Trumbo (2015) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
The career of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo is halted by a witch hunt in the late 1940s when he defies the anti-communist HUAC committee and is blacklisted.
Rated R • 2015 • 2h 4m
Trumbo is a biographical drama about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's defiance of the HUAC committee and his subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood. The film's R rating is due almost exclusively to strong and frequent language, with over 20 uses of "f*ck". Other content includes pervasive period-typical smoking and drinking, a character's addiction to prescription pills, and a single, brief scene of non-sexual male nudity. There is no… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is Trumbo appropriate for kids?
Trumbo is a biographical drama about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's defiance of the HUAC committee and his subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood. The film's R rating is due almost exclusively to strong and frequent language, with over 20 uses of "f*ck". Other content includes… Read more — free account
Content severity in Trumbo
What happens in Trumbo, moment by moment
- 0:10 🔥 Mature Themes 6/10
- 0:17 💬 Language 7/10
- 0:26 🍷 Substances 5/10
Sex and nudity in Trumbo
This category is mild. In a prison intake scene, a man's bare buttocks are briefly visible from behind. In several scenes, Dalton Trumbo works while in a bathtub, but his nudity is always obscured by a desk tray. Married characters kiss briefly a few times. There are some verbal sexual references, which contribute to the R rating but are not explicit.
Violence and gore in Trumbo
Violence is nearly absent. The conflict is ideological and emotional, not physical. In one scene, a studio executive (Frank King) brandishes a baseball bat to threaten and scare away a man who is intimidating him, but no one is hit or harmed. Characters engage in heated arguments, and one man seems poised to hit another but refrains.
Language in Trumbo
Strong and frequent profanity is the primary reason for the film's R rating. There are over 20 uses of "f*ck" throughout the film, often during arguments or moments of frustration. Other language includes multiple uses of "shit," "bastard," "hell," "damn," and exclamatory uses of "Jesus" and "Christ."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in Trumbo
Substance use is pervasive and reflects the period. Dalton Trumbo is a chain-smoker and is frequently seen with a cigarette. Alcohol is consumed regularly in social settings and at home. More significantly, Trumbo becomes dependent on prescription pills (likely amphetamines) to fuel his manic writing schedule, and his addiction is a recurring plot point.
Mature themes in Trumbo
The film is built on strong, mature themes of political persecution, censorship, and injustice during the McCarthy era. It explores the personal and professional costs of standing by one's principles, including imprisonment and financial ruin. The strain on Trumbo's family due to his obsessive work and the blacklist is a central theme, as is the moral compromise of those who named names to save their careers. A supporting character's death from cancer while destitute is also depicted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trumbo appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests Trumbo is best for ages 16+. It's rated R. Trumbo is a biographical drama about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's defiance of the HUAC committee and his subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood. The film's R rating is due almost exclusively to strong and frequent…
What age rating does Trumbo have?
Trumbo is officially rated R. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 16+.
What is Trumbo about?
Trumbo is a biographical drama about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's defiance of the HUAC committee and his subsequent blacklisting in Hollywood. The film's R rating is due almost exclusively to strong and frequent language, with over 20 uses of "f*ck". Other content includes pervasive period-typical smoking and…
Is there sex or nudity in Trumbo?
This category is mild. In a prison intake scene, a man's bare buttocks are briefly visible from behind. In several scenes, Dalton Trumbo works while in a bathtub, but his nudity is always obscured by a desk tray. Married characters kiss briefly a few times…
How violent is Trumbo?
Violence is nearly absent. The conflict is ideological and emotional, not physical. In one scene, a studio executive (Frank King) brandishes a baseball bat to threaten and scare away a man who is intimidating him, but no one is hit or harmed. Characters…
Is the language in Trumbo appropriate for kids?
Strong and frequent profanity is the primary reason for the film's R rating. There are over 20 uses of "f*ck" throughout the film, often during arguments or moments of frustration. Other language includes multiple uses of "shit," "bastard," "hell," "damn,"…
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Trumbo?
Substance use is pervasive and reflects the period. Dalton Trumbo is a chain-smoker and is frequently seen with a cigarette. Alcohol is consumed regularly in social settings and at home. More significantly, Trumbo becomes dependent on prescription pills…
What mature themes appear in Trumbo?
The film is built on strong, mature themes of political persecution, censorship, and injustice during the McCarthy era. It explores the personal and professional costs of standing by one's principles, including imprisonment and financial ruin. The strain on…
How long is Trumbo?
Trumbo runs 124 minutes, directed by Jay Roach, released in 2015.
Where can I read the full Trumbo parent guide?
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