The Flu (2013) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A case of the flu quickly morphs into a pandemic. As the death toll mounts and the living panic, the government plans extreme measures to contain it.
Rated R • 2013 • 2h 2m
The Flu (2013) is an R-rated South Korean pandemic thriller that gets its rating for frequent, strong violence and sustained disturbing images tied to a fast-moving, lethal virus. Parents should be aware of repeated scenes of people vomiting blood, hospital chaos, soldiers firing on civilians, and infected people being incinerated or burned in containment efforts; there is also frequent strong profanity. The film centers on Dr. Kim… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Flu appropriate for kids?
The Flu (2013) is an R-rated South Korean pandemic thriller that gets its rating for frequent, strong violence and sustained disturbing images tied to a fast-moving, lethal virus. Parents should be aware of repeated scenes of people vomiting blood, hospital chaos, soldiers… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Flu
What happens in The Flu, moment by moment
- 0:06 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
- 0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 2/10
- 0:18 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Sex and nudity in The Flu
Light and non-sexual. There is no explicit sex or nudity — a divider is knocked over briefly exposing people in underwear (played off for a beat of comic embarrassment), and the female lead's skirt is torn during a rescue. IMDb Parents Guide lists these as incidental moments rather than sexual content.
Violence and gore in The Flu
Strong and frequent. The movie shows many sick and dead bodies, people vomiting blood, hospital fights, stabbing/impalement-type injuries, multiple shootings, vehicle crashes and scenes of contaminated corpses being burned by medical staff; some infected are wrapped and dumped for incineration. IMDb Parents Guide specifically notes blow-torch incinerations, bloody vomit, soldiers firing on civilians and riot violence — these scenes are intense and graphic in tone.
Language in The Flu
Moderate to strong profanity throughout. Characters use expletives including "shit", "fuck" and harsher slurs during high-stress scenes and riots; insults and shouted profanity occur during crowd confrontations and the quarantine's breakdown.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Flu
None. The film contains no notable drug use or alcohol-focused scenes.
Mature themes in The Flu
Strong, dark public-health and ethical themes run throughout: rapid mass death, quarantine, civil unrest, ethical choices about who receives treatment, and a child endangered by infection. The film repeatedly examines panic, forced containment, and the moral costs of extreme public-health measures (scenes of mass isolation and burning of infected bodies are central).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Flu appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Flu is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. The Flu (2013) is an R-rated South Korean pandemic thriller that gets its rating for frequent, strong violence and sustained disturbing images tied to a fast-moving, lethal virus. Parents should be aware of repeated…
What age rating does The Flu have?
The Flu is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is The Flu about?
The Flu (2013) is an R-rated South Korean pandemic thriller that gets its rating for frequent, strong violence and sustained disturbing images tied to a fast-moving, lethal virus. Parents should be aware of repeated scenes of people vomiting blood, hospital chaos, soldiers firing on civilians, and infected people…
Is there sex or nudity in The Flu?
Light and non-sexual. There is no explicit sex or nudity — a divider is knocked over briefly exposing people in underwear (played off for a beat of comic embarrassment), and the female lead's skirt is torn during a rescue. IMDb Parents Guide lists these as…
How violent is The Flu?
Strong and frequent. The movie shows many sick and dead bodies, people vomiting blood, hospital fights, stabbing/impalement-type injuries, multiple shootings, vehicle crashes and scenes of contaminated corpses being burned by medical staff; some infected are…
Is the language in The Flu appropriate for kids?
Moderate to strong profanity throughout. Characters use expletives including "shit", "fuck" and harsher slurs during high-stress scenes and riots; insults and shouted profanity occur during crowd confrontations and the quarantine's breakdown.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Flu?
None. The film contains no notable drug use or alcohol-focused scenes.
What mature themes appear in The Flu?
Strong, dark public-health and ethical themes run throughout: rapid mass death, quarantine, civil unrest, ethical choices about who receives treatment, and a child endangered by infection. The film repeatedly examines panic, forced containment, and the moral…
How long is The Flu?
The Flu runs 122 minutes, directed by Kim Sung-soo, released in 2013.
Where can I read the full The Flu 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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