Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Book-based drama for mature teens tackles tough subjects.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 27 parent reviews
Parents say that this movie addresses mature themes such as mental illness, abuse, and self-destructive behaviors, offering a realistic portrayal of teenage life while also providing a platform for discussion among older teens and parents. However, many reviews caution that the film's heavy topics, including substance abuse and sexual content, may not be suitable for younger viewers and could be distressing for sensitive children, suggesting that parental guidance is essential.
- mature themes
- realistic portrayal
- parental guidance
- discussion points
- age suitability
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 153 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a powerful coming-of-age story that captures many heavy topics relevant to teenagers, such as mental health, trauma, and relationships. While many viewers find it emotional and impactful, they caution that it contains mature themes and recommend it for older teens who can understand and discuss its complex subjects.
- emotional impact
- mature themes
- coming-of-age
- mental health
- viewer discretion
- discussion suggested
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Charlie (Logan Lerman) is starting high school, a momentous and fairly joyous occasion ... if not for the fact that his best friend killed himself months before, and Charlie himself is recovering from a breakdown of sorts. It's a scary situation, until he befriends Patrick (Ezra Miller), a charismatic, openly gay senior whose biggest heartache is that his closeted boyfriend refuses to acknowledge their relationship in public. Patrick's step-sister, Sam (Emma Watson), a sweet girl saddled with an unfair reputation, takes to Charlie, too -- and vice versa. Together they navigate the treacherous waters of high school with some success, until Charlie is forced to face his past again.
Is It Any Good?
Watch out for Logan Lerman. If his work in THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is any indication, he's that rare young actor who can carry the weight of complex emotions without reducing them to tics that are too often the actorly shorthand for teenage alienation. As Charlie, Lerman is fantastic and sympathetic -- key for a film of this make. We believe his diffidence, we understand his fear. The same can be said (to a slightly lesser extent) for both Watson, who's passionate and forceful as Sam in a way that she wasn't -- or couldn't be -- as Hermione Granger, and Miller, who has made a cottage industry out of playing vulnerable, eccentric characters (which is admirable, but it would be great to see what he could do playing a quieter role).
Author Stephen Chbosky directed this adaptation of his book, and the movie bears the imprint of his careful hands. But it feels strangely modern for a story set in the early 1990s (the cultural references say as much), and Charlie's stunning revelation in the end is hurried, and so doesn't stun as much as it should. The parents, too, feel like afterthoughts, confusing given the caliber of actors playing them (Dylan McDermott, for one). But on the whole, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a gem, and certainly not a wallflower to ignore.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie depicts teens. Are the characters and their decisions realistic? What about the consequences of those decisions?
How does the movie portray drinking and drug use? Are they glamorized? If you've read the book, how does the movie's take on these subjects compare?
How does the movie depict bullying? What should teens do if that happens to them? What should they do if they see it happening to someone else?
Parents, ask your teens about the sense of alienation that the movie suggests teenagers have. Are real teens this disaffected and disillusioned?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 21, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : February 12, 2013
- Cast : Emma Watson , Ezra Miller , Logan Lerman
- Director : Stephen Chbosky
- Inclusion Information : Non-Binary Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , School ( High School )
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mature thematic material, drug and alcohol use, sexual content including references, and a fight - all involving teens
- Last updated : April 16, 2026
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