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The Fault in Our Stars poster

Is The Fault in Our Stars OK for Kids?

RomanceDrama
13+
PG-13⭐ 7.6 / 102014 · 2h 6m
Josh Boone

Where to Watch

United States

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Streaming data by JustWatch

What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
🗡️Violence
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Cartoon / Comedic
2
Action & Peril
0
Injuries & Death Shown
1
Graphic & Disturbing
  • Isaac punches and kicks trophies and pillows in a fit of anger after his girlfriend Monica breaks up with him
  • Hazel, Gus, and Isaac throw eggs at Monica's car as a prank, setting off the car alarm
  • Gus' infected surgical site is shown and graphically described at a gas station, marking a turning point in his health decline
  • No weapons are used; violence is limited to emotional outbursts and one graphic medical/wound scene rather than fighting
  • Overall tone is not action-violence but illness-related bodily harm depicted with unflinching realism
💬Language
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
6
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
10
Strong
(sh*t)
0
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Strong language includes 'f**k' (3 times), 's**t' (5 times), and 'da**' (2 times)
  • Moderate language includes 'a**' (2 times), 'hell' (3 times), and 'cr*p' (1 time)
  • No slurs or extreme/derogatory language beyond the words listed
  • Language is used realistically in teen dialogue and emotional moments rather than for comedic shock
👻Scary Scenes
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Mildly Tense
0
Startling Moments
0
Genuinely Scary
3
Deeply Disturbing
  • Hazel is shown unable to breathe due to fluid in her lungs, leading to an emergency ICU intubation scene that is intense and frightening
  • Gus' rapid health deterioration at a gas station leads to an emergency ambulance call, shown with urgency and distress
  • Gus' final days in the ICU and his on-screen death are portrayed with emotional weight and medical realism
  • The MRI appointment scene builds tension through Hazel's visible anxiety while awaiting scan results
  • These scenes are resolved through acceptance and connection rather than jump scares or horror elements, but are emotionally disturbing
💕Romance
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Crushes & Holding Hands
2
Kissing & Dating
2
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Gus tells Hazel she is beautiful when they first meet at support group, establishing an immediate crush
  • Hazel and Gus kiss multiple times, including in his car and during a romantic dinner at Oranjee restaurant in Amsterdam where Gus professes his love
  • Hazel and Gus are shown in bed together in an intimate but non-explicit scene, with a reference to losing virginity that is implied but not shown
  • No nudity or explicit sexual content is depicted; intimacy is suggested through dialogue and framing
🍺Substances
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Mentioned in Passing
2
Shown Casually
2
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • Gus carries cigarettes as a personal metaphor and tries to buy them at a gas station, though he never lights them
  • Champagne is served casually during the romantic Amsterdam dinner scene
  • Peter Van Houten is portrayed as a heavy drinker with multiple scotch references, shown negatively as part of his troubled character
  • Hazel jokes about getting a fake ID to go to clubs and 'take pot,' a light comedic reference rather than actual use
  • Cancer medications and chemotherapy treatments are discussed extensively but in a medical, non-recreational context
⚡Stimulation
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Gently Engaging
0
Exciting
3
Intense
2
Overwhelming
  • The Amsterdam trip montage is emotionally and visually intense, filled with sightseeing and romantic highlights
  • Airplane takeoff and flight sequences are shown with heightened wonder and sensory focus through Hazel's perspective
  • The Anne Frank House visit is emotionally overwhelming, blending historical tragedy with Hazel and Gus' personal romance
  • Gus' pre-funeral ceremony features intense eulogies and emotional speeches from friends and family
  • Augustus Waters' funeral and Hazel's breakdown are portrayed as overwhelming emotional climaxes, not suitable for sensory-sensitive viewers
The Fault in Our Stars — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a romantic teen drama, the film includes a genuinely graphic medical moment — Gus' infected surgical site is shown and described in detail at a gas station — which may be more visceral than parents expect from the genre.

About The Fault in Our Stars

This is a romantic drama about two teenagers, Hazel and Gus, who meet in a cancer support group held in a church basement and fall in love despite Hazel's terminal diagnosis. The film follows their relationship through a trip to Amsterdam, moments of joy and humor, and ultimately Gus' physical decline and death, treating illness, mortality, and first love with emotional honesty rather than sugarcoating.

👨‍👧
Best watched together
Heavy themes of terminal illness, death, and grief — including Gus' ICU decline and funeral, and Hazel's own breathing crisis — make this a strong candidate for parents to watch alongside young teens (13-15) to help process the emotional weight and discuss mortality and love.

Family Takeaways from The Fault in Our Stars

What it gets right

  • ✓The film portrays parental support realistically, as seen when Hazel's parents allow the Amsterdam trip despite the medical risks
  • ✓It shows friendship as a source of healing, as when Isaac finds comfort and camaraderie with Gus and Hazel after his breakup with Monica

The Fault in Our Stars Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion
●Christian themes

Hazel explicitly discusses her relationship with God and faith during her cancer journey, including questioning God's plan and finding meaning through suffering. The church scene and references to divine purpose are woven meaningfully throughout the narrative.

Cast:Shailene WoodleyAnsel ElgortNat WolffLaura DernSam Trammell

Is The Fault in Our Stars 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: Generally appropriate for 13-year-olds
✓Age 15: Generally appropriate for 15-year-olds
✓Age 17: Generally appropriate for 17-year-olds

Individual children may vary — use your judgment.

Parents also ask about The Fault in Our Stars

  • Is The Fault in Our Stars appropriate for a 13-year-old?
  • Does The Fault in Our Stars have violence?
  • Is The Fault in Our Stars OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for The Fault in Our Stars?

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