🍿 PopcornCheck
Ford v Ferrari poster

Is Ford v Ferrari OK for Kids?

DramaHistoryAction
12+
PG-13⭐ 8.1 / 102019 · 2h 33m
James Mangold

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

fuboTVYouTube TVFXNow

Rent

Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At Home
Rent or Buy on Amazon

Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
πŸ—‘οΈViolence
Moderateβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
0
Cartoon / Comedic
6
Action & Peril
2
Injuries & Death Shown
0
Graphic & Disturbing
  • Ken Miles crashes during a race at Willow Springs and his car is disqualified β€” the crash is shown as part of competitive racing action with no graphic injury
  • Multiple racing collisions and near-misses occur throughout Daytona and Le Mans race sequences, with cars leaving the track and contact between vehicles shown repeatedly
  • Ken Miles suffers a brake failure during car testing and nearly catches fire β€” the scene is tense and dangerous, depicting real professional risk
  • Ken and Carroll Shelby engage in a brief physical wrestling/fighting altercation β€” played more as a release of tension between friends than a serious fight
  • Mollie drives recklessly at dangerous high speed while arguing with Ken, putting both characters in genuine danger on public roads
  • Lewis Evans' death in a fire during the Moroccan Grand Prix is referenced in dialogue β€” not shown on screen but discussed in the context of driver safety and flameproof suits
  • The Le Mans 24-hour race features multiple on-track collisions and cars leaving the track in intense sequences; violence is racing-related throughout and never gratuitous
πŸ’¬Language
Extremeβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
23
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
35
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
13
Strong
(sh*t)
1
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Strong language includes: da**/godda** (Γ—15), s**t (Γ—12), b**tard (Γ—6), a**/arse (Γ—7), hell (Γ—8), pr**k (Γ—1), whores (Γ—1)
  • Moderate language includes: bloody (Γ—22, reflecting Ken Miles' British dialect), arsehole (Γ—3), pillock (Γ—1)
  • A racial slur β€” 'wop' (Γ—1) β€” is used in dialogue, likely as a period-set derogatory reference to Italians/Ferrari
  • No f-words or c-words detected in the extraction
  • Language is heaviest during racing sequences and confrontational scenes between Ken, Shelby, and Ford executives
πŸ‘»Scary Scenes
Moderateβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
4
Mildly Tense
1
Startling Moments
1
Genuinely Scary
0
Deeply Disturbing
  • Ken Miles' brake failure during car testing nearly results in a fire β€” a genuinely tense scene showing the life-threatening reality of racing
  • The discussion of flameproof suits alongside a reference to driver Lewis Evans burning to death in the Moroccan Grand Prix may disturb sensitive viewers
  • Mollie driving recklessly at dangerous speeds while having an argument with Ken is one of the most intense scenes in the film β€” two characters in real danger on a public road
  • Henry Ford II is taken on a terrifying high-speed test drive in the GT-40 and appears genuinely frightened β€” this scene is more startling and darkly comic than deeply scary
  • Ken pushing the car to extreme limits late in Le Mans with failing brakes creates sustained tension across a prolonged sequence
  • Multiple racing crashes and near-misses during the Le Mans 24-hour race, including night-time sections, maintain a persistent level of tense peril throughout
πŸ’•Romance
Moderateβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
0
Crushes & Holding Hands
1
Kissing & Dating
1
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Ken and Mollie are a married couple whose relationship is depicted with marital strain and emotional disconnection due to Ken's obsession with racing
  • There is a suggestive moment where Mollie confronts Ken about his whereabouts, implying concerns about infidelity β€” this is not confirmed or developed further
  • No sexual content, nudity, or on-screen kissing of note β€” romance is limited to the context of a strained but loving marriage
🍺Substances
Mildβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
1
Mentioned in Passing
2
Shown Casually
0
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • Ken Miles is shown taking heart medication pills regularly due to a cardiac condition β€” presented as a medical necessity and a source of personal vulnerability
  • Alcohol is referenced casually in social settings β€” Mollie offers Ken a drink and references to drinking scotch appear at various points
  • Carroll Shelby declines alcohol in at least one scene ('No, please, Mollie') β€” alcohol is not glorified and no character is shown drunk or abusing substances
⚑Stimulation
Extremeβ–Ό
Moments in the script, mildest β†’ most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
2
Intense
2
Overwhelming
  • The film contains prolonged high-speed racing sequences with detailed technical driving, engine roar, and rapid cutting β€” not suitable for sensory-sensitive younger children
  • The Daytona 24-hour race is an overwhelming sequence with continuous action, multiple pit stops, dramatic overtakes, and competitive drama sustained over a long stretch of the film
  • The Le Mans 24-hour race spanning day and night with rain, multiple crashes, record-breaking lap speeds, extreme driver fatigue, and a controversial ending is the most stimulating sequence in the film β€” likely too intense for children under 10
  • Henry Ford II's high-speed test drive in the GT-40 is an exciting and intense standalone sequence that showcases the car's visceral speed
  • Outside race sequences the film has a slower, dialogue-driven pace β€” stimulation is not sustained throughout but arrives in powerful bursts
Ford v Ferrari β€” Heads Up for Parents

Despite being marketed as an uplifting racing film, the ending is genuinely bittersweet and may catch families off guard β€” Ken Miles, having driven a near-perfect race and broken the lap record multiple times at Le Mans, is controversially denied the win by a Ford corporate decision that gives first place to a car that started further back, and his reaction β€” stepping out of the car alone on the track β€” is one of the film's most quietly devastating moments.

About Ford v Ferrari

Ford v Ferrari is a true story about American car designer Carroll Shelby and British racing driver Ken Miles, who are recruited by Ford Motor Company to build a revolutionary race car capable of beating Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans 24-hour race. The film blends high-octane racing sequences with a story about friendship, corporate politics, and the pursuit of perfection. It is an emotionally gripping drama with a bittersweet ending rooted in real events.

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘§
Best watched together
The racial slur, sustained strong language, Mollie's dangerous reckless driving sequence, and the morally complex ending where Ken is denied his victory through corporate manipulation are all worth a parent being present to contextualise for viewers under 14.

Family Takeaways from Ford v Ferrari

What it gets right

  • βœ“The father-son relationship between Ken and Peter is genuinely tender β€” Ken's track-side teaching scene and his Le Mans farewell show a father who makes time for his child despite extraordinary professional pressure
  • βœ“The film portrays the tension between individual excellence and institutional conformity with nuance β€” Ken is brilliant but difficult, and the film respects both his genius and the cost it carries for those around him

Ford v Ferrari Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes
●Traditional family values

Ken Miles' dedication to his family and the strain racing puts on his marriage with Mollie are central emotional threads. The film consistently shows the importance of family support and sacrifice, with Mollie's unwavering love being crucial to Ken's journey.

Community Notes

  • The use of the slur 'wop' (Γ—1) as a derogatory reference to Italians/Ferrari may be offensive to Italian-American viewers, even if intended as period-authentic dialogue
Cast:Matt DamonChristian BaleJon BernthalCaitrΓ­ona BalfeJosh Lucas

Is Ford v Ferrari Appropriate for Your Child's Age?

βœ—Age 5: Not recommended for 5-year-olds
βœ—Age 8: Not recommended for 8-year-olds
βœ—Age 10: Not recommended for 10-year-olds
βœ“Age 12: Generally appropriate for 12-year-olds
βœ“Age 13: Generally appropriate for 13-year-olds
βœ“Age 15: Generally appropriate for 15-year-olds
βœ“Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary β€” use your judgment.

Parents also ask about Ford v Ferrari

  • Is Ford v Ferrari appropriate for a 12-year-old?
  • Does Ford v Ferrari have violence?
  • Is Ford v Ferrari OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for Ford v Ferrari?

You might also like

Browse more parent guides

All movies A–ZDrama moviesHistory moviesAction moviesMovies for 12-year-olds