Poster for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Name: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Director: David Fincher
Released: 2008
Duration: 166 min
Rating: 7.6

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

Born under unusual circumstances, Benjamin Button springs into being as an elderly man in a New Orleans nursing home and ages in reverse. Twelve years after his birth, he meets Daisy, a child who flits in and out of his life as she grows up to be a dancer. Though he has all sorts of unusual adventures over the course of his life, it is his relationship with Daisy, and the hope that they will come together at the right time, that drives Benjamin forward.

Rated PG-13 • 2008 • 2h 46m

Directed by David Fincher

7.6

10K+

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

13+

This film's PG-13 rating is for brief war violence, sexual content, language, and smoking. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a long, melancholy epic about a man who ages in reverse, and its primary content concerns are thematic. The film deals heavily with mortality, loss, abandonment, and the sadness of its protagonist's unique condition. Parents should be aware of one brief but intense WWII combat scene with bloody violence, a… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Brad Pitt

Cate Blanchett

Taraji P. Henson

Julia Ormond

Jason Flemyng

Tilda Swinton

Mahershala Ali

Jared Harris

Elias Koteas

Phyllis Somerville

Faune Chambers Watkins

Donna DuPlantier

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Is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button appropriate for kids?

Content severity in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Sex Strong 7/10

Violence Intense 8/10

Language Strong 7/10

Substances Moderate 4/10

Themes Intense 8/10

What happens in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, moment by moment

0:03 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
0:28 💬 Language 5/10
0:44 🍷 Substances 4/10

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Sex and nudity in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This category is moderate. Benjamin's first sexual experience is with a prostitute in a brothel; the act is implied under bedsheets with only sounds heard. He later has an affair with a married woman, again with sex being implied off-screen. His loving relationship with Daisy includes scenes of them in bed together with bare shoulders and backs visible, but no graphic nudity. A character also has a small, difficult-to-see tattoo of a nude woman.

Violence and gore in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Violence is infrequent but includes one brief, strong sequence. During World War II, Benjamin's tugboat is attacked by a German U-boat. The scene involves intense machine-gun fire with bloody impacts, a man being crushed by equipment, and a large, fiery explosion that sinks both vessels. Separately, Daisy is hit by a car in a sudden, non-gory but impactful scene that results in a career-ending injury. Another character is comically struck by lightning multiple times in flashbacks.

Language in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Language is moderate for a PG-13 film. There are two uses of the 'f-word', one of which is spoken by a child. Other profanity includes roughly five uses of "shit" as well as "hell," "ass," "dick," and "goddamn." A single use of the dated, offensive term "Jap" is also heard.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Reflecting its historical setting spanning much of the 20th century, smoking and drinking are pervasive. Characters frequently smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) in a variety of social settings like bars, parties, and on boats. Captain Mike is often seen drinking from a flask, and a young Benjamin gets drunk and vomits once.

Mature themes in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Thematic content is pervasive and emotionally intense, forming the core of the film. The story is an extended meditation on mortality, the passage of time, and loss, set largely in a nursing home where death is a regular occurrence. It explicitly deals with a mother's death in childbirth, a father abandoning his son, the grief of losing loved ones, and the profound sadness of Benjamin's condition, which prevents him from having a normal life. His eventual regression into infancy with dementia is a central, and…

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. This film's PG-13 rating is for brief war violence, sexual content, language, and smoking. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a long, melancholy epic about a man who ages in reverse, and its primary content…

What age rating does The Curious Case of Benjamin Button have?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button about?

Is there sex or nudity in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

How violent is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

Is the language in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

What mature themes appear in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

How long is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button runs 166 minutes, directed by David Fincher, released in 2008.

Where can I read the full The Curious Case of Benjamin Button parent guide?

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