What age is The Father appropriate for?

The Father is rated PG-13 and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 15+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film's deeply disturbing depictions of cognitive decline — including Anthony failing to recognise his daughter Anne, asking 'Who exactly am I?', and regressing to call for his dead mother in the final scene — make this emotionally unsuitable for younger viewers.

Does The Father have swearing or bad language?

The Father has Extreme language. Strong language used: 'fuck off' (x2), 'bitch' (x1)

Is The Father violent?

The Father has Moderate violence. Anthony verbally threatens carer Laura with physical violence, saying 'You'll have to take me on, physically' — no physical contact occurs and the threat is not carried out

Is The Father scary for children?

The Father has Extreme scary scenes. Anthony experiences severe memory loss and does not recognise his daughter Anne when she returns home with groceries, treating her as a stranger — this is one of the film's most disturbing sequences

Is The Father OK for Kids?

Name: The Father
Director: Florian Zeller
Genre: Drama
Released: 2020
Duration: 97 min
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots

Drama

15+

PG-13⭐ IMDb 8.2 / 102020 · 1h 37m

Florian Zeller● Script verified

Where to Watch

United States

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Rent

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Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay

🗡️Violence

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

Anthony verbally threatens carer Laura with physical violence, saying 'You'll have to take me on, physically' — no physical contact occurs and the threat is not carried out
Anthony becomes physically agitated and distressed in a separate scene, crying and requiring comfort from caregivers — this is more emotional than physically violent
No weapons are used at any point in the film
No characters are injured, and no characters die on screen
The overall tone of any threat or aggression stems from Anthony's confusion and fear rather than from malice — it reads as sad rather than frightening in a traditional sense

💬Language

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Strong language used: 'f**k off' (x2), 'b**ch' (x1)
Moderate language used: 'da**' (x1)
Mild language used: 'hell' (x1)
No slurs, c-words, or other extreme language detected in the extraction

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

Anthony experiences severe memory loss and does not recognise his daughter Anne when she returns home with groceries, treating her as a stranger — this is one of the film's most disturbing sequences
Anthony becomes deeply confused about his own identity and location, asking 'Who exactly am I?' — a psychologically unsettling moment that may distress older viewers let alone children
In the film's final scene, Anthony regresses emotionally, calling for his mother and expressing profound fear and confusion, saying 'I feel as if I'm losing all my leaves' — this is the film's most emotionally devastating moment
Anthony is repeatedly told that his daughter lives in Paris and will not be coming home — this information is delivered multiple times and each repetition underlines his isolation
There are no jump scares, monsters, or supernatural horror elements — all disturbing content is psychological and rooted in realistic depictions of dementia

💕Romance

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Anne briefly mentions she has met someone named James or Paul and plans to move to Paris with him — this is referenced in dialogue only and is not shown on screen
No kissing, physical intimacy, or sexual content of any kind is present
Romance is entirely incidental to the story and occupies almost no screen time

🍺Substances

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

Anthony is given daily medication in pill form, which he often resists or forgets to take — this is depicted as part of his care routine and is shown prominently and repeatedly
Characters drink whiskey and offer alcohol as a gesture of hospitality in casual social exchanges — not shown as problematic or excessive
Tea and coffee are consumed throughout the film as part of ordinary domestic scenes
No illegal drugs, addiction storylines, or glorification of substance use are present

⚡Stimulation

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Extended sequences depicting Anthony's confusion, memory loss, and disorientation are deliberately designed to unsettle the viewer — these scenes accumulate in emotional weight and may feel overwhelming, particularly for viewers with personal experience of dementia
Confrontational scenes between Anthony and Anne about his care and independence are tense and emotionally charged without resolution
Anthony's emotional breakdown when he cannot find his watch and accuses carer Angela of stealing it is an intense, distressing sequence
The film is not loud, fast-paced, or visually chaotic — stimulation here is entirely emotional and psychological rather than sensory, but it is sustained and heavy throughout
Not suitable for sensory-sensitive younger children, though the concern is emotional overwhelm rather than audiovisual intensity

Parents also checked

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Father — Heads Up for Parents

Despite the film's quiet, awards-drama exterior, the final scene — in which Anthony regresses completely, calls for his long-dead mother, and cries out that he feels like he is losing all his leaves — is profoundly distressing and may catch even adult viewers completely off guard in its emotional intensity.

About The Father

The Father is a deeply emotional drama following Anthony, an elderly man living with advancing dementia, as his daughter Anne tries to arrange care for him while he grows increasingly confused about who and where he is. The film is told from Anthony's disoriented perspective, making the audience experience his memory loss and confusion alongside him. It is a quiet, intimate, and emotionally devastating film with no action or fantasy elements.

⚠️

Watch with your child

The film's sustained psychological portrayal of dementia, including Anthony's breakdown in the final scene and his failure to recognise Anne, is too emotionally heavy for under-15s without a parent present to contextualise the themes of ageing, identity loss, and family caregiving.

Family Takeaways from The Father

What it gets right

✓The film portrays dementia from the inside — when Anthony does not recognise Anne after she returns with groceries, audiences viscerally understand how frightening and isolating the condition is, building genuine empathy
✓The caregiving burden is shown honestly — Anne's decision to move to Paris and the discussions with the doctor about a nursing home reflect the real, painful choices families face, without easy answers

The Father Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The entire film explores the sacred bond between father and daughter, with Anne's unwavering devotion and love for her father despite his deteriorating condition serving as the emotional and thematic core throughout.

Community Notes

Viewers who have a family member with dementia or Alzheimer's have flagged that the film can be retraumatising — particularly the scenes of Anthony not recognising Anne and his regression in the final scene

Cast:Anthony HopkinsOlivia ColmanMark GatissOlivia WilliamsImogen Poots