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Parents' Guide to

Moulin Rouge

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Dazzling musical romance has innuendo, mature themes.

Movie PG-13 2001 127 minutes
Moulin Rouge Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 14+

Based on 14 parent reviews

auroreia
auroreia Adult
May 29, 2022
age 15+

No straight up sex. SO MUCH sexuality though.

No argument, this is a good movie. For kids? Well, just keep in mind that one of the main characters is a prostitute, that it takes place in a brothel, and that the entire theme of the movie is having sex for vice, for money or for love. Does love win? Sure does. Are there a ton of allusions and euphemisms about sex for money, sex in general and a near rape scene when the duke finds out his money hasn’t bought the sex he wanted? Yup. They skated by with a PG-13 because they never have true nudity or a full on sex scene, only pre and post. Only you can say if your teen is mature enough for a movie about a woman who sells her body to boozed up rich men, then falls in love and is torn over still selling her body or not... with a delightful script and score, of course. But really, go into it knowing what to expect. Much like the men going into the Moulin Rouge knew what to expect. The clap.

This title has:

Too much sex
3 people found this helpful.
lily1996lo0301
lily1996lo0301 Adult
September 4, 2022
age 15+

Too sexual for my 60+ year old mom, but still fun

If I had known how much implied sex and strong innuendos were in this movie, I wouldn’t have watched it with my 60+ year old conservative, religious mother. She was pretty upset about a lot of what she saw on the screen. I have a few friends who loved the movie and were allowed to watch it as teens, though. If you are ok with sexuality on the screen, you’ll probably enjoy this movie a lot. If you’re deciding whether to watch the 2001 Moulin Rouge! movie with a teen or sensitive adult, consider that this movie is mostly about a prostitute deciding whether to use sex for love or for money. The movie doesn’t shy away from anything sex-related except actual intercourse. There are several long, highly suggestive scenes involving seduction, sexual moaning, etc., even though there’s no complete nudity. It might not be graphic, but it’s as sexual as it can be without being R-rated. There’s even a scene with an almost-rape. I would not recommend this movie for children, less mature teens, or adults who are more sensitive about sex-related matters. Those who are less sensitive about sex will enjoy all the pop song mashups, humor, and general circus-y bordel vibe, though, especially if you’re familiar with music from past decades! They brought together Madonna, U2, Bowie, The Police, and so much more music in unexpected ways.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 14 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set in late-1800s Paris, MOULIN ROUGE begins in a garret, where a visibly heartbroken poet, Christian (Ewan McGregor), sits at his typewriter, pecking out what is essentially the film's premise: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. Rewind to the past, when Christian believed in love but had never been in love. Wide-eyed and full of hope, he's recruited by a group of bohemians led by the artist Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo) to write a spectacular show for the Moulin Rouge. But first he must persuade Satine (Nicole Kidman), the Moulin Rouge's hot-blooded, cool-eyed courtesan, to agree. Eventually, they fall in love. But Satine's mission is to seduce a rich duke (Richard Roxburgh) so he can finance the Moulin Rouge. If he finds out she loves another, their entire enterprise is doomed. Worse, Satine is suffering from mysterious blackouts.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (14 ):
Kids say (33 ):

MOULIN ROUGE is that kind of movie that divides viewers into two distinct camps: Those who love it and those who don't. It almost doesn't matter, however. Because no matter how moving or maddening it may be, depending on which side of the argument you're on, this refreshingly modern musical is memorable and fascinating.

In the hands of another director, the story would have probably marched on in a fairly typical fashion. But this is Baz Luhrmann territory, which means kinetic camerawork, quick cuts, color-saturated tableaus, and lots and lots of music. In places, it overwhelms the senses and seems overdone. But the chemistry between MacGregor and Kidman is unmistakable and their voices not half-bad. In the end, all this pageantry and ballad-belting enthusiasm pays off. Though it may not be everyone's cup of tea, Moulin Rouge is creative, daring, and original.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Satine enjoys her job as a courtesan (or if she actually does). Can anyone really be happy pursuing fame using one's physical charms? What attracts her to Christian and vice versa? Why is Hollywood enamored of opposites-attract themes? Are Satine and Christian truly destined for each other?

  • What were some of the ways in which the movie went beyond its 1899 setting, especially in terms of music?

  • How does this movie exemplify the idea of "entertainment for entertainment's sake"? What are the many ways in which this movie seeks to provide escape from reality rather than an attempt to imitate or depict reality?

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