A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
-
Positive Messages
very little
Complex, tough messages. Tracy's downward spiral is clearly dangerous and painful -- but as a cautionary tale about the dark side of peer pressure, it's harshly compelling. The young characters participate in every kind of iffy activity you can think of -- recreational sex, stealing, lying -- but the consequences of their poor choices are unflinchingly clear. Tracy and her mother have a difficult relationship, and her mom doesn't always make the best parenting decisions, but she clearly loves her daughter very much.
-
Positive Role Models
very little
No parent would want their tween or teen following in Tracy and Evie's footsteps. Their list of dangerous behavior is a mile long, and their attitude is terrible. Still, it's clear that Tracy is hurting and vulnerable underneath her brash facade, which makes her an empathetic character. Single mom Melanie is a recovering alcoholic who's often at her wits' end about how to deal with her daughter, but she never stops loving her.
-
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Self-destructive, high-risk behavior. We fear for the consequences on these kids. Tense family scenes, peril.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
There's graphic sex and nudity with thirteen- year-olds.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Language
a lot
See AlsoThe evolution of movie ratingsExtremely strong language throughout.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Teen drug use, drinking, smoking, adults in AA.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this movie's R rating comes from frank and explicit -- but thoughtful -- treatment of the subject matter -- how peer pressure can lure kids away from their moorings and their families. Characters constantly use very strong language. Teenagers engage in every possible self-destructive behavior -- they smoke, take drugs, steal, lie, and pierce their tongues and belly buttons. They have sex that is so casual it is almost anonymous. There is also adult substance abuse and every one acts out. There are very tense family confrontations. This is a good example of how the MPAA rating system fails, because there are stupid comedies that deal with the same issues as this movie that are rated PG-13. This movie --if your teen can handle very mature subject matter -- deals more intelligently and forthrightly with the consequences of the behavior it depicts than some PG-13 offerings. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
They say that the two worst years of a woman's life are the year she is 13 and the year her daughter is. We get to experience both at once in THIRTEEN, about 7th grader Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), who's catapulted into self-destructive behavior because she wants so badly to be accepted, to be cool, and to numb some of the pain of growing up. Tracy lives with her brother Mason (Brady Corbet) and their mother, Mel (Holly Hunter), a loving but damaged recovering alcoholic who does her best to support the family. On the first day of 7th grade, there are always a couple of kids who really hit the puberty jackpot over the summer. Just as the rest are at their most clumsy, insecure, and vulnerable, those impossibly sure and golden kids appear to have arrived at the destination while everyone else is still trying to find the map. For Tracy, it is Evie (co-screenwriter Nikki Reed), who seems to have everything she desires. So when Evie introduces her to drugs (taking them and selling them), shoplifting, body-piercing, lying, and sex, it seems a small price to pay for feeling accepted or, to use a word that is only used about teenagers or celebrities, "popular."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how easy it was for Tracy to slip away from everything she had learned. Why was Evie's friendship so important to her? Why was Tracy important to Evie?
Why was it so hard for Mel to say "no" to anyone?
If you decide to watch this movie with your teen, be prepared for frank discussions afterward.
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 21, 2003
- On DVD or streaming: January 26, 2004
- Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Holly Hunter, Nikki Reed
- Director: Catherine Hardwicke
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Bisexual actors, Female actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: drug use, self-destructive violence, language and sexuality
- Last updated: February 3, 2023
Inclusion information powered by 
As an expert in film analysis and content evaluation, I bring a wealth of knowledge in dissecting the various elements that contribute to a movie's impact on its audience. My expertise extends to understanding the nuances of narrative construction, character development, thematic exploration, and the portrayal of sensitive topics in cinema.
Now, delving into the content you've provided regarding the movie "Thirteen," it's evident that the film tackles a range of mature and complex themes. The following is a breakdown of the concepts discussed in the article:
-
Positive Messages:
- The movie contains very little positive messaging.
- Tracy's downward spiral serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of peer pressure.
-
Positive Role Models:
- The film features very few positive role models.
- Tracy and Evie engage in dangerous behavior, but Tracy's vulnerability makes her an empathetic character.
- Tracy's single mother, Melanie, is a recovering alcoholic facing challenges in parenting but consistently loves her daughter.
-
Violence & Scariness:
- The movie includes a significant amount of self-destructive, high-risk behavior.
- Tense family scenes and moments of peril contribute to the overall sense of fear for the characters' consequences.
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity:
- There is a substantial amount of graphic sex and nudity involving thirteen-year-olds.
- The portrayal of casual and almost anonymous sex among teenagers is highlighted.
-
Language:
- The movie features extremely strong language throughout, contributing to its R rating.
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking:
- Teen drug use, drinking, and smoking are prevalent themes.
- The storyline involves adults participating in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
-
Parents Need to Know:
- The article emphasizes that the R rating is due to the explicit treatment of the subject matter, particularly peer pressure leading kids astray.
- The film intelligently and forthrightly addresses the consequences of the depicted behaviors.
-
What's the Story?:
- The movie revolves around 7th grader Tracy's descent into self-destructive behavior driven by a desire for acceptance and popularity.
- The character of Evie introduces Tracy to drugs, shoplifting, body-piercing, lying, and sex.
-
Talk to Your Kids About...:
- Parents are encouraged to discuss the ease with which Tracy succumbed to negative influences and the importance of friendships.
- Questions are posed about the significance of Tracy to Evie and the challenges faced by Tracy's mother in setting boundaries.
-
Movie Details:
- "Thirteen" was released in theaters on August 21, 2003, and on DVD or streaming on January 26, 2004.
- Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the cast includes Evan Rachel Wood, Holly Hunter, and Nikki Reed.
- The film falls under the drama genre, has a run time of 100 minutes, and holds an R rating for drug use, self-destructive violence, language, and sexuality.
In conclusion, the movie "Thirteen" explores intense and mature subject matter, addressing the challenges faced by teenagers and the consequences of their choices, while also delving into complex family dynamics. The detailed breakdown provides a comprehensive understanding of the film's themes and content.
