Open Range (2003) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.
Rated R • 2003 • 2h 19m
Open Range is rated R primarily for sustained, realistic Western violence — including a bloody final shootout, visible gunshot wounds, and on-screen death — and for the use of chloroform to incapacitate men. Parents should know the film contains several violent beatings, the on-screen killing of a dog (Tig), a prolonged town gunfight with blood spurting, mild profanity, alcohol and tobacco use, and a depiction of Charley Waite's PTSD… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Open Range appropriate for kids?
Open Range is rated R primarily for sustained, realistic Western violence — including a bloody final shootout, visible gunshot wounds, and on-screen death — and for the use of chloroform to incapacitate men. Parents should know the film contains several violent beatings, the… Read more — free account
Content severity in Open Range
What happens in Open Range, moment by moment
- 0:12 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
- 0:25 🍷 Substances 2/10
- 0:48 ⚔ Violence & Gore 7/10
Sex and nudity in Open Range
Very light and brief. Two short kisses between Charley Waite and Sue Barlow near the film's end, no nudity; a throwaway line about dancing women in a saloon is mentioned but nothing explicit. Overall sexual content is minimal and non-graphic.
Violence and gore in Open Range
Strong and sustained in places. The film includes several beatings (Mose is badly beaten and jailed), the on-screen killing of the dog Tig, Button being shot in the chest, and an extended, bloody street gunfight where bullet wounds and spurting blood are visible (IMDb Parents Guide documents a visible bullet hole and blood). There are also scenes of men being struck with bottles and rifle butts and close-quarters shooting in a jailhouse — the tone is realistic rather than stylized.
Language in Open Range
Mild overall. A few coarse words — multiple uses of "shit," some uses of "God" and one instance of "son of a bitch" — but profanity is infrequent compared with the film's violent content. Not a major concern compared with the action and trauma.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Open Range
Mild to moderate. Characters drink in saloon scenes and some men smoke cigars (brief, non-glorified). More concerning: Boss and Charley steal and use chloroform to drug the corrupt marshal and deputies (involuntary incapacitation), which is a focal plot device and is noted in the IMDb Parents Guide.
Mature themes in Open Range
Strong themes of death, revenge, and wartime trauma. Charley Waite struggles with PTSD and guilt from his Civil War past (he has a destructive flashback that ruins Sue's teacup), and the film treats revenge and moral choices seriously as townspeople bury the dead and confront violence. Grief over the dog and wounded friends is explicit and drives the protagonists' decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Range appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Open Range is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. Open Range is rated R primarily for sustained, realistic Western violence — including a bloody final shootout, visible gunshot wounds, and on-screen death — and for the use of chloroform to incapacitate men. Parents…
What age rating does Open Range have?
Open Range is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Open Range about?
Open Range is rated R primarily for sustained, realistic Western violence — including a bloody final shootout, visible gunshot wounds, and on-screen death — and for the use of chloroform to incapacitate men. Parents should know the film contains several violent beatings, the on-screen killing of a dog (Tig), a…
Is there sex or nudity in Open Range?
Very light and brief. Two short kisses between Charley Waite and Sue Barlow near the film's end, no nudity; a throwaway line about dancing women in a saloon is mentioned but nothing explicit. Overall sexual content is minimal and non-graphic.
How violent is Open Range?
Strong and sustained in places. The film includes several beatings (Mose is badly beaten and jailed), the on-screen killing of the dog Tig, Button being shot in the chest, and an extended, bloody street gunfight where bullet wounds and spurting blood are…
Is the language in Open Range appropriate for kids?
Mild overall. A few coarse words — multiple uses of "shit," some uses of "God" and one instance of "son of a bitch" — but profanity is infrequent compared with the film's violent content. Not a major concern compared with the action and trauma.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Open Range?
Mild to moderate. Characters drink in saloon scenes and some men smoke cigars (brief, non-glorified). More concerning: Boss and Charley steal and use chloroform to drug the corrupt marshal and deputies (involuntary incapacitation), which is a focal plot…
What mature themes appear in Open Range?
Strong themes of death, revenge, and wartime trauma. Charley Waite struggles with PTSD and guilt from his Civil War past (he has a destructive flashback that ruins Sue's teacup), and the film treats revenge and moral choices seriously as townspeople bury the…
How long is Open Range?
Open Range runs 139 minutes, directed by Kevin Costner, released in 2003.
Where can I read the full Open Range 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.
Parents also checked these movies for 13-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like Open Range with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More action movies with parent guides
- Interstellar parent guide
- Inception parent guide
- The Avengers parent guide
- The Dark Knight parent guide
- Avatar parent guide
- Deadpool parent guide
- Fight Club parent guide
- Avengers: Infinity War parent guide
- The Shawshank Redemption parent guide
- Forrest Gump parent guide
- Guardians of the Galaxy parent guide
- Django Unchained parent guide
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- Noelle parent guide
- Sullivan's Travels parent guide
- Sibyl parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- Boiling Point parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Lifted parent guide
- Scoop parent guide
- The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines parent guide
- Whip It parent guide
- Home parent guide