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Reality Bites

(1994, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Ethan Hawke, Winona Ryder, Ben Stiller)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Comedy about 20-something slackers isn't for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The characters generally mean well, but they take everything from sex to drug use very casually.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Characters are shown engaging in casual sex with multiple partners. One character has an HIV scare.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Characters explicitly discuss the merits of the Big Gulp. Dominos is mentioned and is featured in the narrative as is Evian.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters are shown smoking cigarettes and marijuana and drinking beer and other alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Reality Bites

Parents need to know that this film features 20-something recent college graduates who drink, smoke, and sleep around. There are few consequences for their behavior, save for a very mild subplot in which one of the characters takes an AIDS test (she tests negative). However, the characters generally mean well, and parents who don't object to depictions of sex and drug/alcohol use may find their behavior towards each other acceptable.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about movies' responsibility. Should movies that target teens and 20-year-olds simply reflect their behavoir -- or does seeing characters drink, smoke and have casual sex on screen glamorize their behavior?
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