The Holdovers (2023) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them — a damaged, brainy troublemaker — and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.
Rated R • 2023 • 2h 13m
Set in 1970, The Holdovers follows a strict teacher, a troubled student, and a grieving mother forced to spend the holidays together at a New England prep school. The film is rated R primarily for pervasive strong language and significant themes of alcoholism, grief, and mental illness. It features mature dialogue about sexual experiences and life failures, as well as a brief depiction of a psychiatric facility. This character-driven… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Holdovers appropriate for kids?
Set in 1970, The Holdovers follows a strict teacher, a troubled student, and a grieving mother forced to spend the holidays together at a New England prep school. The film is rated R primarily for pervasive strong language and significant themes of alcoholism, grief, and mental… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Holdovers
What happens in The Holdovers, moment by moment
- 0:12 💬 Language 7/10
- 0:28 🍷 Substances 6/10
- 0:44 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Sex and nudity in The Holdovers
The film includes frequent adult conversation regarding sexual relationships, virginity, and romantic entanglements. Characters make passing sexual remarks, and there is one scene where a character discusses their past experiences in a non-graphic, conversational manner.
Violence and gore in The Holdovers
Violence is infrequent and generally mild, including a character jumping into equipment and dislocating his shoulder. There is a brief mention of a past incident involving a car hitting a person and a report of a physical altercation at a psychiatric facility.
Language in The Holdovers
Strong language is pervasive throughout the film, including frequent use of 'f*ck,' 'shit,' 'prick,' and other derogatory terms. Profanity is often used to emphasize the frustration of the characters in various stressful situations.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Holdovers
Alcohol consumption is a central theme, as the lead teacher struggles with alcoholism, leading to multiple scenes of heavy drinking. Cigarette smoking is persistent, consistent with the 1970s setting, and a character is shown taking prescription medication for depression.
Mature themes in The Holdovers
The film deals with heavy, mature subject matter, including the trauma of the Vietnam War, the loss of a child, and the impact of systemic class and educational failures. It also explores mental illness through the depiction of a student's father confined in a psychiatric ward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Holdovers appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Holdovers is best for ages 15+. It's rated R. Set in 1970, The Holdovers follows a strict teacher, a troubled student, and a grieving mother forced to spend the holidays together at a New England prep school. The film is rated R primarily for pervasive strong…
What age rating does The Holdovers have?
The Holdovers is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 15+.
What is The Holdovers about?
Set in 1970, The Holdovers follows a strict teacher, a troubled student, and a grieving mother forced to spend the holidays together at a New England prep school. The film is rated R primarily for pervasive strong language and significant themes of alcoholism, grief, and mental illness. It features mature dialogue…
Is there sex or nudity in The Holdovers?
The film includes frequent adult conversation regarding sexual relationships, virginity, and romantic entanglements. Characters make passing sexual remarks, and there is one scene where a character discusses their past experiences in a non-graphic…
How violent is The Holdovers?
Violence is infrequent and generally mild, including a character jumping into equipment and dislocating his shoulder. There is a brief mention of a past incident involving a car hitting a person and a report of a physical altercation at a psychiatric facility.
Is the language in The Holdovers appropriate for kids?
Strong language is pervasive throughout the film, including frequent use of 'f*ck,' 'shit,' 'prick,' and other derogatory terms. Profanity is often used to emphasize the frustration of the characters in various stressful situations.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Holdovers?
Alcohol consumption is a central theme, as the lead teacher struggles with alcoholism, leading to multiple scenes of heavy drinking. Cigarette smoking is persistent, consistent with the 1970s setting, and a character is shown taking prescription medication…
What mature themes appear in The Holdovers?
The film deals with heavy, mature subject matter, including the trauma of the Vietnam War, the loss of a child, and the impact of systemic class and educational failures. It also explores mental illness through the depiction of a student's father confined in…
How long is The Holdovers?
The Holdovers runs 133 minutes, directed by Alexander Payne, released in 2023.
Where can I read the full The Holdovers 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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