The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
In New York City, Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager, learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters — half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires, and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.
Rated PG-13 • 2013 • 2h 10m
In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she belongs to a hidden society of half-angel warriors tasked with battling demonic forces. The film received a PG-13 rating primarily for sequences of stylized fantasy violence and intense action involving demons and magical creatures. Parents should be aware of frequent scenes of creature-based combat, stabbings with special blades, and supernatural threats. The… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones appropriate for kids?
In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she belongs to a hidden society of half-angel warriors tasked with battling demonic forces. The film received a PG-13 rating primarily for sequences of stylized fantasy violence and intense action involving… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
What happens in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, moment by moment
- 0:15 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
- 0:35 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
- 0:42 🍷 Substances 3/10
Sex and nudity in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Content is mild and limited. Characters share several kisses, and there are brief glimpses of club-goers in skimpy attire. A character is shown shirtless in multiple scenes, and there is passing dialogue regarding a character's romantic feelings for another person of the same sex.
Violence and gore in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Moderate fantasy violence is frequent. Characters use enchanted swords and whips to combat monsters; we see demons transform and disintegrate, often accompanied by sounds of bones crunching. Several scenes feature characters being stabbed or thrown against walls, though gore is generally kept to a stylized level rather than realistic bloodshed.
Language in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Profanity is mild and infrequent, consisting of a few uses of 'shit' and occasional minor exclamations.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Substance use is thematic. Characters consume mysterious potions or elixirs to alter consciousness or heal wounds, and one scene depicts a character injecting themselves with a liquid, mirroring addiction imagery in a supernatural context.
Mature themes in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Themes are mature but standard for the genre. The plot centers on the abduction of a parent, the revelation of a character's hidden lineage, and the betrayal by a trusted authority figure. There is persistent talk of war between the Shadowhunters and the demon world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she belongs to a hidden society of half-angel warriors tasked with battling demonic forces. The film received a PG-13 rating primarily for…
What age rating does The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones have?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones about?
In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she belongs to a hidden society of half-angel warriors tasked with battling demonic forces. The film received a PG-13 rating primarily for sequences of stylized fantasy violence and intense action involving demons and magical creatures. Parents…
Is there sex or nudity in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
Content is mild and limited. Characters share several kisses, and there are brief glimpses of club-goers in skimpy attire. A character is shown shirtless in multiple scenes, and there is passing dialogue regarding a character's romantic feelings for another…
How violent is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
Moderate fantasy violence is frequent. Characters use enchanted swords and whips to combat monsters; we see demons transform and disintegrate, often accompanied by sounds of bones crunching. Several scenes feature characters being stabbed or thrown against…
Is the language in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones appropriate for kids?
Profanity is mild and infrequent, consisting of a few uses of 'shit' and occasional minor exclamations.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
Substance use is thematic. Characters consume mysterious potions or elixirs to alter consciousness or heal wounds, and one scene depicts a character injecting themselves with a liquid, mirroring addiction imagery in a supernatural context.
What mature themes appear in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
Themes are mature but standard for the genre. The plot centers on the abduction of a parent, the revelation of a character's hidden lineage, and the betrayal by a trusted authority figure. There is persistent talk of war between the Shadowhunters and the…
How long is The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones?
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones runs 130 minutes, directed by Harald Zwart, released in 2013.
Where can I read the full The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones 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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