The Foreigner (2017) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love – his teenage daughter – dies in an Irish Republican Army car bombing. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.
Rated R • 2017 • 1h 54m
The Foreigner is rated R primarily for frequent strong profanity, intense violent revenge, and some sexual material. Jackie Chan's character Quan drives the plot after his teenage daughter is killed in a Knightsbridge bombing; the film contains multiple bomb blasts, brutal hand‑to‑hand fights, shootings and scenes of interrogation/torture. There are also a few brief intimate scenes and partial nudity, plus pervasive angry language… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Foreigner appropriate for kids?
The Foreigner is rated R primarily for frequent strong profanity, intense violent revenge, and some sexual material. Jackie Chan's character Quan drives the plot after his teenage daughter is killed in a Knightsbridge bombing; the film contains multiple bomb blasts, brutal… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Foreigner
What happens in The Foreigner, moment by moment
- 0:03 ⚔ Violence & Gore 8/10
- 0:04 🔥 Mature Themes 7/10
- 0:09 ♥ Sex & Nudity 2/10
Sex and nudity in The Foreigner
Light and brief. The film includes several intimate scenes and brief partial nudity (lingerie, a shirtless man, a bedside/closet scene) but no explicit sex or genital nudity. IMDb Parents Guide documents a few short sex-adjacent moments (e.g., ~8–9 min, ~60–62 min, ~80–83 min) that are cut away before anything explicit.
Violence and gore in The Foreigner
Strong and often brutal. There are multiple realistic terrorist bombings (Knightsbridge opening and a later bus blast), shootings, knife fights, fierce hand‑to‑hand melees and several on‑screen deaths; blood is sometimes visible but not heavily graphic. The movie also shows traps, a man impaled/seriously injured (audible impact), and an execution-style killing tied to the plot of revenge and political cover‑ups. IMDb notes several specific fight/chase set‑pieces and the scene in which Quan infiltrates and kills…
Read more — free accountLanguage in The Foreigner
Frequent, coarse, and explicit. The script uses many instances of strong profanity (multiple uses of 'fuck'), repeated blasphemies and other coarse insults throughout confrontations and interrogations, per the IMDb Parents Guide.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Foreigner
Mild depiction. Characters drink alcohol in restaurants, pubs and homes and one character is seen smoking on a balcony; there is no on‑screen illegal drug use.
Mature themes in The Foreigner
Heavy, mature political and emotional themes. Central elements are terrorism, mass death, intense grief for a murdered child, revenge, interrogation/torture and political betrayal within former IRA networks. These themes drive violent choices and moral ambiguity and are explicitly shown rather than only implied (IMDb notes interrogation and torture scenes).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Foreigner appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Foreigner is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. The Foreigner is rated R primarily for frequent strong profanity, intense violent revenge, and some sexual material. Jackie Chan's character Quan drives the plot after his teenage daughter is killed in a Knightsbridge…
What age rating does The Foreigner have?
The Foreigner is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is The Foreigner about?
The Foreigner is rated R primarily for frequent strong profanity, intense violent revenge, and some sexual material. Jackie Chan's character Quan drives the plot after his teenage daughter is killed in a Knightsbridge bombing; the film contains multiple bomb blasts, brutal hand‑to‑hand fights, shootings and scenes of…
Is there sex or nudity in The Foreigner?
Light and brief. The film includes several intimate scenes and brief partial nudity (lingerie, a shirtless man, a bedside/closet scene) but no explicit sex or genital nudity. IMDb Parents Guide documents a few short sex-adjacent moments (e.g., ~8–9 min…
How violent is The Foreigner?
Strong and often brutal. There are multiple realistic terrorist bombings (Knightsbridge opening and a later bus blast), shootings, knife fights, fierce hand‑to‑hand melees and several on‑screen deaths; blood is sometimes visible but not heavily graphic. The…
Is the language in The Foreigner appropriate for kids?
Frequent, coarse, and explicit. The script uses many instances of strong profanity (multiple uses of 'fuck'), repeated blasphemies and other coarse insults throughout confrontations and interrogations, per the IMDb Parents Guide.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Foreigner?
Mild depiction. Characters drink alcohol in restaurants, pubs and homes and one character is seen smoking on a balcony; there is no on‑screen illegal drug use.
What mature themes appear in The Foreigner?
Heavy, mature political and emotional themes. Central elements are terrorism, mass death, intense grief for a murdered child, revenge, interrogation/torture and political betrayal within former IRA networks. These themes drive violent choices and moral…
How long is The Foreigner?
The Foreigner runs 114 minutes, directed by Martin Campbell, released in 2017.
Where can I read the full The Foreigner parent guide?
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