The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
An American gets a ticket for an audience participation game in London, then gets involved in a case of mistaken identity. As an international plot unravels around him, he thinks it's all part of the act.
Rated PG • 1997 • 1h 34m
Rated PG, 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' is a spy-comedy of errors that gets its rating from frequent comic violence, mild language, and some innuendo. The plot follows a clueless American, Wallace Ritchie, who travels to London and is mistaken for a hitman, stumbling through a real assassination plot while thinking it's all an interactive theater game. Parents should be aware of slapstick gunplay, a non-graphic murder, a bomb threat… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Man Who Knew Too Little appropriate for kids?
Rated PG, 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' is a spy-comedy of errors that gets its rating from frequent comic violence, mild language, and some innuendo. The plot follows a clueless American, Wallace Ritchie, who travels to London and is mistaken for a hitman, stumbling through a… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Man Who Knew Too Little
What happens in The Man Who Knew Too Little, moment by moment
- 0:08 ⚔ Violence & Gore 3/10
- 0:18 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:23 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Sex and nudity in The Man Who Knew Too Little
Content is mild. A main female character is a "call girl" intending to blackmail a politician, a fact that is stated but not explored visually. There is light innuendo and flirting between the two leads, who share a romantic kiss at the end. At one point, Wallace comically misunderstands a request and begins to take off his pants before being stopped.
Violence and gore in The Man Who Knew Too Little
Violence is moderate but consistently comic and slapstick in tone. There is frequent bumbling action involving guns, though injuries are rare and never graphic. A man is killed by a hitman, but his body is only seen briefly from a distance with no blood. Other scenes include a knife-point mugging (played for laughs), accidental gunshots, characters being knocked unconscious, and slapstick fights. The villains are killed in a large, non-graphic explosion at the end.
Language in The Man Who Knew Too Little
Profanity is moderate for a PG-rated film. There is one use of "shit" and multiple uses of "bastard," "damn," "hell," "bloody," and "son of a bitch." Milder terms like "crap," "butt," and "idiot" are also used. An insult of "mouse balls" is uttered during one of the improv scenes.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Man Who Knew Too Little
Substance use is present but not excessive. Characters drink alcohol (champagne, martinis, beer) at dinner parties and receptions. Cigars are mentioned and shown. In one scene, a character is injected with a "truth serum" against his will and proceeds to act woozy and talk nonsensically for comedic effect.
Mature themes in The Man Who Knew Too Little
The film's themes are mature but handled with a consistently light, comedic touch. The entire plot revolves around mistaken identity, an international assassination conspiracy, and espionage. The concept of torture is introduced through a menacing character, but it is only discussed and happens off-screen to a character who is later seen exhausted but unharmed. A ticking time bomb creates significant tension in the climax.
Scary moments in The Man Who Knew Too Little
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Man Who Knew Too Little 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 Man Who Knew Too Little appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Man Who Knew Too Little is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. Rated PG, 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' is a spy-comedy of errors that gets its rating from frequent comic violence, mild language, and some innuendo. The plot follows a clueless American, Wallace Ritchie, who travels…
What age rating does The Man Who Knew Too Little have?
The Man Who Knew Too Little is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Man Who Knew Too Little about?
Rated PG, 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' is a spy-comedy of errors that gets its rating from frequent comic violence, mild language, and some innuendo. The plot follows a clueless American, Wallace Ritchie, who travels to London and is mistaken for a hitman, stumbling through a real assassination plot while thinking…
Is there sex or nudity in The Man Who Knew Too Little?
Content is mild. A main female character is a "call girl" intending to blackmail a politician, a fact that is stated but not explored visually. There is light innuendo and flirting between the two leads, who share a romantic kiss at the end. At one point…
How violent is The Man Who Knew Too Little?
Violence is moderate but consistently comic and slapstick in tone. There is frequent bumbling action involving guns, though injuries are rare and never graphic. A man is killed by a hitman, but his body is only seen briefly from a distance with no blood…
Is the language in The Man Who Knew Too Little appropriate for kids?
Profanity is moderate for a PG-rated film. There is one use of "shit" and multiple uses of "bastard," "damn," "hell," "bloody," and "son of a bitch." Milder terms like "crap," "butt," and "idiot" are also used. An insult of "mouse balls" is uttered during one…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Man Who Knew Too Little?
Substance use is present but not excessive. Characters drink alcohol (champagne, martinis, beer) at dinner parties and receptions. Cigars are mentioned and shown. In one scene, a character is injected with a "truth serum" against his will and proceeds to act…
What mature themes appear in The Man Who Knew Too Little?
The film's themes are mature but handled with a consistently light, comedic touch. The entire plot revolves around mistaken identity, an international assassination conspiracy, and espionage. The concept of torture is introduced through a menacing character…
How long is The Man Who Knew Too Little?
The Man Who Knew Too Little runs 94 minutes, directed by Jon Amiel, released in 1997.
Where can I read the full The Man Who Knew Too Little 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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