Velvet Goldmine

A gun is fired at a concert, shooting a character in the chest. They fall back with blood on their clothes. Examples of homophobia throughout, including name-calling and physical bullying. A kid is given electroshock therapy -- not shown on camera. Concertgoers throw bottles at the stage.

LGBTQ+ relationships are portrayed, celebrated. Several scenes with characters kissing, fully clothed. Character shown giving oral sex to someone, who then blows a kiss to a kid who sees them. Character lying face down on a bed with bottom showing and someone standing behind them. Character talks about "the skin between my vagina and my anus." A rock star is naked from the waist up, puts a hand down their pants, simulates masturbating as part of stage show. They then pull down their pants and dance manically, displaying genitals and backside. One brief sex scene featuring blow-up dolls is speeded up and stylized as part of a music video. One graphic but out-of-focus sex scene shows some nudity. Group sex scenes show naked bodies, people writhing together but no explicit sex. Character simulates oral sex against a guitar while on stage. Character shown masturbating; no graphic details. A couple seen cuddling in bed, naked. Tender sex scene shot from a distance. Older character places a hand on a younger character's thigh in an inappropriate and unwanted way.

Casual use of curse words and insults including "f--k," "f--ker," "f--king," "s--t," "bloody hell," "you must be mental," "piss off," "Mistress Boner," "slut," "scrubber," and "bitching." "Jesus" also used as an exclamation. Frequent demeaning language and British homophobic slurs including "ponced up," "bleeding woofters," "pansy," "shirt lifter," and "f--king poof." Behavior of gay characters is referred to as "shameful" and "filthy."

Casual smoking throughout. Several scenes with characters drinking alcohol. One character is shown inebriated, the implication being that they are on drugs. They later talk about being on heroin and methadone. Large pile of white powder on a table with someone scooping some up with a razor blade. Character seen snorting white powder from someone's naked buttocks. Next to them is a large pile of powder.

Parents need to know that Velvet Goldmine is an intense musical drama as flamboyant as it is moving, with plenty of mature content, including full-frontal nudity, sex, strong language, and drug use. Largely set in the glam rock era of the 1970s, it celebrates gender fluidity and sexual expression. Several LGBTQ+ characters, including fictional glam rock stars Curt Wild (Ewan McGregor) and Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), are portrayed as self-confident, courageous, and fun-loving. Though there are scenes of bigotry and homophobia throughout, key themes include the value of inclusion and the joy of being yourself, even if you feel different. There is plenty of strong language, with regular use of "f--k" and a lot of offensive -- often homophobic -- name-calling. Sex and nudity are also prominent, with a number of sex scenes including group sex and Wild on stage dancing with his pants down, flaunting his genitals. Characters smoke and drink, with some scenes featuring drug references and cocaine use.

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