pretty good romance movie.
Sleepless in Seattle
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A fairy tale that even teens can enjoy.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11 and Up
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Sleepless in Seattle was written by Common Sense Media Editors
Parents need to know that even teenagers used to edgier fare will fall for this romantic fairytale. Still, parents should know that the main characters are a widower and his young son; the mother's death echoes throughout the movie. There is some mild sexual content and profanity, as well.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about how Jessica and Jonah mean well, but hide the truth from their parents when conspiring to get Jonah to New Your City in their attempt to get Annie and Sam together. Was what they did right? How could they have handled this and still been truthful with their parents? Families can also compare this movie to An Affair to Remember.
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More on Sleepless in Seattle
What’s the Story?
In SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, young Jonah wants his widowed dad, Sam (Tom Hanks), to find a new wife. When Jonah calls up a radio talk show and starts talking to the host about how lonely his dad is, Sam eventually gets on the line and pours his heart out. Across the country, Annie (Meg Ryan) hears Sam and eventually comes to believe they're destined for each other, even though she's engaged to nice-but-dull Walter (Bill Pullman). Sam becomes a sensation after the radio show, and multitudes of women send him love letters. With some parallels to the classic 1957 romance An Affair to Remember, this sweet romance follows Annie as she heads to Seattle to meet the man of her dreams.
Is It Any Good?
Sleepless in Seattle is a throwback to the great romantic comedies of the '30s and '40s. Well written if a tad implausible, it's a fairytale that encourages viewers to believe that true love and destiny will conquer all obstacles. The movie's structure is a little frustrating; the two main characters spend almost the entire film apart. In less skilled hands, their separate stories could have fallen flat, but first-time director Nora Ephron manages to pull it off.
Great casting helps. Tom Hanks has never been more appealing and vulnerable, and Meg Ryan is the embodiment of impetuous romance. Rosie O'Donnell and Rob Reiner inject some tart humor as their sidekicks, making sure the story never becomes overly sentimental. There aren't many movies that parents can watch with older kids; this is one of the rare exceptions. Adults will enjoy the star-crossed romance, and kids will respond to Jonah's predicament. They'll also like the interactions between Jonah and his friend Jessica, a wise and very sarcastic little girl.
Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar, Director: Nora Ephron
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/15/1993, DVD release: 6/26/1997
MPAA Rating: PG for language
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/15/1993, DVD release: 6/26/1997
MPAA Rating: PG for language
Our Members Say
See all 7 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
pretty good
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Slow.
Not the worst romance film, but not the best, either.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
A Funny and Light-Hearted Comedy for the Family...
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE is a light-hearted comedy for the family, not surprisingly trans-generational and exceptionally family-friendly. In fact, this is one of the best comedies you can watch with your kids, and it's a chick flick that will appeal to guys too. There are two curse words "d**n" and "s**t". There are also a couple of innuendos as well (Orgasms and condoms are briefly and nongraphically mentioned, and brief reference is made to "getting laid".) That's all I can think of that's objectionable in the film. The acting is great, and kids will appreciate the humor as much as adults. This is a sweet family movie that anyone can enjoy.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
For tender-hearted kids
Kids with the romantic side will enjoy this movie. Call it a 'chick flick' if you will, but it IS all about a guy and a girl that 'belong' together and his son trying to figure out how to hook them up. The conniving is fun, kind of on the lines of Parent Trap. Tom Hanks is in his element. A great movie that the whole family should enjoy.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Good clean fun
This is Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan at their easy going best. The movie is about finding your one true love, at a time when you need it to happen the most. The movie may be implausible, it may be too lighthearted, but the performances make up for all that. You know how it's going to end up, yet you don't care. The fun is watching to two great actors act and some very good dialoge. If you ever dreamed about what it's like to find true love, this is it.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
I laughed
This movie is really funny for people who like edgy fairy tales.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Very charming movie with Relationship themes
The characters are all very charming in a way that only movies can created them. Kids watching this movie should be ready to hear about having sex with a condom (in passing) and the acknowledgment that sex is a goal of dating and marriage. My kids were shocked that the boy was home alone with a girl in his room with the door closed. Sweet movie, but kids should be mature enough to hear discussions of sex and relationships.
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