The Love Bug (1997) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
The inimitable VW Beetle is losing all his races and destined for the scrap heap until mechanic Hank takes him over and gives him a new lease of life. Soon, Herbie is winning again, to the fury of his previous owner, who builds a menacing black bug to challenge Herbie to the ultimate race.
Rated PG • 1997 • 1h 28m
This 1997 reboot of The Love Bug earns its PG rating primarily for sequences of cartoonish action-violence involving sentient cars. Parents should be aware of a pivotal scene in which the heroic car, Herbie, is brutally attacked and seemingly "killed" by an evil counterpart, Horace, which may be upsetting for younger children. The film also contains some mild language and intense racing sequences with fantasy elements like lasers and… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Love Bug appropriate for kids?
This 1997 reboot of The Love Bug earns its PG rating primarily for sequences of cartoonish action-violence involving sentient cars. Parents should be aware of a pivotal scene in which the heroic car, Herbie, is brutally attacked and seemingly "killed" by an evil counterpart… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Love Bug
What happens in The Love Bug, moment by moment
- 0:05 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
- 0:09 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:33 💬 Language 3/10
Sex and nudity in The Love Bug
None. There is no sexual content, innuendo, or nudity.
Violence and gore in The Love Bug
Contains moderate, cartoonish action violence. Most of this involves car-on-car conflict, such as intense racing, crashes, and bumping. The villainous car, Horace, brutally attacks and crushes Herbie into a heap of metal in one key sequence. The final race features explosions from grenades and a laser beam that cuts Herbie in half, though no one is graphically injured.
Language in The Love Bug
Language is infrequent and mild. According to user reports on IMDb, there are a couple uses of "damn," one use of "hell," and one use of "bloody."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Love Bug
None. There is no on-screen smoking, drinking, or drug use.
Mature themes in The Love Bug
Thematic elements are moderate. The primary theme involves the 'death' and destruction of a beloved character (Herbie), followed by a 'funeral' and his eventual rebuilding, which may be emotionally intense for young children. Themes of abandonment, rivalry, cruelty, and eventual teamwork are also present.
Scary moments in The Love Bug
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Love Bug yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Love Bug appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Love Bug is best for ages 8+. It's rated PG. This 1997 reboot of The Love Bug earns its PG rating primarily for sequences of cartoonish action-violence involving sentient cars. Parents should be aware of a pivotal scene in which the heroic car, Herbie, is brutally…
What age rating does The Love Bug have?
The Love Bug is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 8+.
What is The Love Bug about?
This 1997 reboot of The Love Bug earns its PG rating primarily for sequences of cartoonish action-violence involving sentient cars. Parents should be aware of a pivotal scene in which the heroic car, Herbie, is brutally attacked and seemingly "killed" by an evil counterpart, Horace, which may be upsetting for younger…
Is there sex or nudity in The Love Bug?
None. There is no sexual content, innuendo, or nudity.
How violent is The Love Bug?
Contains moderate, cartoonish action violence. Most of this involves car-on-car conflict, such as intense racing, crashes, and bumping. The villainous car, Horace, brutally attacks and crushes Herbie into a heap of metal in one key sequence. The final race…
Is the language in The Love Bug appropriate for kids?
Language is infrequent and mild. According to user reports on IMDb, there are a couple uses of "damn," one use of "hell," and one use of "bloody."
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Love Bug?
None. There is no on-screen smoking, drinking, or drug use.
What mature themes appear in The Love Bug?
Thematic elements are moderate. The primary theme involves the 'death' and destruction of a beloved character (Herbie), followed by a 'funeral' and his eventual rebuilding, which may be emotionally intense for young children. Themes of abandonment, rivalry…
How long is The Love Bug?
The Love Bug runs 88 minutes, directed by Peyton Reed, released in 1997.
Where can I read the full The Love Bug 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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