A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
-
Positive Messages
very little
A key takeaway is to develop a strong sense of self esteem so you don't compromise in your relationships. Although Ana starts the movie insecure and upset, she ends it knowing what she does and doesn't want out of her romantic relationship with Christian.
-
Positive Role Models
very little
Ana's roommate encourages her to take things slow and "at her own pace" with Christian; Ana starts the movie as an insecure virgin but later discovers her own boundaries, desires, and limits when it comes to a sexual relationship.
-
Violence & Scariness
a little
Although their activities are consensual, Christian spanks and hits Ana, usually too lightly to be truly painful but still hard enough to leave a mark. In one scene, Christian hits Ana (with her consent) six times so hard that she cries and leaves, horrified and upset.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Like the book, the movie includes several explicit sex scenes with nearly full-frontal nudity (always breasts and buttocks, and occasionally shots of pubic hair, too). Most of the sex scenes (all of which show Christian opening a condom) involve the use of Christian's ties, eye masks, and other sex toys/bondage aides like whips, chains, handcuffs, ropes, and feathers. Christian and Anastasia walk in on her roommate having sex on a couch; she's wearing a negligee, and her partner's jeans are pushed down under his butt.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
a lot
Many uses of "f--k," both in the sexual sense and as a declaration; also "s--t," "a--hole," and more.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Products & Purchases
a lot
Featured brands (some very prominently) include Audi, Mercedes, LG, Apple iPhone, MacBook Pro, Volvo, and the Heathman Hotel.
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Lots of wine drinking throughout the movie (and incorporated into one sex scene). Ana gets drunk (having shots) at a club and "drunk dials" Christian.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Fifty Shades of Grey is the sexually explicit adaptation of the best-selling erotic novel by E.L. James (which began its life as Twilight fan fiction). It shouldn't surprise anyone who has read or heard about the popular book (and its sequels) that it's not at all appropriate for teens and features an unhealthy relationship between an inexperienced college graduate and a 27-year-old billionaire with a bondage/dominant-submissive (BDSM) fetish. The adults-only drama is filled with graphic sex scenes, most of which include close-up shots of naked breasts, buttocks, and even glimpses of genitalia (though they're all just shy of being completely "full frontal"). Although the sex scenes are consensual, many involve hitting and being tied up, and there's a potentially disturbing scene in which Christian "punishes" Anastasia, hurting her so much she weeps. The language is also strong, with words like "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole" used frequently, and there's frequent drinking and lots of brand/product placement. Note: This review is of the R-rated version of the film shown in theaters, not the unrated cut released on DVD; the latter contains additional mature content. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY the movie -- like the best-selling erotic novel it's based on -- is a simple story: Virginal college senior Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) must step in for her journalism major roommate, Kate, to interview 27-year-old billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), who's immediately taken with the soft-spoken brunette. After purposely bumping into her a couple more times, Christian reveals that he'd like Anastasia to sign a contract to engage in a dominant-submissive sexual relationship with him. But Anastasia, a virgin, has no idea what she's comfortable with until they start an intense sexual affair that makes both of them question everything they thought about relationships.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how sex is depicted in Fifty Shades of Grey. Is the central sexual relationship in the story a healthy one? Why, or why not? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Why do you think this book and movie are so popular? Is it an appropriate story for teens? The author began her tale as Twilight fan fiction; can you see any of Edward and Bella in these characters and their relationship?
Does the fact that the characters' relationship is consensual make everything they do together OK? What sets their activities apart from abuse/domestic violence?
Are any of the characters intended to be role models? Are they sympathetic? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 13, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: May 8, 2015
- Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eloise Mumford
- Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Female actors
- Studio: Focus Features
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 125 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong sexual content including dialogue, some unusual behavior and graphic nudity, and for language
- Last updated: April 22, 2024
Inclusion information powered by 
