Poltergeist (1982) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
The Freelings' suburban home becomes the center of paranormal activity that opens a portal to the 'other side'. With help, they must cross over to get their daughter back.
Rated PG • 1982 • 1h 54m
A suburban family is terrorised by ghosts that eventually abduct their youngest daughter through the television. The PG rating is wildly misleading by today's standards — this film is responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating. Genuinely frightening for most children.
Cast
Is Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
A suburban family is terrorised by ghosts that eventually abduct their youngest daughter through the television. The PG rating is wildly misleading by today's standards — this film is responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating. Genuinely frightening for most children. Read more — free account
Content severity in Poltergeist
What happens in Poltergeist, moment by moment
- 0:08 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
- 0:25 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
- 0:42 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
Sex and nudity in Poltergeist
There is no actual sexual content or nudity depicted in the film. The story focuses entirely on the family unit and the supernatural activity within their suburban home, maintaining a family-friendly tone regarding physical intimacy. Characters are always fully clothed in typical 1980s attire.
Violence and gore in Poltergeist
A man tears his own face off in a bathroom mirror — graphic and deeply disturbing. Skeletons rising from a pool. Clown coming to life. A child's face stretched into a scream. Far more intense than its PG rating suggests.
Language in Poltergeist
The film contains infrequent mild to moderate profanity including uses of 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'shit.' While the language is more frequent than what is typical for a modern PG rating, it remains relatively grounded and conversational within the context of the family's stress. Occasional insults are traded between siblings that reflect the time period.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Poltergeist
There is no significant drug use or alcohol-related content featured throughout the movie. The parents are occasionally seen in relaxed domestic settings, but the narrative avoids any focus on substance abuse or intoxicating behavior. The primary focus remains on the supernatural threat rather than adult lifestyle choices.
Mature themes in Poltergeist
A home built on a desecrated cemetery — the suburban dream hiding horror. A child lost in another dimension. Parental helplessness. The film established many haunted house genre conventions and remains effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Poltergeist is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG. A suburban family is terrorised by ghosts that eventually abduct their youngest daughter through the television. The PG rating is wildly misleading by today's standards — this film is responsible for the creation of the…
What age rating does Poltergeist have?
Poltergeist is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.
What is Poltergeist about?
A suburban family is terrorised by ghosts that eventually abduct their youngest daughter through the television. The PG rating is wildly misleading by today's standards — this film is responsible for the creation of the PG-13 rating. Genuinely frightening for most children.
Is there sex or nudity in Poltergeist?
There is no actual sexual content or nudity depicted in the film. The story focuses entirely on the family unit and the supernatural activity within their suburban home, maintaining a family-friendly tone regarding physical intimacy. Characters are always…
How violent is Poltergeist?
A man tears his own face off in a bathroom mirror — graphic and deeply disturbing. Skeletons rising from a pool. Clown coming to life. A child's face stretched into a scream. Far more intense than its PG rating suggests.
Is the language in Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
The film contains infrequent mild to moderate profanity including uses of 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'shit.' While the language is more frequent than what is typical for a modern PG rating, it remains relatively grounded and conversational within the context of the…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Poltergeist?
There is no significant drug use or alcohol-related content featured throughout the movie. The parents are occasionally seen in relaxed domestic settings, but the narrative avoids any focus on substance abuse or intoxicating behavior. The primary focus…
What mature themes appear in Poltergeist?
A home built on a desecrated cemetery — the suburban dream hiding horror. A child lost in another dimension. Parental helplessness. The film established many haunted house genre conventions and remains effective.
How long is Poltergeist?
Poltergeist runs 114 minutes, directed by Tobe Hooper, released in 1982.
Where can I read the full Poltergeist 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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