Thelma (2017) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
A college student starts to experience extreme seizures. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable abilities.
Rated NR • 2017 • 1h 56m
Thelma is a psychological supernatural drama about a sheltered young woman (Thelma) who moves to Oslo for university and discovers uncontrollable powers linked to repressed desire and trauma. The film earned its mature ratings for explicit same-sex sexual contact and partial nudity, intense family trauma (child disappearance, attempted suicide), and a couple of violent, disturbing deaths — including a supernatural fiery death. Parents… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Thelma appropriate for kids?
Thelma is a psychological supernatural drama about a sheltered young woman (Thelma) who moves to Oslo for university and discovers uncontrollable powers linked to repressed desire and trauma. The film earned its mature ratings for explicit same-sex sexual contact and partial… Read more — free account
Content severity in Thelma
What happens in Thelma, moment by moment
- 0:03 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:05 ⚔ Violence & Gore 7/10
- 0:12 ⚔ Violence & Gore 8/10
Sex and nudity in Thelma
Strong, explicit same-sex sexual content appears several times between Thelma and Anja. There are passionate kisses, partial female nudity (breasts seen, one brief nipple exposure) and at least one scene of mutual genital touching. These moments are intimate and relatively explicit, but not presented graphically; they are central to Thelma's emotional and supernatural crisis.
Violence and gore in Thelma
The film contains intense, often traumatic violence and death tied to the story's supernatural elements. Key images include a child's disappearance and being found frozen under ice, a man pointing a rifle at a child in a flashback, a mother nearly drowning/attempted suicide and later paralysis, and a dramatic, supernatural fiery death of the father. Violence is more psychological and disturbing than gory, but several scenes are emotionally strong and may upset teens.
Language in Thelma
Mild profanity only: occasional use of words like 'shit' during heated or emotional scenes. Swearing is sparse and not sustained, limited to adult characters in stressful moments.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Thelma
There is notable substance use: student drinking and smoking at parties and references to cannabis, plus a central, troubling instance where Thelma is sedated/drugged by her parents with clear intent to control or incapacitate her. The party use is casual; the parental drugging is presented as a serious, alarming act.
Mature themes in Thelma
Heavy themes run throughout: religious repression, repressed sexuality, family secrecy, mental illness/psychogenic seizures, suicide and child loss. The film repeatedly returns to trauma across generations (Thelma, her mother Unni, and the grandmother) and explores guilt, identity, and control. Those themes are central and handled in a serious, often unsettling way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thelma appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Thelma is best for ages 13+. It's rated NR. Thelma is a psychological supernatural drama about a sheltered young woman (Thelma) who moves to Oslo for university and discovers uncontrollable powers linked to repressed desire and trauma. The film earned its mature…
What age rating does Thelma have?
Thelma is officially rated NR. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 13+.
What is Thelma about?
Thelma is a psychological supernatural drama about a sheltered young woman (Thelma) who moves to Oslo for university and discovers uncontrollable powers linked to repressed desire and trauma. The film earned its mature ratings for explicit same-sex sexual contact and partial nudity, intense family trauma (child…
Is there sex or nudity in Thelma?
Strong, explicit same-sex sexual content appears several times between Thelma and Anja. There are passionate kisses, partial female nudity (breasts seen, one brief nipple exposure) and at least one scene of mutual genital touching. These moments are intimate…
How violent is Thelma?
The film contains intense, often traumatic violence and death tied to the story's supernatural elements. Key images include a child's disappearance and being found frozen under ice, a man pointing a rifle at a child in a flashback, a mother nearly…
Is the language in Thelma appropriate for kids?
Mild profanity only: occasional use of words like 'shit' during heated or emotional scenes. Swearing is sparse and not sustained, limited to adult characters in stressful moments.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Thelma?
There is notable substance use: student drinking and smoking at parties and references to cannabis, plus a central, troubling instance where Thelma is sedated/drugged by her parents with clear intent to control or incapacitate her. The party use is casual…
What mature themes appear in Thelma?
Heavy themes run throughout: religious repression, repressed sexuality, family secrecy, mental illness/psychogenic seizures, suicide and child loss. The film repeatedly returns to trauma across generations (Thelma, her mother Unni, and the grandmother) and…
How long is Thelma?
Thelma runs 116 minutes, directed by Joachim Trier, released in 2017.
Where can I read the full Thelma 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 Thelma with similar intensity
Sign up to filter
Less intense movies for families
Sign up to filter
More drama 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
- Sullivan's Travels parent guide
- 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
- Boiling Point parent guide
- Planet Hulk parent guide
- Ophelia parent guide
- Full Speed parent guide
- Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King parent guide
- Barbie Presents: Thumbelina parent guide
- Day Watch parent guide
- Friends with Money parent guide
- Them parent guide
- Lifted parent guide