Selma (2014) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Selma is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. Selma chronicles the pivotal 1965 voting rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama. The film is rated PG-13 primarily for its unflinching depictions of historical violence, including brutal beatings of…

Selma is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

Selma chronicles the pivotal 1965 voting rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama. The film is rated PG-13 primarily for its unflinching depictions of historical violence, including brutal beatings of protestors and the aftermath of a church bombing. Parents should be aware of pervasive racial…

The film contains a brief, non-visual suggestive moment involving a recording played as part of an FBI harassment campaign, which includes audio of moaning.

Violence is frequent and intense, depicting the harsh realities of the civil rights era. Scenes include a church bombing resulting in child fatalities, brutal beatings of peaceful marchers by police with batons and whips, and a fatal bludgeoning of a…

Strong language is present, including two instances of the 'f-word,' multiple uses of 'shit,' 'asshole,' and 'damn,' alongside the frequent use of aggressive racial slurs.

Substance use is minimal and limited to a single scene featuring a character smoking a cigarette.

The film explores heavy historical themes, including systemic racism, state-sponsored violence against citizens, political manipulation, and the immense psychological toll of constant death threats on activists and their families.

Selma runs 128 minutes, directed by Ava DuVernay, released in 2014.

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