It is considered a horror movie, but the scariest part is the shower scene, which is not that scary, if at all scary. (I can't even see why it is rated r.) Nevertheless, though, it is my favorite movie ever.
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Psycho
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Horror masterpiece definitely isn't for young kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15 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
About Psycho
Parents need to know that this is one of the scariest movies ever made, even though it's far less explicit than a lot of what's in theaters now. Still, this is a frightening movie, and judgment should be used about which children will enjoy it and which will find it disturbing. The famous shower scene never shows the knife touching flesh, but it's still terrifying. There are also several very frightening scenes involving a corpse. On a less scary note, a character steals money from her boss' client, and a couple is shown post-sex, though they are clothed. That said, this is a classic of filmmaking, one of the most influential and respected films ever made. It's terrifying and brilliant, and families with older children can enjoy the scares together.
Read our full review by Sarah Wenk
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about Hitchcock's style and techniques, and the way he uses the camera and lighting to tell the story. It's fun to go back over the film and look for clues to the ending, too.
Our Members Say
See all 33 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Negative role models
Awesome!
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
A Great Movie to watch at a friend's house
This is a good classic scary movie to watch at a friend's house or on Halloween night. It is thrilling, spooky, and somewhat disturbing because of Hitchcock's filming technique, the script, lighting, etc. The woman in the movie who is killed during the famous shower murder scene exposes her bra at least three times. The beginning of the movie shows she and her lover waking up after intercourse. Violence is unexpectedly absent during the movie. I definitely suggest it.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Classic horror must see
First off, i have a hard time calling this a horror because there arent many scary scenes. God knows how the movie got an R rating. There is virtually no gory violence shown like in movies like Halloween or SAW. It is a kid safe horror movie that may even bore some viewers. Watch it and post what you think...
- I rate this title off for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Negative role models
This movie is awesome, and sooo scary despite the lack of gore. Not for kids, but teens will love it.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Negative role models
Not Scary At All!!!
It wont be scary as long as you tell your kids that the blod is actuly Hersheys syrup. ( it is! )
Lives in Ohio- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
#1
The #1 movie in history. This was the beginning of cult classic slasher. Before Jason Voorhees(Friday the 13th), Freddy Kruger(A Nightmare on Elm Street), Leatherface(The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Chucky(Child's Play), and Michael Myers(Halloween). I LOVED THE SHOWER SCENE.
- I rate this title on for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
aaawwweeesssooommmeee!
If there was a word powerful enough to discribe how scary this movie was, I'd use it. Excellent, brilliant, and thoughtful.
- I rate this title off for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
HORRIBLE
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
13 year olds can handle it.
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
This classic Hitchock horror is a masterpiece. And in the beginning there is clearly a post-sex moment, but other than that and the few mildly violent scenes, and just the creepy feeling you get from Norman Bates from the first momnet with him to the last, this movie is a must see for thrill seeking teens and tweens!
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
Psycho is a classic that should be remembered from this day on.
I just finished watching Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and I must say it's very impressive. The acting was phenomenal and the movie was like an adult version of Nancy Drew. While the content hear is very mild, I recommend this to mature teens or adults. Younger children and teenagers will find this boring because they are used to buckets of blood or excessive nudity. Adults will be entertained between the dialogue and the movie will be easy for them to follow. For sexual content, there is a sex scene but it's not explicit and it doesn't last long either. A woman changes her clothes in two scenes but we only see her bra. A woman is seen taking a shower, but we don't see any actual nudity. For violence, there are actually only two murders and they are implied. Minimal blood is shown in one of the murders. For profanity, there is rarely any swearing. A few mild obscenities but no swearing is heard. I recommend Psycho to children or adults that are mature enough to take a smart, well-made thriller.
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
=[
im sorry but i dont like this at all.i dont really see what ur beniffitting from this cuz it doesnt teach ur kids anything.i say this is a waste of money.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
One of Hitchcock's weakest films
It's not as amusing or thrilling as his previous works. A must-see only because of its reputation.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Classic...
My father was watching this on a Saturday in January. I don't know WHY he let me watch it, but it was good. I like old Horror movies...the new ones are incredibly violent, not that I've seen any of them. This is not as good as "the Spiral Staircase", which I think was a Hitchcock movie. The shower scene kinda freaked me out, and I never would've guessed what would happen in the end...Mr. Hitchcock is an excellent film maker. We watched one of his movies last night called "Rope", which was about the dangers of the liberal point of view(that you are superior to everyone else). Basically, the 2 main characters killed a guy, thinking they were superior to him and he was useless, but they eventually got caught. Seeing as we're Republicans, it's a very good lesson for us. Anyway, Psyco was good, though not recommended for kids under 12. I can handle it, though.
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
Classic
This is the best horror film of all time. And it's not even that violent! Theres a few scenes including the classic shower scene and the death on stairs scene that may frighten little kids.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Best of a lot of Things
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was the best of... Best Horror Movie Best Musical Score Best of the Hitchcock Movies If you haven't seen Psycho, you haven't lived. It is the single most thrilling movie I have ever scene... from the shower scene, to the shrieking violins, to the sinister figure of Norman Bates, it is a masterpiece in all respects. -
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Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 33% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 33% | of parents say it's too violent |
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