The East (2013) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Name: The East
Director: Zal Batmanglij
Released: 2013
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 6.5

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

An operative for an elite private intelligence firm finds her priorities irrevocably changed after she is tasked with infiltrating an anarchist group known for executing covert attacks upon major corporations.

Rated PG-13 • 2013 • 1h 56m

Directed by Zal Batmanglij

6.5

800+

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

13+

The East is a tense PG-13 thriller about an undercover operative (Sarah) who infiltrates an anarchist eco-activist group and faces escalating moral choices. The rating reflects sequences of violent vigilante actions (a targeted poisoning, an on-screen shooting and a bloody field surgery), sexual situations and partial nudity, and some disturbing imagery. Parents should know there is a non-graphic but visceral scene where a bullet is… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Brit Marling

Alexander Skarsgård

Elliot Page

Toby Kebbell

Shiloh Fernandez

Aldis Hodge

Danielle Macdonald

Hillary Baack

Patricia Clarkson

Jason Ritter

Julia Ormond

Billy Magnussen

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Is The East appropriate for kids?

Content severity in The East

Sex Moderate 3/10

Violence Strong 7/10

Language Moderate 3/10

Substances Strong 7/10

Themes Strong 7/10

What happens in The East, moment by moment

0:06 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
0:18 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10

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Sex and nudity in The East

Light-to-moderate sexual content appears in a few scenes: a consensual sex scene between Sarah and Benji shows partial nudity (man's bare chest visible; an orgasm is implied/shown with close framing). There are brief same-sex kisses during a spin-the-bottle sequence and a few brief shots of nudity (one man’s full rear nudity and a brief glimpse of pubic hair reported by viewers). Nothing is explicit or prolonged, but teens should expect frank sexual situations and some partial nudity.

Violence and gore in The East

Strong, sometimes bloody confrontations and physical threats occur throughout. Notable on-screen incidents include a person being shot (Izzy), a graphic-feeling emergency field surgery in which a bullet is removed and blood is visible, and scenes of people being roughly handled by security or police (nightstick strike, forced captures). There are also depictions of a dead body and a shallow grave; the violence is intense in places but not graphically gory in the Hollywood-horror sense.

Language in The East

Mild to moderate profanity appears sporadically; viewer reports note multiple uses of "shit" and occasional "hell"/"damn" and blasphemous exclamations. Swearing is not constant but shows up in heated confrontations and tense moments. Language is typical for a PG-13 thriller rather than pervasive R-rated profanity.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The East

Alcohol is shown at parties and gatherings, but the film's most disturbing substance use is deliberate: members of The East lace champagne with an antibiotic to expose corporate harm, and several executives visibly fall ill (long-term brain-damage consequences are implied). There is also a scene where Doc sedates an injured woman with a gas-soaked rag during emergency treatment. These uses are plot-driven and can be upsetting because they involve intentional poisoning and visible illness.

Mature themes in The East

The film deals in strong, adult themes: eco-terrorism, vigilante justice, corporate malfeasance, moral ambiguity, death and sacrifice. Sarah's undercover role raises questions about deception, loyalty and complicity; the group’s tactics force ethical debates about ends vs. means. The death of Izzy and Doc’s arrest/sacrifice are emotional turning points that frame the story’s heavy themes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The East appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests The East is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. The East is a tense PG-13 thriller about an undercover operative (Sarah) who infiltrates an anarchist eco-activist group and faces escalating moral choices. The rating reflects sequences of violent vigilante actions (a…

What age rating does The East have?

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

What is The East about?

Is there sex or nudity in The East?

How violent is The East?

Is the language in The East appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The East?

What mature themes appear in The East?

How long is The East?

The East runs 116 minutes, directed by Zal Batmanglij, released in 2013.

Where can I read the full The East parent guide?

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