Parents' Guide to

Perfect High

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Teen addiction tale offers honest look at consequences.

TV Lifetime Drama 2015
Perfect High Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

NOT.like.A.regular.MOM
NOT.like.A.regular.MOM Adult
July 30, 2020
age 15+

Happens more than we know

So I definitely think you should let your teen watch it based on their maturity level.I have a son who is 13 and I can tell you he won’t be watching this anytime soon. My niece however is 15 and I’d allow her to watch it just because I think she could handle the grown up themes ,like having to deal with a friend dying from an overdose, showing how easy it is to become addicted to pain medication plus the dangers that come with heavy drug use and how quickly things can spiral out of control just in the blink of an eye and your life is headed on a destructive path. Sit with your teen for guidance but also to be there and answer any questions they may have. Lots of active drug use. A couple sensual intimate scenes no nudity but you get the point that Amanda and Carson are about to engage in sex. It’s never to late to seek help from your parents I liked how Amanda tells her mom at the end. I really liked how Amanda’s little brother knew something wasn’t right with her and he took a stand and told their mother about the drug use. Amanda’s Mom seemed to really care and get her the help she needed. It’s important to point out Carson and Riley’s home life was very lax in adult supervision ,Their Mom had abandoned the family when they were small children so Carson and Riley have issues from that also there was alcohol readily available in the home, their father was away on business most of the movie , so they were living like two adults partying it up with no supervision as all. I’m disappointed in Amanda’s childhood bestie and dance team mate not being able to tell something was wrong with her friend and also her dance team members and coach seem to be so oblivious about what’s going on with her , I find that hard to believe. I think Riley ,Carson and Nate we’re just bad influences on Amanda from day one , all Riley wanted to do was take Amanda’s pills and party with her and get high. If you ask me they weren’t very good “friends” at all and there are no positive role models in the movie. To wrap things up I really like this movie, Todays youth are getting addicted to heroin at record breaking numbers these days because of first getting addicted to pain medications , and when they can no longer get pain pills from their doctors they start stealing from people , friends , parents and ultimately end up using and becoming heroin addicts because it’s cheaper and more available to them in the streets.
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What's the Story?

PERFECT HIGH stars Bella Thorne as Amanda, a high school student and dancer who suffers a knee injury that sidelines her just as her team preps for a national competition. Desperate to get back on the dance floor and feeling increasingly left out by her team, she starts overusing prescription painkillers and falls in with new friends Riley (Daniella Bobadilla), Nate (Ross Butler), and Carson (Israel Broussard), who introduce her to "pharm" parties and encourage her escalating use. But when her prescription runs out, she gets desperate and starts using heroin their dealer disguises as a cheap prescription, which eventually has terrifying consequences for them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Perfect High is a no-nonsense drama that's brutally honest about the implications of drug use. Thorne delivers a sincere performance as Amanda, a high-achieving, all-around great teen whose world is turned upside down when she finds her spot on the dance team threatened because of an injury. From parents' standpoint, it's helpful that the story is told from this point of view, since it reminds teens (and adults) that there is no such thing as a "typical" user and that pressures of many different kinds can contribute to addiction.

This insightful movie won't win any awards (Thorne's performance really is the acting highlight), but its message is a vital one for teens and their parents. Watching together allows you to discuss not only the most drastic consequences of Amanda's use but also the more subtle ones -- how her relationships suffer, how it impairs her judgment, and how it changes her self-image, for example. This movie gives an honest portrayal of Amanda's ups as well as her downs, so be sure to emphasize how each high is followed by an increasingly devastating low as you talk about this issue with your teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this movie compares to what teens know of drug addiction. Is it something they have firsthand knowledge of? Is it a concern among their peers? Does Amanda's story change their impression of the "typical" drug user?

  • Teens: Can you relate to the pressures the characters feel that contribute to their substance dependence? Do you ever feel isolated or left out among your friends? How could a person's negative self-image lead them to drugs or alcohol?

  • Did Amanda's family miss the signs of her addiction? How do you keep the lines of communication open with your teens?

TV Details

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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.

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