The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A timid magazine photo manager who lives life vicariously through daydreams embarks on a true-life adventure when a negative goes missing.
Rated PG • 2013 • 1h 54m
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an uplifting adventure that earns its PG rating for some action violence, moments of peril, and scattered profanity. The story follows a timid magazine professional, Walter, who embarks on a real-life globetrotting quest filled with both comical daydream fight sequences and genuine danger, including a tense encounter with a shark in the open ocean. Parents should be aware of a few instances of… Sign up for the full guide
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Is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty appropriate for kids?
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an uplifting adventure that earns its PG rating for some action violence, moments of peril, and scattered profanity. The story follows a timid magazine professional, Walter, who embarks on a real-life globetrotting quest filled with both… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
What happens in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, moment by moment
- 0:04 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
- 0:12 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
- 0:21 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
Sex and nudity in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
This category is very mild. One scene features men talking about going to a "strip club," with one making a crude gesture for breasts. A character misunderstands the word "eruption" as "erection." The central romance is sweet and chaste, culminating in a brief kiss and holding hands.
Violence and gore in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Most of the violence is comedic, stylized, and confined to Walter's elaborate daydreams. These fantasies include characters being thrown through walls, a superhero-style street fight, and a struggle in a falling elevator. The real-world violence involves peril: Walter jumps from a helicopter into icy water and is circled by a shark, which he fends off with a briefcase. There is no blood or gore.
Language in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Profanity is infrequent but present. The dialogue includes one use of "shit," one use of "dick" as an insult, and a couple uses each of "hell" and "kick-ass." There are also a few misuses of God's name.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
There is a notable scene in Greenland where Walter decides to fly in a helicopter with a pilot who is actively drinking beer and clearly intoxicated. The recklessness of this is a key plot point and is not glorified. In another scene, a character jokes that a pastry is like heroin.
Mature themes in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
The film deals with mature but ultimately positive themes. Key concepts include career dissatisfaction, the fear of leading an unfulfilling life, and corporate downsizing, as Walter and his colleagues are laid off. The story champions finding personal courage, taking risks, and the beauty of the natural world. A parent's death in the past is mentioned.
Scary moments in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 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 Secret Life of Walter Mitty appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an uplifting adventure that earns its PG rating for some action violence, moments of peril, and scattered profanity. The story follows a timid magazine professional, Walter, who…
What age rating does The Secret Life of Walter Mitty have?
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty about?
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is an uplifting adventure that earns its PG rating for some action violence, moments of peril, and scattered profanity. The story follows a timid magazine professional, Walter, who embarks on a real-life globetrotting quest filled with both comical daydream fight sequences and genuine…
Is there sex or nudity in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?
This category is very mild. One scene features men talking about going to a "strip club," with one making a crude gesture for breasts. A character misunderstands the word "eruption" as "erection." The central romance is sweet and chaste, culminating in a…
How violent is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?
Most of the violence is comedic, stylized, and confined to Walter's elaborate daydreams. These fantasies include characters being thrown through walls, a superhero-style street fight, and a struggle in a falling elevator. The real-world violence involves…
Is the language in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty appropriate for kids?
Profanity is infrequent but present. The dialogue includes one use of "shit," one use of "dick" as an insult, and a couple uses each of "hell" and "kick-ass." There are also a few misuses of God's name.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?
There is a notable scene in Greenland where Walter decides to fly in a helicopter with a pilot who is actively drinking beer and clearly intoxicated. The recklessness of this is a key plot point and is not glorified. In another scene, a character jokes that a…
What mature themes appear in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?
The film deals with mature but ultimately positive themes. Key concepts include career dissatisfaction, the fear of leading an unfulfilling life, and corporate downsizing, as Walter and his colleagues are laid off. The story champions finding personal…
How long is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty?
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty runs 114 minutes, directed by Ben Stiller, released in 2013.
Where can I read the full The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 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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