and becomes a plot point. Other language includes multiple uses of "ass," "damn," "hell," and the term "retarded." The F-word is also very briefly heard during a music skip in the talent show.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Mean Girls
Mild to moderate. A house party scene shows high schoolers drinking from red cups, and the main character gets drunk. An adult character (Regina's mom) offers the teens non-alcoholic cocktails but explicitly states she would rather they drink in her house, implicitly condoning underage drinking. A teacher is falsely accused of being a drug dealer as part of a revenge plot.
Mature themes in Mean Girls
Thematic content is strong and central to the story. The film is an exploration of bullying, social hierarchies, psychological manipulation, and public humiliation. The central plot device is the "Burn Book," a scrapbook filled with cruel, hateful gossip, lies, and insults about students and teachers. Themes of betrayal, body-shaming (a character is tricked into gaining weight), social ostracism, and peer pressure are pervasive and intense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mean Girls appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Mean Girls is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Mean Girls received its PG-13 rating for sexual content, language, and teen partying, and this iconic teen comedy warrants it. The film's primary focus is on the intense psychological bullying and social manipulation…
What age rating does Mean Girls have?
Mean Girls is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Mean Girls about?
Mean Girls received its PG-13 rating for sexual content, language, and teen partying, and this iconic teen comedy warrants it. The film's primary focus is on the intense psychological bullying and social manipulation within a high school clique known as "The Plastics," led by Regina George. Parents should be aware of…
Is there sex or nudity in Mean Girls?
Moderate sexual content and innuendo are present. This includes suggestive outfits (especially at a Halloween party where one character wears lingerie), lots of dialogue about virginity and cheating, and a scene where a character implies she can perform a…
How violent is Mean Girls?
Violence is moderate but generally comedic or brief. The most intense scene involves a main character being suddenly hit by a school bus; the impact is shown but it is not gory. Another scene features a school-wide brawl with pushing, shoving, and chaos after…
Is the language in Mean Girls appropriate for kids?
Language is strong and a key part of the film's rating. Cruel, derogatory terms like "bitch," "slut," and "whore" are used frequently by the teens to insult each other. The homophobic slur "dyke" is written in a book and becomes a plot point. Other language…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Mean Girls?
Mild to moderate. A house party scene shows high schoolers drinking from red cups, and the main character gets drunk. An adult character (Regina's mom) offers the teens non-alcoholic cocktails but explicitly states she would rather they drink in her house…
What mature themes appear in Mean Girls?
Thematic content is strong and central to the story. The film is an exploration of bullying, social hierarchies, psychological manipulation, and public humiliation. The central plot device is the "Burn Book," a scrapbook filled with cruel, hateful gossip…
How long is Mean Girls?
Mean Girls runs 97 minutes, directed by Mark Waters, released in 2004.
Where can I read the full Mean Girls parent guide?
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