The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.
Rated PG-13 • 2012 • 1h 43m
The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, an introverted freshman navigating the complexities of high school, mental health, and trauma with the help of two outgoing seniors, Sam and Patrick. The film carries a PG-13 rating for mature thematic elements, including depictions of clinical depression, past sexual abuse, and suicide, alongside scenes of teenage drug and alcohol use. It also features intermittent physical violence and… Sign up for the full guide
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Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower appropriate for kids?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, an introverted freshman navigating the complexities of high school, mental health, and trauma with the help of two outgoing seniors, Sam and Patrick. The film carries a PG-13 rating for mature thematic elements, including… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
What happens in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, moment by moment
- 0:15 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:22 🍷 Substances 4/10
- 0:35 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
Sex and nudity in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The film contains moderate sexual content, including teenage kissing, references to sexual history, and scenes of partial undressing. Characters navigate early sexual exploration and relationships throughout the story.
Violence and gore in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Violence is present but not excessive. It consists mainly of school-based bullying and a specific, intense fight scene where characters are punched and kicked, leading to visible injuries.
Language in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Language includes common profanity, including uses of 'shit,' 'bitch,' 'ass,' and 'hell.' The homophobic slur 'faggot' is used in a context of bullying.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Substance use is depicted through scenes of teens drinking at parties and smoking cigarettes. There is also a scene involving the use of LSD and an incidental mention of prescription medication for mental health.
Mature themes in The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The film explores heavy themes such as clinical depression, suicide, trauma recovery, and repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, which may be distressing for some audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Perks of Being a Wallflower appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Perks of Being a Wallflower is best for ages 14+. It's rated PG-13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, an introverted freshman navigating the complexities of high school, mental health, and trauma with the help of two outgoing seniors, Sam and Patrick. The film carries a…
What age rating does The Perks of Being a Wallflower have?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 14+.
What is The Perks of Being a Wallflower about?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie, an introverted freshman navigating the complexities of high school, mental health, and trauma with the help of two outgoing seniors, Sam and Patrick. The film carries a PG-13 rating for mature thematic elements, including depictions of clinical depression, past sexual…
Is there sex or nudity in The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
The film contains moderate sexual content, including teenage kissing, references to sexual history, and scenes of partial undressing. Characters navigate early sexual exploration and relationships throughout the story.
How violent is The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
Violence is present but not excessive. It consists mainly of school-based bullying and a specific, intense fight scene where characters are punched and kicked, leading to visible injuries.
Is the language in The Perks of Being a Wallflower appropriate for kids?
Language includes common profanity, including uses of 'shit,' 'bitch,' 'ass,' and 'hell.' The homophobic slur 'faggot' is used in a context of bullying.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
Substance use is depicted through scenes of teens drinking at parties and smoking cigarettes. There is also a scene involving the use of LSD and an incidental mention of prescription medication for mental health.
What mature themes appear in The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
The film explores heavy themes such as clinical depression, suicide, trauma recovery, and repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, which may be distressing for some audiences.
How long is The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower runs 103 minutes, directed by Stephen Chbosky, released in 2012.
Where can I read the full The Perks of Being a Wallflower 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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