Obviously, Pulp Fiction is Tarantino's best work, and I've seen all of his films except for Death Proof. In Pulp Fiction, Tarantino combines 4 plots that seem like they're unrelated...but they all end up that way (in true Tarantino fashion). Not only does this film have some truly great scenes that have become alluded to everywhere, the dialogue is some of the best ever (funny and extremely quotable). John Travolta is at his absolute best in this movie, and Samuel L. Jackson is good as always, right up to the level of his roles in Jackie Brown (also by Tarantino) and Snakes on a Plane. But it's not for kids...no surprise there. Violence? Yeah, there's lots of it. Maybe Tarantino ordered an entire silo full of fake blood, as it's put to good use here. Guns are used a lot, but katanas (Japanese swords) are used in one scene. In terms of bad language, keep in mind that about 2 f-bombs are dropped every minute (265 f-bombs in 164 minutes). There's milder language, too. In terms of sex, there's a brief rape and some S&M activity (both rather undetailed). Finally, the drug use in Pulp Fiction is extremely graphic. I cringed when I saw Vincent shooting up heroin (especially when a glob of his blood swirls around inside the heroin solution before he injects). Also, there's a scene with Mia snorting some of Vincent's high-potency heroin he injected in that earlier scene. She overdoses; her face is bloody, and she's foaming from the mouth. Then, there's a scene a lot of people talk about: someone stabs a syringe filled with epinephrine in Mia's chest (it's graphic). But even with all this bad content...Pulp Fiction's an excellent film. No doubt about that. It's worth much more than that $5 milkshake, tastier than that Big Kahuna burger...and not for kids under 14. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. But KNOW YOUR KID.
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Pulp Fiction
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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 17, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tarantino's masterpiece. Entertaining, yet violent.
Why We Rated This 
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 Pulp Fiction
Parents need to know that this film glorifies violence, drug use, and sexual themes. Gunplay, robbery, swearing, drug use, drug dealing, lying, cheating, violence, male rape, sadomasochism, and driving under the influence. A character is shot in the face and it's played for jokes. In one extremely graphic scene (one that supposedly incited seizures in some epileptic audience members), a character plunges a syringe into a woman's chest to save her from experiencing a heroin overdose. The director seems to mock product placement by featuring original brands created for the film.
Read our full review by Marjorie Kase
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the film's popularity, despite its majorly mature content. What role did sex, violence, drug use, and language play in this film's success? Did you find anything here offensive -- or does the humorous tone somehow soften the content?
Our Members Say
See all 30 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Excellent, excellent film
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
perfect
awsome even better than resavoir dogs.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
NOT FOR KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie almost got an NC-17 for it's violence and language, which concerns me most. The sex really to me is not an issue, but still it's not for kids okay.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
Perfect for kids 10 and up
I love it, because it's funny and it entertains all of us, but the could have cut down on the violence and swearing
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Royale With Cheese!
All I can say is this movie is THE, Royale With Cheese! Nothing a mature 14-15 year old could not handle!
- I rate this title off for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
Watch with caution.
This movie is is full of cuss words and racial slurs. However the movies violence is almost always off screen. There are only a few deaths visible and a few are implied without showing any violence. The only sex is brief when a man is raped by a security guard. The film has drug use but it portrays drugs to be hazardous. Also there are many positive messages such as forgiveness and right doing. This is a great movie.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Not for anyone
This movie is defenantly NOT and I mean NOT for kids. Sure older teens and adults will find it funny but most parents will find the drug content and the violence innapropriate for their kids. Sexual content is extremely heavy too in humourus ways. Language is defenately an issue. this movie has language most kids(including me) can't use. This movie right down to the punch line is bad.
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
It's not too violent for a tarantino movie, but there is plenty of sex, profanity and drug use. I saw it when I was 12. Everybody's different, but it's not as bad as most people say it is.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Dark Comedy goes to the Extreme
A must see for everyone over the age of 17
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
the greatest movie of all time
probably the most innapropriate movie iv'e ever seen this movie has over 300 f words and the drug use is so graphic and realistic i was sick. and some of the violence is extremly disturbing. there is a gay rape and off screen oral sex(we here her say give me oral pleasure he bends to her privates and she moans)and lots of other extremly graphic sexual comments. I still dont belive i saw this movie. but none the less the greatest movie of all time
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
Masterpeice, but be warned...
I am 12 years old right now. I first saw Pulp fiction when I was home alone at 12:30 (Babysitting)and it was awesome. Most of the bad stuff was censored, but some scenes nearly made my heart stop. I saw it on amc, and several days after I went to blockbuster and rented it. It is much worse content wise on DVD, but much better. If your kid begs you to watch it, look on TV guide and see if its on. Let them see it on television first. Based on how they liked it, decide if they are mature enough to handle the DVD version.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
great film
This is overall a great film for teens and up. although there are 2 parts that i found pretty disturbing. they were the nonexplicit male rape scene and the scene were the girl was bleeding and vomiting after snorting coke. even 11 or 12 and up would be ok if u fast forward those scenes.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
A Thrill Ride with a Little Bit of Everything
To start off, I know why this movie is rate R, but if I were to rate to movie, it would be PG-13. Many people talk about the constant profanity in this movie, but all the characters in this movie dropped the F-bomb in a very passive way that did not make me notice it. The one exception is Samuel L. Jackson, who of course has a special brand of cussing. However, most of the cuss words he uses are not said aggressively or in a vulgar way. The violence in this movie is nothing compared to what 12 year-olds have probably already seen on TV. The only iffy violence in this movie is a very brief glimpse of a man being raped. All of the drug use is shown in close up, but none of the drug use has an especially strong sense to it and the cooking of the drugs are not shown either. The R for some sexuality comes from a scene with Bruce Willis flashing his pubic hair briefly after implied sex, and a brief glimpse of a man being raped. The R reasons for this movie seems like there is a lot of adult content in this movie, but none of the so-called R scene have any graphic or strong detail. This is a very well-made movie for anyone 12 and up.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
One of The Greatest Films of all Time
This movie has excellent direction, superb acting, and an all but ingenious storyline. The film has got to be one of Tarantino's finest works, though Reservoir Dogs was great as well. The film, however, does use a lot, hold on A LOT!!! of cussing. The cussing may overshadow the rest of the film, sadly. Also, one scene that really sticks out and disturbs many people (including me) is the rape scene between Marcellus and Zed. One of the best films I have ever seen, though. Tarantino is a great director, and I hope to see many more films from this stellar director that're as groundbreaking as this one...
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
A Wonderful But Strong movie
After watching this movie for the first time I knew I was gonna be writing reviews about it. It is one of Tarantino's best movies but the language and the uses of the F-word are too much for young teens(the word F*** used 273 times) but besides the violence and language it is a brilliant movie.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
A masterpiece, this movie is weird, yet very,very entertaining. I love Quentin Tarantino movies. This, however, is one of his greatest works.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Tarantino classic
most Defiantly public enemy 1 against soccer moms but one of my favorite films ever. The direction is amazing and makes you get into the film instead of just watching it. But could be one of the most ockward moments of your life if you watch it with your family, well depending what type of family.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 75% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 50% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 50% | of parents say they notice product placement |
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