Heathers

Parents say
Based on 30 reviews
Kids say
Based on 176 reviews
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Heathers
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Heathers is a pitch-black comedy that teens will probably want to see, but it's better for those just exiting high school and up. This film goes to extremes portraying the cruelness of the popular crowd and the rebellion against it. The popular kids are murdered by poisoning and shooting and their suicide notes are forged. There are two more "real" attempted suicides, some self-mutilation, and bulimia. There's lots of gunplay by the main characters and one bloody scene. J.D. attempts to blow up the school and all its students with dynamite. Teens have sex (outdoors and at a college party) and speak crudely about it. Two boys are sexually aggressive. And there's plenty of harsh and homophobic language.
Community Reviews
I would never recommend for anyone ever
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Educated and mature pre teens (SPOILER ALERT)
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What's the Story?
The HEATHERS, three girls with the same name(Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, and Kim Walker), run things from the top of the social food chain at Westburg High. Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder), who feels left out of the popular crowd, meets a witty rebel who quickly steals her heart named J.D. (Christian Slater). J.D. supports her hatred of the Heathers and joins her in a vindictive practical joke on the top Heather. But the joke is for keeps when Heather drinks J.D.'s "hangover cure" made of deadly cleaning fluid. A shocked Veronica decides to help J.D. cover up the murder by making it look like suicide. A series of copycat suicides quickly envelops Westburg High. The phenomenon takes on a bizarre life of its own as the student body, faculty, and parents all react to the macabre events in their own clueless and dysfunctional way. Meanwhile, Veronica must admit to herself that J.D. is even more of a monster than the Heathers. Can she foil his plot to administer a student body-wide suicide pact?
Is It Any Good?
The odd and often uncomfortable world of teen peer pressure is no stranger to any of us, and this dark comedy zooms unhesitatingly into this pressure cooker. It dishes up some grotesque stereotypes, and tosses them into a cleverly campy scenario that threatens the lives of the entire student body of Westburg High.
Heathers is a well-acted movie with many memorable lines. It's become a classic of the teenage macabre genre, and with good reason. Older teens and adults will find that there's much dark delight to be found in its silly, biting twist on teen life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about popularity, suicide, depression, and any number of hot-button teen subjects. High school is a high-anxiety microcosm of what awaits teenagers post-graduation. How do you deal with pressure successfully? How do you learn to make positive decisions?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 31, 1989
- On DVD or streaming: September 25, 2001
- Cast: Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Winona Ryder
- Director: Michael Lehmann
- Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: adult themes
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love comedies
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