What parents need to know about 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

What parents need to know about 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

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THE STUDIO — The Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" is now in theaters and as KSL.com reviewer Dave Clyde pointed out, the movie is serviceable, but Rami Malek's performance is truly inspiring.

Today we're here to talk about what's in the movie so parents can be educated for when their child asks if they can go see the movie.

This review is not meant to tell you if you should or should not let your kids see "Bohemian Rhapsody," this is just to let you know what kind of content you can plan to see in the film so you can make the decision based on your opinions, your kids' maturity and your family dynamic.

Here's what parents need to know about "Bohemian Rhapsody":

The old saying goes, "drugs, sex and rock-and-roll" and technically "Bohemian Rhapsody" has it all, but they do it in a surprising, subtle way. Here's what parents need to know about "Bohemian Rhapsody:

Drug content

There is a lot of talk and allusion to drug use, as well as drug paraphernalia all over. Band members and others appear high on numerous occasions as well as drunk.

Drugs play a big role in the film, but the filmmakers have actually gone out of their way to not really show the actual drug use in the film. This approach of making you aware of what's going on without having to show you is a common theme in the film in all content areas.

The side effects and danger of drug use are evident and, in my opinion, were not glamorized.

Sexuality

This area is very similar to the drugs category. The ideas of promiscuity, infidelity, unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners are persistent, but nothing explicit is ever really shown. There are kissing scenes on occasion, but just like with drug use, things are alluded to instead of being shown on the screen.

The filmmakers obviously made a conscious decision to let the audience know this was going on but felt it wasn't necessary to show anything graphic, which I found interesting. It seems many movies go the opposite direction, but this approach helped the audience focus on the human element of the story and dive into the mindset of characters as opposed to focusing on the salacious side.

There isn't any nudity I can recall. There is a woman at one point wrapped up in a blanket showing off bare shoulders, but that's about it. A lot of men with shirts off, but that's now a staple of Marvel movies as well. There is a scene where a character goes to a club and there are elements of bondage and unprotected sex, but again nothing explicit is shown. It could still feel uncomfortable for some audiences.

Language

Language is surprisingly minimal in this film. There is a moment with the F-word, which is quite clear and used for emphasis, but that's more or less it for cursing.

There are some of the words we hear in PG movies, but the conversation topics and themes are quite adult. Even though the presence of swear words is low, the type of language used is still quite mature.

Mature themes

The themes in "Bohemian Rhapsody" are for mature audiences. The film deals with depression, drug use, unprotected sex, loneliness and a whole load of mature topics. Not that these lessons and topics can't be beneficial for kids, especially teens, but be aware of it so you know how your kids deal with it.

Conclusion

"Bohemian Rhapsody" definitely earns its PG-13 rating, and much of that has to do with the tone of the film. I don't think I'd say it borders on an R rating, but it is solidly a PG-13.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, suggestive material, drug content and language.


John Clyde

About the Author: John Clyde

John has grown up around movies and annoys friends and family with his movie facts and knowledge. He also has a passion for sports and pretty much anything awesome, and it just so happens, that these are the three things he writes about. Contact him on Twitter at @johnnypclyde.

Language

Language is surprisingly minimal in this film. There is a moment with the F-word, which is quite clear and used for emphasis, but that's more or less it for cursing.

There are some of the words we hear in PG movies, but the conversation topics and themes are quite adult. Even though the presence of swear words is low, the type of language used is still quite mature.

Mature themes

The themes in "Bohemian Rhapsody" are for mature audiences. The film deals with depression, drug use, unprotected sex, loneliness and a whole load of mature topics. Not that these lessons and topics can't be beneficial for kids, especially teens, but be aware of it so you know how your kids deal with it.

Conclusion

"Bohemian Rhapsody" definitely earns its PG-13 rating, and much of that has to do with the tone of the film. I don't think I'd say it borders on an R rating, but it is solidly a PG-13.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, suggestive material, drug content and language.


![John Clyde](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2608/260868/26086842\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: John Clyde ----------------------------

John has grown up around movies and annoys friends and family with his movie facts and knowledge. He also has a passion for sports and pretty much anything awesome, and it just so happens, that these are the three things he writes about. Contact him on Twitter at @johnnypclyde.

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John has grown up around movies and annoys friends and family with his movie facts and knowledge. He also has a passion for sports and pretty much anything awesome, and it just so happens, that these are the three things he writes about.

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