Poster for The Shack

The Shack (2017) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

A grieving man receives a mysterious, personal invitation to meet with God at a place called 'The Shack'.

Rated PG-13 • 2017 • 2h 12m

7.5
2K+
Average rating by Bontent members
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Age
13+

The Shack follows Mackenzie Phillips, a man struggling with deep-seated trauma and the tragic abduction and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy. After receiving a mysterious invitation to return to the location of the crime, he enters a spiritual journey that challenges his perceptions of God and his own history of abuse. The film is rated PG-13 primarily for intense thematic material regarding the death of a child and domestic… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington
Octavia Spencer
Octavia Spencer
Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Aviv Alush
Aviv Alush
Sumire
Sumire
Radha Mitchell
Radha Mitchell
Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Gage Munroe
Gage Munroe
Megan Charpentier
Megan Charpentier
Lane Edwards
Lane Edwards
Alice Braga
Alice Braga
Ryan Robbins
Ryan Robbins
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Is The Shack appropriate for kids?

The Shack follows Mackenzie Phillips, a man struggling with deep-seated trauma and the tragic abduction and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy. After receiving a mysterious invitation to return to the location of the crime, he enters a spiritual journey that challenges his… Read more — free account

Content severity in The Shack

Sex None 0/10
Violence Strong 5/10
Language None 0/10
Substances Mild 2/10
Themes Strong 6/10

What happens in The Shack, moment by moment

  1. 0:05 ⚔ Violence & Gore 4/10
  2. 0:10 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10
  3. 0:25 ⚔ Violence & Gore 5/10
Unlock all 9 flagged moments — free account →

Sex and nudity in The Shack

There is no sexual content in the film.

Violence and gore in The Shack

Violence is mild but emotionally intense. There are brief depictions of physical abuse in a flashback to the protagonist's childhood, and an off-screen depiction of a child's abduction. The aftermath of a crime scene is shown, including a bloodstained dress, but it is not gratuitously graphic.

Language in The Shack

There is no profanity or strong language present in the film.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Shack

There are passing mentions and brief depictions of alcohol use related to the protagonist's father, who is portrayed as an abusive alcoholic.

Mature themes in The Shack

The film deals with heavy, mature themes including the murder of a child, child abuse, extreme grief, parental guilt, and suicide. These subjects are treated with emotional weight and are central to the plot.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Shack appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests The Shack is best for ages 13+. It's rated PG-13. The Shack follows Mackenzie Phillips, a man struggling with deep-seated trauma and the tragic abduction and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy. After receiving a mysterious invitation to return to the location of…

What age rating does The Shack have?

The Shack is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.

What is The Shack about?

The Shack follows Mackenzie Phillips, a man struggling with deep-seated trauma and the tragic abduction and murder of his youngest daughter, Missy. After receiving a mysterious invitation to return to the location of the crime, he enters a spiritual journey that challenges his perceptions of God and his own history of…

Is there sex or nudity in The Shack?

There is no sexual content in the film.

How violent is The Shack?

Violence is mild but emotionally intense. There are brief depictions of physical abuse in a flashback to the protagonist's childhood, and an off-screen depiction of a child's abduction. The aftermath of a crime scene is shown, including a bloodstained dress…

Is the language in The Shack appropriate for kids?

There is no profanity or strong language present in the film.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Shack?

There are passing mentions and brief depictions of alcohol use related to the protagonist's father, who is portrayed as an abusive alcoholic.

What mature themes appear in The Shack?

The film deals with heavy, mature themes including the murder of a child, child abuse, extreme grief, parental guilt, and suicide. These subjects are treated with emotional weight and are central to the plot.

How long is The Shack?

The Shack runs 132 minutes, directed by Stuart Hazeldine, released in 2017.

Where can I read the full The Shack parent guide?

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