The Game (1997) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
In honor of his birthday, San Francisco banker Nicholas Van Orton, a financial genius and a cold-hearted loner, receives an unusual present from his younger brother, Conrad: a gift certificate to play a unique kind of game. In nary a nanosecond, Nicholas finds himself consumed by a dangerous set of ever-changing rules, unable to distinguish where the charade ends and reality begins.
Rated R • 1997 • 2h 8m
A wealthy San Francisco banker receives a mysterious gift from his brother — participation in an immersive real-world game that consumes his entire life. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. The R rating covers violence, language, and the film's sustained paranoid tension.
Cast
Is The Game appropriate for kids?
A wealthy San Francisco banker receives a mysterious gift from his brother — participation in an immersive real-world game that consumes his entire life. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. The R rating covers violence, language, and the film's sustained paranoid tension. Read more — free account
Content severity in The Game
What happens in The Game, moment by moment
- 0:30 💬 Language 5/10
- 0:45 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 1:00 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Sex and nudity in The Game
There are no sex scenes or instances of nudity throughout the film. The story focuses entirely on the psychological thriller elements, keeping the content clean of any romantic or sexual encounters.
Violence and gore in The Game
A car driven into the bay. A shooting — involving the protagonist. The film's violence is sudden and reality-questioning.
Language in The Game
The film contains frequent strong language consistent with its R rating, including approximately 40 uses of the F-word. Additional profanity such as 'shit' and 'hell' is used during moments of high stress and frustration by the main characters.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Game
There is no significant use of drugs or problematic alcohol consumption depicted in the movie. Characters may occasionally be seen in social settings where alcohol is present, but substance abuse is not a theme or a focus of the narrative.
Mature themes in The Game
A film about losing control of your reality — every conspiracy thriller trope deployed with full Fincher craft. A wealthy man forced to experience vulnerability. Whether a breakdown can also be a breakthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Game appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Game is best for ages 16+. It's rated R. A wealthy San Francisco banker receives a mysterious gift from his brother — participation in an immersive real-world game that consumes his entire life. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. The R rating covers violence…
What age rating does The Game have?
The Game is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 16+.
What is The Game about?
A wealthy San Francisco banker receives a mysterious gift from his brother — participation in an immersive real-world game that consumes his entire life. Michael Douglas and Sean Penn. The R rating covers violence, language, and the film's sustained paranoid tension.
Is there sex or nudity in The Game?
There are no sex scenes or instances of nudity throughout the film. The story focuses entirely on the psychological thriller elements, keeping the content clean of any romantic or sexual encounters.
How violent is The Game?
A car driven into the bay. A shooting — involving the protagonist. The film's violence is sudden and reality-questioning.
Is the language in The Game appropriate for kids?
The film contains frequent strong language consistent with its R rating, including approximately 40 uses of the F-word. Additional profanity such as 'shit' and 'hell' is used during moments of high stress and frustration by the main characters.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Game?
There is no significant use of drugs or problematic alcohol consumption depicted in the movie. Characters may occasionally be seen in social settings where alcohol is present, but substance abuse is not a theme or a focus of the narrative.
What mature themes appear in The Game?
A film about losing control of your reality — every conspiracy thriller trope deployed with full Fincher craft. A wealthy man forced to experience vulnerability. Whether a breakdown can also be a breakthrough.
How long is The Game?
The Game runs 128 minutes, directed by David Fincher, released in 1997.
Where can I read the full The Game 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.
Movies like The Game with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More drama movies with parent guides
- Interstellar parent guide
- The Dark Knight parent guide
- Fight Club parent guide
- The Shawshank Redemption parent guide
- Pulp Fiction parent guide
- Forrest Gump parent guide
- Django Unchained parent guide
- Joker parent guide
- Titanic parent guide
- The Wolf of Wall Street parent guide
- Shutter Island parent guide
- The Dark Knight Rises parent guide
Conspiracy Thriller movies parents are checking
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- Sibyl parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- The Layover parent guide
- Boiling Point parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Barbie: The Princess & the Popstar parent guide
- Mr. Church parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Them parent guide
- Lifted parent guide
- Scoop parent guide
- The Black Dahlia parent guide
- Soul Kitchen parent guide