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Ghost World

(2001, Rated R, Comedy, Starring Thora Birch, Steve Buscemi, Scarlett Johansson)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Offbeat indie dramedy will resonate with older teens.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship, gender issues, growing up, honesty, materialism

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Although there are positive messages about friendship -- the protagonists are loyal to each other -- there are also negative messages that in order to be hip you have to be a slacker who doesn't go to college, care about work, or much of anything other than making fun of other people.

  • Role models :

    Enid, in particular, shows a great contempt for most people, calling everyone "stupid" and saying she "hates everyone." Besides Becky, her only friend is Seymour, who also lives in an insular world surrounded only by people who like the exact same things as he. Enid is irresponsible, refuses to hold down a job, and has a superiority complex but is also strong, opinionated, impervious to peer pressure, and a loyal friend to Seymour until she sleeps with him. Becky is a good role model for an unconditional friend who isn't afraid to confront or criticize her friend when it's appropriate.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    An 18-year-old sleeps with a much older man but all that's shown is a brief kiss in one scene and then the two (covered up) in bed the next. An adult couple flirts, dances. Enid and Becky discuss relationships and joke about virginity, past boyfriends. Enid drags Seymour into a XXX store to make fun of its patrons.

  • Language:

    Frequently used words include "f--k," "s--t," "assh--e," and the occasional "c--t" and "pu--y." "God damn!" is also said fairly often.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teenage girls drink and smoke cigarettes, and in one scene, a protagonist gets drunk and sleeps with a much older man.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Ghost World

Parents need to know that this coming-of-age indie follows two best friends the summer after they graduate from high school. The graphic-novel adaptation is not your typical teen flick. There is a lot of strong language ("f--k," "c--t," "p---y" and other curse words are said frequently) and an intimate friendship between an 18-year-old girl and a much older man that's eventually consummated (the couple is briefly shown kissing and then in bed next to each other). The main theme of the movie may go over some teens' heads; it's basically that becoming an adult can be boring and confusing, and how working and conforming is a lot less hip than just doing whatever you want.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about coming-of-age movies about high-school graduates. What common themes are present in most of these adolescent films?

  • Parents and kids can also discuss Enid's friendship with Seymour. How is their inter-generational relationship portrayed?
  • How do Enid and Becky affect and influence each other? Which one of them do you relate to more? Why?
  • Adaptations of graphic novels have become quite popular. What are the best examples of the genre?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    whateverfloats
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Flag as inappropriate

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