Poltergeist (2015) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A family's suburban home is invaded by angry spirits. When the terrifying apparitions escalate their attacks and take the youngest daughter, the family must come together to rescue her.
Rated PG-13 • 2015 • 1h 33m
This 2015 remake of Poltergeist earns its PG-13 rating for intense and frequent frightening sequences involving supernatural threats to a family. After moving into a new suburban home, the Bowen family finds themselves terrorized by angry spirits who ultimately abduct their youngest daughter, Maddy, into another dimension. The film contains numerous jump scares, creepy imagery including menacing dolls and skeletal figures, and… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
This 2015 remake of Poltergeist earns its PG-13 rating for intense and frequent frightening sequences involving supernatural threats to a family. After moving into a new suburban home, the Bowen family finds themselves terrorized by angry spirits who ultimately abduct their… Read more — free account
Content severity in Poltergeist
What happens in Poltergeist, moment by moment
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
- 0:21 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:25 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Sex and nudity in Poltergeist
Contains one brief scene of suggestive material. A husband and wife are in bed and begin to kiss, preparing to have sex, but they are interrupted before anything happens. This is the only sexual content in the film.
Violence and gore in Poltergeist
Violence is frequent but not gory, consisting mainly of supernatural attacks and startling peril. A boy is attacked by a clown doll, grabbed by the branches of a large tree, and nearly impaled by a power drill operated by a ghost. A teenage girl is grabbed by the hand of a reanimated corpse, and characters are chased by skeletal apparitions. A car is supernaturally flipped over, and the house is ultimately destroyed in a chaotic finale.
Language in Poltergeist
Language is present but not pervasive. The screenplay includes uses of "shit," "bitch," and "ass," alongside exclamations like "hell" and "damn." The profanity is infrequent overall.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Poltergeist
There is minor alcohol use. The parents are shown drinking wine at a dinner party with friends. This is depicted in a casual, social context.
Mature themes in Poltergeist
The central theme is the paranormal abduction of a young child, Maddy, which is a source of intense distress for her family throughout the film. Her brother Griffin also experiences significant guilt for having left her alone. Themes of death and the afterlife are prominent, as the haunting is caused by spirits trapped because their graves were desecrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Poltergeist is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. This 2015 remake of Poltergeist earns its PG-13 rating for intense and frequent frightening sequences involving supernatural threats to a family. After moving into a new suburban home, the Bowen family finds themselves…
What age rating does Poltergeist have?
Poltergeist is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Poltergeist about?
This 2015 remake of Poltergeist earns its PG-13 rating for intense and frequent frightening sequences involving supernatural threats to a family. After moving into a new suburban home, the Bowen family finds themselves terrorized by angry spirits who ultimately abduct their youngest daughter, Maddy, into another…
Is there sex or nudity in Poltergeist?
Contains one brief scene of suggestive material. A husband and wife are in bed and begin to kiss, preparing to have sex, but they are interrupted before anything happens. This is the only sexual content in the film.
How violent is Poltergeist?
Violence is frequent but not gory, consisting mainly of supernatural attacks and startling peril. A boy is attacked by a clown doll, grabbed by the branches of a large tree, and nearly impaled by a power drill operated by a ghost. A teenage girl is grabbed by…
Is the language in Poltergeist appropriate for kids?
Language is present but not pervasive. The screenplay includes uses of "shit," "bitch," and "ass," alongside exclamations like "hell" and "damn." The profanity is infrequent overall.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Poltergeist?
There is minor alcohol use. The parents are shown drinking wine at a dinner party with friends. This is depicted in a casual, social context.
What mature themes appear in Poltergeist?
The central theme is the paranormal abduction of a young child, Maddy, which is a source of intense distress for her family throughout the film. Her brother Griffin also experiences significant guilt for having left her alone. Themes of death and the…
How long is Poltergeist?
Poltergeist runs 93 minutes, directed by Gil Kenan, released in 2015.
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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