The Roommate (2011) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
When Sara, a young design student from Iowa, arrives for college in Los Angeles, she is eager to fit in and get to know the big city. Her wealthy roommate, Rebecca, is more than eager to take Sara under her wing and show her the ropes. The two become close, but when Sara begins to branch out and make more friends on campus, Rebecca becomes resentful. Alarmed, Sara moves in with her new boyfriend, causing Rebecca's behavior to take a violent turn.
Rated PG-13 • 2011 • 1h 31m
The Roommate earns its PG-13 rating for strong thematic material, violence, and intense sequences of menace. The plot centers on college freshman Sara, whose obsessive roommate, Rebecca, becomes increasingly unhinged and violent toward anyone who gets close to Sara. Parents should be aware of several stabbings (with minimal blood), physical assaults, self-harm, and the implied killing of a pet. The film's core deals with themes of… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Roommate appropriate for kids?
The Roommate earns its PG-13 rating for strong thematic material, violence, and intense sequences of menace. The plot centers on college freshman Sara, whose obsessive roommate, Rebecca, becomes increasingly unhinged and violent toward anyone who gets close to Sara. Parents… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Roommate
What happens in The Roommate, moment by moment
- 0:10 🍷 Substances 3/10
- 0:18 💬 Language 3/10
- 0:26 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Sex and nudity in The Roommate
Content is mild and infrequent. A couple kisses passionately before moving to a bedroom where the man's bare chest is seen. One character is seen in her bra and underwear. In another scene, two women flirt and share a passionate kiss at a club. A professor makes an unwanted advance on a student, kissing her.
Violence and gore in The Roommate
The film contains several acts of moderate to strong violence, which escalate over the runtime. Rebecca attacks a girl in a shower, rips out her belly button ring, and threatens her. In a disturbing scene, she inflicts injuries on herself to gain sympathy. The climax includes a murder via stabbing (largely bloodless), a fight involving choking and being hit with a gun, and a fatal stabbing with a box cutter. Animal cruelty is also strongly implied when a kitten is killed off-screen in a dryer.
Language in The Roommate
Language is moderate for a PG-13 film. There are several uses of "shit" and name-calling like "psycho" and "freak." Other mild profanity like "damn" and religious exclamations are also used. There are no f-bombs.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Roommate
Scenes depict college-age students drinking beer and alcoholic punch at parties and in clubs. A central plot point involves the discovery of a bottle of unused prescription medication (Zyprexa) for treating schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Mature themes in The Roommate
The primary themes are intense and mature, revolving around obsession, jealousy, stalking, and untreated mental illness. Rebecca's character is unstable and her desire to possess Sara's friendship and identity drives the plot's violence. The film also briefly touches on grief over a deceased sibling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Roommate appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Roommate is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. The Roommate earns its PG-13 rating for strong thematic material, violence, and intense sequences of menace. The plot centers on college freshman Sara, whose obsessive roommate, Rebecca, becomes increasingly unhinged…
What age rating does The Roommate have?
The Roommate is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is The Roommate about?
The Roommate earns its PG-13 rating for strong thematic material, violence, and intense sequences of menace. The plot centers on college freshman Sara, whose obsessive roommate, Rebecca, becomes increasingly unhinged and violent toward anyone who gets close to Sara. Parents should be aware of several stabbings (with…
Is there sex or nudity in The Roommate?
Content is mild and infrequent. A couple kisses passionately before moving to a bedroom where the man's bare chest is seen. One character is seen in her bra and underwear. In another scene, two women flirt and share a passionate kiss at a club. A professor…
How violent is The Roommate?
The film contains several acts of moderate to strong violence, which escalate over the runtime. Rebecca attacks a girl in a shower, rips out her belly button ring, and threatens her. In a disturbing scene, she inflicts injuries on herself to gain sympathy…
Is the language in The Roommate appropriate for kids?
Language is moderate for a PG-13 film. There are several uses of "shit" and name-calling like "psycho" and "freak." Other mild profanity like "damn" and religious exclamations are also used. There are no f-bombs.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Roommate?
Scenes depict college-age students drinking beer and alcoholic punch at parties and in clubs. A central plot point involves the discovery of a bottle of unused prescription medication (Zyprexa) for treating schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
What mature themes appear in The Roommate?
The primary themes are intense and mature, revolving around obsession, jealousy, stalking, and untreated mental illness. Rebecca's character is unstable and her desire to possess Sara's friendship and identity drives the plot's violence. The film also briefly…
How long is The Roommate?
The Roommate runs 91 minutes, directed by Christian E. Christiansen, released in 2011.
Where can I read the full The Roommate 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.
Parents also checked these movies for 13-year-olds
Sign up to filter
Movies like The Roommate with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More thriller movies with parent guides
- Interstellar parent guide
- The Dark Knight parent guide
- Fight Club parent guide
- The Shawshank Redemption parent guide
- Pulp Fiction parent guide
- Forrest Gump parent guide
- Django Unchained parent guide
- Joker parent guide
- Titanic parent guide
- The Wolf of Wall Street parent guide
- Shutter Island parent guide
- The Dark Knight Rises parent guide
More movies with Bontent parent guides
- To the Wonder parent guide
- An American Pickle parent guide
- Science Fiction Volume One: The Osiris Child parent guide
- The Layover parent guide
- Grand Piano parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Friends with Money parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Don't Worry, I'm Fine parent guide
- Lifted parent guide
- When a Stranger Calls parent guide
- Those Happy Days parent guide
- Scoop parent guide