Parents' Guide to

The Fault in Our Stars

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Heartbreaking love story is a must-see for fans of the book.

Movie PG-13 2014 125 minutes
The Fault in Our Stars Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 38 parent reviews

age 17+

Way overrated

Really over rated and parents should know that a primary plot line is about teens having sex before they die. Over all it is a really depressing view of life and definitely not the moral foundation or life outlook I want my kids to be exposed to until they are adults.
4 people found this helpful.
age 16+

okayish

the sexual images are not for young eyes, the violence might give nightmares but other than that it is really good.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
2 people found this helpful.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (38):
Kids say (235):

While The Fault in Our Stars isn't a word-for-word translation (nor should it be), it's an adaptation that does Green, Hazel, and Augustus justice. Anyone who's ever loved a book knows the hesitance and wariness that mingle with excitement when a beloved novel is turned into a big-screen production. There's a sense of panic that the director, screenwriter, and cast won't capture everything you love about the words and characters the author created. But fans of the book needn't worry. Woodley, a Golden Globe nominee and veteran of YA adaptations (Divergent, The Spectacular Now), delivers a gentle, wickedly smart Hazel, who feels like a grenade about to go off but eventually realizes that she does deserve to be loved by Gus, even if their future is uncertain.

But as lovely as Woodley is as Hazel, the movie belongs to newcomer Elgort (who co-starred as Woodley's brother in Divergent), who has the tough job of being solicitous, sexy, smart, and sensitive all at the same time. He manages to pull it off beautifully, never letting the character spin out of control or seem false. The supporting characters also deliver laudable performances: Wolff as Gus' blind best friend, and Dern and Trammell as one of the most loving set of parents ever depicted on page or screen. Viewers will experience the wonder of falling in love but also the pain of knowing that someone you adore is dying. Still, to quote Hazel's favorite book, "pain demands to be felt." And feel it you will, which is more than okay.

Movie Details

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