The Yards (2000) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
In the rail yards of Queens, contractors repair and rebuild the city's subway cars. These contracts are lucrative, so graft and corruption are rife. When Leo Handler gets out of prison, he finds his aunt married to Frank Olchin, one of the big contractors; he's battling with a minority-owned firm for contracts.
Rated R • 2000 • 1h 55m
The Yards (set in the Queens rail yards) is rated R primarily for sustained strong language, scenes of violence (including a stabbing and a gunshot with visible blood), and brief non-graphic nudity. The film centers on Leo Handler and other contractors caught up in graft and criminal dealings; parents should be prepared for frequent profanity, several physical fights, and a short sex/nudity moment. IMDb's Parents Guide specifically… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Yards appropriate for kids?
The Yards (set in the Queens rail yards) is rated R primarily for sustained strong language, scenes of violence (including a stabbing and a gunshot with visible blood), and brief non-graphic nudity. The film centers on Leo Handler and other contractors caught up in graft and… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Yards
What happens in The Yards, moment by moment
- 0:04 🍷 Substances 2/10
- 0:10 💬 Language 7/10
- 0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 5/10
Sex and nudity in The Yards
Moderate, non-graphic sexual content: there is a brief scene in which a woman is seen shirtless caressing a man and her breasts are visible, and a separate fleeting moment where two men briefly strip outdoors (IMDb Parents Guide documents both). Nothing is explicit or prolonged, but nudity is clearly shown for a short time. Expect a sensual party/bedroom context rather than explicit sex.
Violence and gore in The Yards
Moderate, physical violence occurs several times and is realistic in tone (IMDb notes a stabbing death, beatings and a man shot in the ear with blood shown). Scenes include fights, a police officer beaten unconscious, a man struck leaving a bloody lip, and an on-screen stabbing that results in death; injuries are not shown graphically but blood appears. The film's violence is grounded and can feel sudden or shocking.
Language in The Yards
Frequent, strong profanity throughout the film — heavy street-level dialogue and multiple characters using expletives. IMDb's user guide reports many instances of the f-word (and other strong obscenities), so expect sustained coarse language in most confrontations and informal scenes. This is one of the film's most pervasive content elements.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Yards
Mild — characters commonly smoke cigarettes and there are several party, bar and club scenes with drinking. Substance use is presented as background to the adult social world rather than a focus of the plot. No graphic drug use or overdoses are depicted in the Parents Guide notes.
Mature themes in The Yards
Strong adult themes of corruption, bribery, organized criminal dealings, moral compromise and murder recur across the movie; characters face legal fallout and betrayal. The film explores the personal consequences of graft in the rail-yard contracting world and includes scenes dealing with death and cover-ups. These themes are serious and may prompt discussion of ethics, loyalty and crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Yards appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Yards is best for ages 13+. It's rated R. The Yards (set in the Queens rail yards) is rated R primarily for sustained strong language, scenes of violence (including a stabbing and a gunshot with visible blood), and brief non-graphic nudity. The film centers on…
What age rating does The Yards have?
The Yards is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is The Yards about?
The Yards (set in the Queens rail yards) is rated R primarily for sustained strong language, scenes of violence (including a stabbing and a gunshot with visible blood), and brief non-graphic nudity. The film centers on Leo Handler and other contractors caught up in graft and criminal dealings; parents should be…
Is there sex or nudity in The Yards?
Moderate, non-graphic sexual content: there is a brief scene in which a woman is seen shirtless caressing a man and her breasts are visible, and a separate fleeting moment where two men briefly strip outdoors (IMDb Parents Guide documents both). Nothing is…
How violent is The Yards?
Moderate, physical violence occurs several times and is realistic in tone (IMDb notes a stabbing death, beatings and a man shot in the ear with blood shown). Scenes include fights, a police officer beaten unconscious, a man struck leaving a bloody lip, and an…
Is the language in The Yards appropriate for kids?
Frequent, strong profanity throughout the film — heavy street-level dialogue and multiple characters using expletives. IMDb's user guide reports many instances of the f-word (and other strong obscenities), so expect sustained coarse language in most…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Yards?
Mild — characters commonly smoke cigarettes and there are several party, bar and club scenes with drinking. Substance use is presented as background to the adult social world rather than a focus of the plot. No graphic drug use or overdoses are depicted in…
What mature themes appear in The Yards?
Strong adult themes of corruption, bribery, organized criminal dealings, moral compromise and murder recur across the movie; characters face legal fallout and betrayal. The film explores the personal consequences of graft in the rail-yard contracting world…
How long is The Yards?
The Yards runs 115 minutes, directed by James Gray, released in 2000.
Where can I read the full The Yards 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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