• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Terrific performances make mature musical biopic memorable.

Why We Rated This for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  Racism is addressed as being complicated and difficult to overcome. It's obvious in the segregated South and in the way that Etta James' alleged father treats her, but it's subtler in the way Chuck Berry is arrested and how Leonard occasionally patronizes his signed musicians. Additionally, characters commit adultery, drink to excess, take drugs, and act violently.
• Violence:

  Several scenes of violence, including gun violence; driving under the influence and crashing; police brutality; and a bloody, fatal beating.
• Sex:

  The male characters tend to be womanizers who have multiple (and usually extramarital) affairs. Women are shown half-naked, skimpily dressed, and about to engage in group sex. Lots of passionate kissing and going into hotel rooms. In one brief scene, we see a woman lowering her head in a restaurant, obviously to perform oral sex.
• Language:

  Strong and frequent: "Motherf--ker" is the word of choice, with "f--k" and "s--t" a close second and third.
• Consumerism:

  As if the title doesn't give it away, there are lots of Cadillacs in the film -- every major character has more than one. Pepsi is also mentioned/shown, as is Billboard magazine.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Most of the characters drink, and several drink excessively. At least two musicians are also drug addicts. Etta James is shown overdosing on heroin, lying unconscious next to a needle, with tracks on her arms. All "users" are adults.

What Parents Need to Know

About Cadillac Records

Families Can Talk About