The Canterville Ghost (1996) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
When a teenaged girl moves to England, with her brothers and parents into the ancient Canterville Hall, she's not at all happy. Especially as there's a ghost and a mysterious re-appearing bloodstain on the hearth. She campaigns to go back home, and her dad, believing the ghost's pranks are Ginny's, is ready to send her back. But then Ginny actually meets the elusive 17th-century Sir Simon de Canterville (not to mention the cute teenaged duke next door), and she sets her hand to the task of freeing Sir Simon from his curse.
Rated PG • 1996 • 1h 32m
This 1996 adaptation of the classic Oscar Wilde story is a PG-rated family film whose rating is driven by mature thematic material rather than violence or language. The central plot involves a friendly ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, whose tragic backstory includes allusions to his wife's suicide and his own death by starvation as punishment. While ghost effects are mild, the film contains some spooky moments, the discovery of a… Sign up for the full guide
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Is The Canterville Ghost appropriate for kids?
This 1996 adaptation of the classic Oscar Wilde story is a PG-rated family film whose rating is driven by mature thematic material rather than violence or language. The central plot involves a friendly ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, whose tragic backstory includes allusions to… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Canterville Ghost
What happens in The Canterville Ghost, moment by moment
- 0:08 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
- 0:16 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
- 0:26 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
Sex and nudity in The Canterville Ghost
This category is very light. The teenage protagonist Ginny develops a chaste romance with a young duke, Francis. They share one or two brief, innocent kisses and some light flirting. The backstory of the ghost involves his mistaken belief that his wife was unfaithful, but this is discussed as part of a tragic history and is not depicted.
Violence and gore in The Canterville Ghost
Violence is mild and often played for comedy or is supernatural in nature. The ghost, Sir Simon, attempts to scare the family with classic haunting pranks like rattling chains and moaning, which have little effect. The family's young boys turn the tables by creating a fake ghost to scare him. One scene features Sir Simon angrily chasing the children, which could be briefly intense for sensitive viewers.
Language in The Canterville Ghost
None. There is no profanity in the film.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Canterville Ghost
None. There is no use of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.
Mature themes in The Canterville Ghost
The film's primary content concerns are thematic and may be upsetting for younger viewers. The central ghost character's backstory is tragic: he believes he drove his wife to suicide, and as punishment, he was chained in a cell and left to starve to death. These events are described but not graphically shown. The plot involves themes of guilt, curses, redemption, and the afterlife. A key scene involves the discovery of the ghost's actual skeleton, still in chains.
Scary moments in The Canterville Ghost
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Canterville Ghost yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Canterville Ghost appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Canterville Ghost is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. This 1996 adaptation of the classic Oscar Wilde story is a PG-rated family film whose rating is driven by mature thematic material rather than violence or language. The central plot involves a friendly ghost, Sir Simon…
What age rating does The Canterville Ghost have?
The Canterville Ghost is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Canterville Ghost about?
This 1996 adaptation of the classic Oscar Wilde story is a PG-rated family film whose rating is driven by mature thematic material rather than violence or language. The central plot involves a friendly ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, whose tragic backstory includes allusions to his wife's suicide and his own death by…
Is there sex or nudity in The Canterville Ghost?
This category is very light. The teenage protagonist Ginny develops a chaste romance with a young duke, Francis. They share one or two brief, innocent kisses and some light flirting. The backstory of the ghost involves his mistaken belief that his wife was…
How violent is The Canterville Ghost?
Violence is mild and often played for comedy or is supernatural in nature. The ghost, Sir Simon, attempts to scare the family with classic haunting pranks like rattling chains and moaning, which have little effect. The family's young boys turn the tables by…
Is the language in The Canterville Ghost appropriate for kids?
None. There is no profanity in the film.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Canterville Ghost?
None. There is no use of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.
What mature themes appear in The Canterville Ghost?
The film's primary content concerns are thematic and may be upsetting for younger viewers. The central ghost character's backstory is tragic: he believes he drove his wife to suicide, and as punishment, he was chained in a cell and left to starve to death…
How long is The Canterville Ghost?
The Canterville Ghost runs 92 minutes, directed by Sydney Macartney, released in 1996.
Where can I read the full The Canterville Ghost 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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