What age is Respect appropriate for?

Respect is rated PG-13 and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 15+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film depicts repeated domestic violence including Ted White hitting Aretha multiple times (including in a hotel lobby) and grabbing/restraining her during an argument, uses strong language including the racial slur 'nigger/nigga' (18 uses) and 'shit' (12 uses), and includes a disturbing scene of an adult man approaching young Aretha at a church event with predatory intent.

Does Respect have swearing or bad language?

Respect has Strong language. The racial slur 'nigger/nigga' is used 18 times

Respect has Moderate violence. Clarence (Aretha's father) physically beats Ted White in front of family, with both men grappling and fighting

Is Respect scary for children?

Respect has Moderate scary scenes. A disturbing scene shows an adult man approaching young Aretha at a church event asking to be her boyfriend, depicted as predatory

Is Respect OK for Kids?

Name: Respect
Director: Liesl Tommy
Genre: Drama, Music, History
Released: 2021
Duration: 145 min
Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Mary J. Blige

DramaMusicHistory

15+

PG-13⭐ 6.6 / 102021 · 2h 25m

Liesl Tommy

Where to Watch

United States

Rent

Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Clarence (Aretha's father) physically beats Ted White in front of family, with both men grappling and fighting
Ted White hits Aretha multiple times throughout their relationship, including striking her in a hotel lobby
Ted grabs and physically restrains Aretha during a heated argument
Clarence threatens to kill Ted during a confrontation over the relationship
News coverage references the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., shown as a shock to Aretha and the country
Aretha collapses on stage during a performance of 'I Say a Little Prayer,' though this is from physical/emotional strain rather than violence
Overall tone: violence centers on domestic abuse depicted as harmful and traumatic, not glorified or played for entertainment

💬Language

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

The racial slur 'nigger/nigga' is used 18 times
'Da**' is used 22 times, 's**t' 12 times, 'b**ch' 8 times, and 'cracker' 6 times
Moderate language includes 'hell' (14 times), 'a**' (11 times), 'wh**e/whoring' (3 times), and 'b**tard' (2 times)
No f-words or c-words detected in the extraction
Strong language, including a racial slur used repeatedly, makes this unsuitable for younger children

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

A disturbing scene shows an adult man approaching young Aretha at a church event asking to be her boyfriend, depicted as predatory
Aretha's mother Barbara dies suddenly of a heart attack, delivered as a shocking announcement to her children
A tense, violent confrontation occurs when Aretha's father forbids her from seeing Ted White
The pattern of Ted White's abuse becomes disturbingly apparent through repeated physical violence and control over Aretha
News of MLK's assassination is a scary, emotional moment as Aretha learns her friend and mentor has been shot
Aretha's mental health crisis is intensely depicted, showing her locked in a room and refusing to function until her family intervenes
These moments are resolved through family intervention, spiritual healing, and reconciliation by the film's end

💕Romance

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Smokey Robinson asks to take Aretha out and she agrees enthusiastically, an innocent crush moment
Aretha and Ted White share kisses and intimate moments early in their relationship
Ted tells Aretha 'you can wring me dry' and suggests she use him for her body, sexual innuendo
Aretha sings intimately to Ted alone at night in a suggestive performance
The film references Aretha having two children with unknown fathers, implying past sexual relationships without depicting them
Dinah Washington discusses Ray Charles having 'best sex' on the gospel circuit, an explicit sexual reference in dialogue

🍺Substances

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

A woman at a party casually drinks iced tea with bourbon
Aretha's father is shown drinking alcohol, referenced multiple times throughout the film
During Aretha's struggling period, she is shown drinking heavily, stating 'all I wanna do is drink now,' with bottles visible
A brief mention/reference to marijuana/cannabis culture in the 1960s context is included
Alcohol use is shown negatively, tied to Aretha's father's flaws and Aretha's personal low point rather than glorified

⚡Stimulation

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Young Aretha's first public performance at a family gathering is an energetic, exciting bebop number
The recording and performance of 'Respect' is a high-energy gospel-soul fusion sequence
Multiple concert scenes feature large, cheering crowds with intense audience energy
Civil rights march sequences and MLK speeches are inspirational and high-energy
Physical altercations between Aretha and Ted White are depicted as overwhelming, intense domestic violence scenes
Gospel recording sessions are emotionally powerful and intense in their spiritual performance style
Sensory-sensitive children may find the domestic violence and mental health crisis scenes overwhelming rather than just the musical sequences

Respect — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a musical biopic, parents should be aware the film contains a genuinely disturbing scene where an adult man approaches young Aretha at a church event asking to be her boyfriend, signaling predatory behavior toward a child that may be unexpected given the film's musical drama framing.

About Respect

Respect is a biographical drama tracing Aretha Franklin's journey from a gifted child singing in her father's church to becoming the 'Queen of Soul,' chronicling her rise through the music industry, an abusive marriage, the Civil Rights era, and her eventual return to gospel roots. The tone blends inspirational musical triumph with heavy, often painful depictions of domestic abuse, grief, and personal struggle.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

The extensive and repeated domestic violence between Ted White and Aretha, combined with strong language including a racial slur used 18 times and a disturbing scene of predatory behavior toward a child, means teens 15+ will benefit from a parent present to provide context and discuss healthy versus abusive relationships.

Family Takeaways from Respect

What it gets right

✓The film honestly depicts the pattern and impact of domestic abuse through Ted White's repeated violence toward Aretha rather than minimizing it
✓It shows a real path to healing, with Aretha's return to gospel music and reconciliation with her father as a redemptive conclusion

Respect Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The entire film centers on Aretha Franklin's relationship with her father C.L. Franklin and how family shaped her identity and career. The story emphasizes respect for family legacy and the foundational role of family support in personal success.

Cast:Jennifer HudsonForest WhitakerMarlon WayansAudra McDonaldMary J. Blige