The Sixth Sense (1999) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
Following an unexpected tragedy, child psychologist Malcolm Crowe meets a nine year old boy named Cole Sear, who is hiding a dark secret.
Rated PG-13 • 1999 • 1h 47m
A ghost story about a child psychologist and a boy who sees dead people. The PG-13 rating is appropriate — the film is genuinely frightening in places but not gory. The ghosts appear in disturbing states (suicide, violence) which may upset younger children. The film's power is psychological rather than visceral. A good introduction to mature horror themes for teens.
Cast
Is The Sixth Sense appropriate for kids?
A ghost story about a child psychologist and a boy who sees dead people. The PG-13 rating is appropriate — the film is genuinely frightening in places but not gory. The ghosts appear in disturbing states (suicide, violence) which may upset younger children. The film's power is… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Sixth Sense
What happens in The Sixth Sense, moment by moment
- 0:03 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
- 0:15 🔥 Mature Themes 5/10
- 0:38 ⚔ Violence & Gore 6/10
Sex and nudity in The Sixth Sense
There is no sexual content or nudity depicted in this film. The story focuses entirely on the professional and emotional relationships between characters, maintaining a clean presentation appropriate for the PG-13 rating. Physical contact is limited to occasional comforting gestures and non-sexual embraces.
Violence and gore in The Sixth Sense
Ghosts appear in the states they died — including a boy with a gunshot wound to the head, a woman who hanged herself, and a girl who was poisoned. Brief, disturbing, not prolonged. A man shoots himself at the film's opening.
Language in The Sixth Sense
The film contains infrequent, mild profanity that is typical for a supernatural thriller. Examples include occasional uses of 'sh*t,' 'hell,' and 'damn,' which are mostly used to convey shock or frustration. The dialogue remains relatively tame and does not feature aggressive verbal abuse or strong sexual epithets.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Sixth Sense
There is no significant use of illegal drugs or smoking present throughout the movie. Occasional scenes may feature adults in social settings where alcohol might be present, but there is no depiction of intoxication or substance abuse. The film maintains a clear focus on the psychological and supernatural elements of the narrative.
Mature themes in The Sixth Sense
Death and what happens after. A child who cannot escape the presence of the dead. Grief and the reluctance to accept loss. The film's twist reframes its emotional content — the love story underneath the horror is what stays with audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Sixth Sense appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Sixth Sense is best for ages 12+. It's rated PG-13. A ghost story about a child psychologist and a boy who sees dead people. The PG-13 rating is appropriate — the film is genuinely frightening in places but not gory. The ghosts appear in disturbing states (suicide…
What age rating does The Sixth Sense have?
The Sixth Sense is officially rated PG-13. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.
What is The Sixth Sense about?
A ghost story about a child psychologist and a boy who sees dead people. The PG-13 rating is appropriate — the film is genuinely frightening in places but not gory. The ghosts appear in disturbing states (suicide, violence) which may upset younger children. The film's power is psychological rather than visceral. A…
Is there sex or nudity in The Sixth Sense?
There is no sexual content or nudity depicted in this film. The story focuses entirely on the professional and emotional relationships between characters, maintaining a clean presentation appropriate for the PG-13 rating. Physical contact is limited to…
How violent is The Sixth Sense?
Ghosts appear in the states they died — including a boy with a gunshot wound to the head, a woman who hanged herself, and a girl who was poisoned. Brief, disturbing, not prolonged. A man shoots himself at the film's opening.
Is the language in The Sixth Sense appropriate for kids?
The film contains infrequent, mild profanity that is typical for a supernatural thriller. Examples include occasional uses of 'sh*t,' 'hell,' and 'damn,' which are mostly used to convey shock or frustration. The dialogue remains relatively tame and does not…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Sixth Sense?
There is no significant use of illegal drugs or smoking present throughout the movie. Occasional scenes may feature adults in social settings where alcohol might be present, but there is no depiction of intoxication or substance abuse. The film maintains a…
What mature themes appear in The Sixth Sense?
Death and what happens after. A child who cannot escape the presence of the dead. Grief and the reluctance to accept loss. The film's twist reframes its emotional content — the love story underneath the horror is what stays with audiences.
How long is The Sixth Sense?
The Sixth Sense runs 107 minutes, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, released in 1999.
Where can I read the full The Sixth Sense 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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