Tools for this page
Fame
-
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 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Dance pic is sexier, grittier than you recall.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–16
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Fame
Parents need to know that though the main characters are supposed to be in high school, they deal with very adult issues: drug use, sex, abortions, poverty, homosexuality, and the extreme pressure of intense competition. There is some female upper-body nudity and there's lots of cursing. But through it all, what viewers learn is what it's like to come of age in a big city with lots of talent and make mistakes. Note: A much tamer remake was released in 2009.
Read our full review by Heather Boerner
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about healthy ways to pursue their dreams and how to recover from poor judgment that gets you in trouble. The film is a great opportunity to open a dialogue with mature teens about the stresses they face, including pressure to do drugs, drink, and have sex. How do they respond? How do they protect themselves? Are there adults, parents, and others, that they would turn to if they made a mistake?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
not for 10 and under
LOVE IT BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
NOT GOOD-good music
TOO MUCH LANGUAGE! VERY BOTHERSOME! F-word is used just about every 5 minutes!
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
Entertaining if your tween is a budding star
This 30 year old movie and it's mores are very dated by today's standards. The huge serious scene of a boy admitting he's gay seemed really overblown, since it's not unusual for teens to describe themselves as gay these days. I had to explain to my daughter why the director and writer made such a big deal out of it. The review mentions issues of sex and a character getting an abortion because of it. The treatment is far tamer than say, Dirty Dancing, which only has a PG-13 rating. In fact, it's hard for me to pinpoint just how this movie got its R. I don't think it would be rated the same if it were released today. For the current generation growing up with movies like Hairspray and High School Musical, this offers a less saccharin but no less exuberant view of singing and dancing teens. My daughter found it more funny than gritty (there is a fair amount of humor) and I had to patiently explain pop culture of the late 70's like Freddie Prince and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you remember it fondly from the big screen, you will probably enjoy it more than your kids, but if they like to sing and dance, they are likely to be fascinated by the concept of a performing arts school.
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Ratings at a Glance
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 33% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 33% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 33% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
Have you seen it? 
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
