Parents' Guide to

Ted

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Extremely vulgar comedy also has some genuine sweetness.

Movie R 2012 106 minutes
Ted Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 45 parent reviews

Em8lBro
Em8lBro Parent of 2, 3 and 4-year-old
May 31, 2022
age 12+

It is a very funny movie

This is a very nice and funny movie, everyone above the 11 should watch it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
6 people found this helpful.
Nbull
Nbull Parent of 11 and 12-year-old
March 23, 2022
age 11+
Very good - some people think it is for older kids but it is really fun and a bit sweet. A small amount of bad langage

This title has:

Great role models
4 people found this helpful.
See all 45 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As a child, John Bennett makes a Christmas wish for his new teddy bear to talk and be his best friend forever -- and it comes true. Many years later, John (Mark Wahlberg) is now 35, and though they're still best friends, the bear, Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) has become a bad influence; together, John and Ted spend their time sitting on the couch, making jokes, watching movies, and smoking pot. John's girlfriend, Lori (Mila Kunis), likes Ted and loves John but would really like him to grow up. Unfortunately, John makes one mistake too many, just as a crazed collector (Giovanni Ribisi) kidnaps Ted. Can John get his friend back and straighten out his life?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (45):
Kids say (190):

Usually, Seth MacFarlane's type of humor -- pop-culture references mixed with vulgar shock humor -- will instantly kill a movie, but not so with TED. MacFarlane has done what There's Something About Mary did: He has made an over-the-top comedy with genuine heart. As ridiculous and as silly as Ted's three characters are, they actually care for one another, and their bond comes through.

Moreover, rather than just telling a story about a vulgar character getting a neurotic one to "loosen up," Ted celebrates the notion of becoming a responsible adult. And while so many movies are about dumping the "wrong girl" before she ruins the hero's life, in this one, John learns to communicate with -- and tries to deserve -- the girl he already loves. As for the humor, though it's frequently shocking and offensive, it's rarely hateful or angry. The characters mostly make fun of themselves. Fortunately, much of that humor is hilarious, and the movie's unexpected warmth makes up the rest.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Ted depicts drug and alcohol use. Why do John and Ted smoke and drink so much? What are the real-life consequences of substance use/abuse? Are those consequences clear in the movie?

  • What does it mean to be a grown up? How do the characters show that they're moving from being children to becoming responsible adults? Is it hard to take that step -- to "throw away childish things" and become adults?

  • Does this movie reinforce stereotypes, or does it make fun of them?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate