loved it i miss patrick swayze rip patrick we will miss u!
Dirty Dancing
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A hip-shaking guilty pleasure.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, family relationships, growing up
updated 11.18.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12–14
The good stuff
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Role models:
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 Dirty Dancing was written by Common Sense Media Editors
Parents need to know that this 1960s-set forbidden romance is a guilty pleasure, due to several campy scenes, flashy dance sequences, and appealing performances by its main characters. Although some parents may find the dancing a little too dirty, teenage viewers will be captivated by the flashy fantasy of star-crossed summer romance. Sexual references abound here beyond the dance moves: one character has a botched abortion, the main character loses her virginity, and another talks about her plans to go all the way. An older married woman propositions younger men on staff at the resort and sleeps with one.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about the film's sexual themes.
- How does each family member feel about teenage sex?
- As a teenager, what would you do if you were pressured to have sex?
- What do you feel about the conflict between Baby and her father?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Dirty Dancing
What’s the Story?
Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) and her family spend their summer vacation at a Catskills resort where Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) works. Baby runs into this handsome dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks at a forbidden, wild "dirty dance" party his friends throw after work. To supplement their meager earnings, Johnny and his partner Penny do a mambo show at a neighboring hotel. When Penny gets pregnant by one of the hotel waiters, she finds out the only time she can get an abortion is the night of a big show. The naïve Baby steps in determined to help, asking her father for abortion money and no questions asked before desperately trying to learn the mambo in time. Romance takes off, as it should, on the dance floor with a great '60s soundtrack (a cute touch: many of the tunes have "baby" somewhere in the title). Johnny's drawn to Baby's fierce optimism and Baby is drawn to -- well, he's Patrick Swayze! They're found out, of course, and come back together for one last dance.
Is It Any Good?
Unabashedly schmaltzy, DIRTY DANCING is also a lot of fun. Jennifer Grey is touching as the shy and idealistic Baby, whose sexuality is awakened by Patrick Swayze's energy. Both are exceptionally well cast, and their skillful and convincing performances bolster some of the story's weaker elements, like the many stock characters and predictable events.
Swayze is given some of the worst dialogue here, and it's remarkable that he's able to make the immortal line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" sound almost natural. Teens will get past such corny dialogue because of the dance sequences which effectively mirror Baby and Johnny's emotions. As the two become more drawn to each other, the dancing becomes more seductive, culminating in the liberating energy of the final scene.
Movie Details
Studio: Vestron Pictures, Director: Emile Ardolino
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1987, DVD release: 1/15/2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature themes and sexuality.
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1987, DVD release: 1/15/2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature themes and sexuality.
Our Members Say
See all 11 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Love The movie
I love this movie! The music is wonderful and fun, and the dancing is fantastic! It is a very very fun movie! Watch it! The sexual behavior is a bit iffy, but get over it!
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
AMAZING!
Really good movie! other than some brief language and very sexual dancing, this movie is good for 12 and up
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Moronic plot, disgusting lack of moral qualms, paying for the murder of an unborn being glorified, vulgar dancing, statutory rape of main character.. barffff
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I rate this title pause for age 12 and give it
Great Summer Romance (Teens+)
Baby and Patrick Swayze dance the night away in Dirty Dancing with some AWESOME dance moves! It's fun, campy, and a must-see for teens. Parents should note that all though there are no sex scenes, there are steamy, steamy dance moves and LOTS of french kissing. There is also a scary botched abortion. Bad guys, however, get their dues. 13+
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
really bad
Dirty Dancing was a movie for a 16 for a lot of sex scenes and fighting scenes.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Very well put together!!!
I love this movie!!!!it is probabley apropriate for 12+ Verrrrrrrrrrry good!!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
GREAT MOVIE FOR GIRLS OF ANY AGE!!!
I LOVE WATCHING IT W/ MY GRANDMA,AND MOM SINCE ITZ KINDA A CHICK FLICK I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE SO MANY TIMES!!! EVEN THOUGH BABY MAKES SOME BAD CHOICES SHE LEARNS FROM THEM,AND THATS THE IMPORTANT MORAL OF THIS MOVIE.REMEMBER: THERE IS SOME MATURE DIALOUGE IN THIS FILM MEANING SO,U MIGHT WANT TO SEE THIS ONE W/ YOUR KIDS IF THE AREN'T 13 OR OVER
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
LOVED IT
awesome movie! if you havent seen it you should. an awesome classic!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 50% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
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