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Parents' Guide to

When Harry Met Sally

By Elisabeth Chaney, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Wit- and charm-filled romantic-comedy classic.

Movie R 1989 96 minutes
When Harry Met Sally Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Fall F.
Fall F. Parent of 11 and 15-year-old
November 5, 2023
age 16+

Decent flick, not for kids, there is a scene of domestic/dating violence. I wouldn't want my kids to see that and think it's OK.

Lots of talk about sex, infidelity, and casual sex. I was surprised to see CSM said there was no violence because there was a fairly graphic scene of dating violence. I suppose it doesn't count because it was from a woman directed at a man. What if the roles were reversed?
Rochya H.
Rochya H. Adult
January 3, 2021
age 13+

Good! Movie certainly not for kids.

Rated R might be a bit extreme BUT it's definitely not for kids. They talk about sex WAAAYYYY too much. But I watched the movie for the first time a few years after it came out and I was only twelve and had heard it ALL before. And thanks to the internet your kids have definitely heard this all by the time they are 14. And make sure you have a talk with your kids about sex. You DO NOT want your 16 year old to think it is okay to have sex.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) meet for the first time while sharing a ride from Chicago to New York City. Sally is an uptight, optimistic, and intelligent person, while Harry is a thoughtful, sex-crazed chauvinist. Over a period of 10 years, they bicker, become best friends, and eventually fall in love, answering the age-old question, "Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (13 ):

Producer Nora Ephron and director Rob Reiner make delightful, timeless romantic classics, and this is their best-known work. Many have tried, but none has succeeded in capturing the charm, wit, and chemistry between Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan shown onscreen in this classic romantic comedy. Every element of this film possesses strength, including the script (supposedly based on Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron's true-to-life on again/off again relationship).

Who can forget such memorable lines as, "Oh, but 'baby fish mouth' is sweeping the nation?" and of course Rob Reiner's mother's declaration of, "I'll have what she's having." This film has a timeless quality that transcends decades, meaning that teenagers may not automatically write it off as an "old movie." As relevant and entertaining today as it was in 1989 and probably still in 2039, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY is one movie not to be missed. Suitable for older teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendships and how people can change over time, premarital sex, and the role sex plays in adult relationships, both marriage and otherwise.

  • Is Harry correct in his theory that men and women can't be friends?

  • How realistic is the outcome of their relationship?

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