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All Quiet on the Western Front poster

Is All Quiet on the Western Front OK for Kids?

WarDrama
17+
R⭐ 7.8 / 102022 · 2h 27m
Edward Berger

Where to Watch

United States

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What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
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We're re-reading this screenplay with our upgraded analysis. Scene-by-scene moment counts aren't available for All Quiet on the Western Front yet — the summaries below are from our earlier read-through. Check back soon.

🗡️Violence
Extreme▼
  • Soldiers are repeatedly stabbed, shot, blown up, and burned alive with graphic blood spurts and wounds
  • A soldier commits suicide by stabbing himself in the neck with a fork, shown in detail
  • Bodies are crushed under tanks, limbs are amputated on screen, and corpses with exposed bones and organs are shown
  • Hand-to-hand combat scenes are described as feeling more like murder than warfare
💬Language
Mild▼
  • Contains 1 f-word and 2 sexual expletives according to content guides
  • 9 scatological terms and various mild profanities including b**tard and d**n
  • Religious exclamations including 'my God' and 'for Christ's sake' used 13 times
👻Scary Scenes
Extreme▼
  • Constant artillery bombardments with soldiers trapped in collapsing bunkers create intense terror
  • Gas attack scenes where soldiers panic and struggle to put on masks
  • Described as 'an assault on the senses' that made some viewers feel sick and want to leave theaters
  • The relentless 2.5-hour depiction of war horrors creates sustained psychological distress
💕Romance
Very Mild▼
  • Brief mention of a woman's breasts in dialogue
  • Soldiers pass around a pair of women's underwear
  • Minor sexual references between characters but no visual romantic content
🍺Substances
Mild▼
  • Adult soldiers smoke cigarettes in several scenes
  • Wine is consumed during meals and liquor is drunk in celebration
  • Alcohol use is contextual to wartime conditions and not glorified
⚡Stimulation
Extreme▼
  • Relentless pounding soundtrack with minimalist staccato beats that intensify battle sequences
  • Sudden explosions and artillery fire create jarring sensory spikes throughout
  • Battle scenes are shot at eye level from within trenches, creating overwhelming immersion
  • The editing pace during combat is described as chaotic and overwhelming
All Quiet on the Western Front — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being rated R, the violence is more graphic and psychologically disturbing than many other war films, with some viewers reporting they felt sick or wanted to leave theaters.

About All Quiet on the Western Front

17-year-old Paul Baumer and his friends enthusiastically enlist in the German army during World War I, expecting glory and adventure. Instead, they face the brutal realities of trench warfare on the Western Front, where they witness horrific violence, watch friends die, and struggle to survive until the armistice.

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Watch with your child
The extreme graphic violence and sustained psychological intensity require adult guidance to process the anti-war themes constructively.

Family Takeaways from All Quiet on the Western Front

What it gets right

  • ✓Powerfully demonstrates the futility and horror of war without glorifying violence
  • ✓Shows strong bonds of friendship and soldiers looking out for each other under extreme circumstances
  • ✓Accurately depicts how propaganda can mislead young people about the reality of war

All Quiet on the Western Front Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion
●Christian themes

Paul's grandmother reads from the Bible and prays with him before he leaves for war. The film depicts faith as a source of comfort and meaning amid the horrors of WWI.

Community Notes

  • Some critics have noted this version focuses more on spectacle than the novel's psychological themes
  • German audiences have generally praised its faithful depiction of the source material's anti-war message
Cast:Felix KammererAlbrecht SchuchAaron HilmerMoritz KlausAdrian Grünewald

Is All Quiet on the Western Front Appropriate for Your Child's Age?

✗Age 5: Not recommended for 5-year-olds
✗Age 8: Not recommended for 8-year-olds
✗Age 10: Not recommended for 10-year-olds
✗Age 12: Not recommended for 12-year-olds
✗Age 13: Not recommended for 13-year-olds
✗Age 15: Not recommended for 15-year-olds
✓Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary — use your judgment.

Parents also ask about All Quiet on the Western Front

  • Is All Quiet on the Western Front appropriate for a 17-year-old?
  • Does All Quiet on the Western Front have violence?
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