What age is The Conjuring appropriate for?

The Conjuring is rated R and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 13+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film features a mother attempting to drown her own daughter in a bathtub while possessed, a demonic entity that directly tells a child 'it wants my family dead,' and a prolonged exorcism sequence with violent body contortions and physical restraint.

Does The Conjuring have swearing or bad language?

The Conjuring has Mild language. Characters say 'hell' (3 times), 'damn/dammit' (4 times), 'crap' (1 time), 'fried' (2 times, used casually), and 'sucks' (1 time)

Is The Conjuring violent?

The Conjuring has Moderate violence. Carolyn, possessed by a demonic entity, attempts to drown her daughter April in a bathtub

Is The Conjuring scary for children?

The Conjuring has Extreme scary scenes. The Annabelle doll's opening scene shows it mysteriously moving and repositioning itself, setting a disturbing tone from the start

Is The Conjuring OK for Kids?

Name: The Conjuring
Director: James Wan
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Released: 2013
Duration: 112 min
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Hayley McFarland

HorrorThriller

13+

R⭐ 7.5 / 102013 · 1h 52m

James Wan

Where to Watch

United States

Stream

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

Carolyn, possessed by a demonic entity, attempts to drown her daughter April in a bathtub
Carolyn's body contorts unnaturally during the exorcism while Ed physically restrains her to keep her from harming herself or others
Carolyn's face shifts into a demonic expression as she threatens to kill her family
Birds are shown breaking their necks flying into the house, and Nancy is violently pulled by her feet in bed while Christine feels grabbed by an unseen force
Dialogue references a witch who sacrificed her infant child 150 years prior as part of the house's dark history
Officer Brad and Ed chase a possessed Cindy through the house in a tense but non-graphic pursuit
Violence is largely supernatural and psychological rather than bloody or weapon-based; no on-screen deaths occur during the film's events

💬Language

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Characters say 'hell' (3 times), 'da**/dammit' (4 times), 'cr*p' (1 time), 'fried' (2 times, used casually), and 'sucks' (1 time)
No f-words, s-words, or slurs of any kind detected in the script
All language is mild and infrequent, similar to what's heard in everyday PG-13 dialogue

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

The Annabelle doll's opening scene shows it mysteriously moving and repositioning itself, setting a disturbing tone from the start
Christine sees a figure standing behind a door at night, and the entity tells her directly that 'it wants my family dead'
Cindy sleepwalks and hides under the bed with an unseen entity present in the room
A cellar door slams shut on its own during an investigation, creating a sudden jump scare
Lorraine has a disturbing vision of her own daughter Judy drowning in water
The grandmother is found in a rocking chair holding the Annabelle doll, speaking in a demonic voice
The climactic exorcism features prolonged body contortions and a demonic voice coming from Carolyn
A music box scene shows the ghost of Rory appearing in a mirror to Cindy
Scary sequences resolve with the family surviving and Carolyn regaining control of her own body during the exorcism

💕Romance

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Roger jokingly tells Carolyn she'll forget about New Jersey once she meets a cute boy — played as light humor between family members
Roger asks Carolyn, 'You still too fried to christen the new house?' in a flirtatious exchange with mild sexual innuendo
Roger and Carolyn share 'I love you' exchanges in bed shortly before Carolyn becomes ill — implied intimacy but nothing shown
Ed and Lorraine Warren repeatedly exchange 'I love you' throughout the film, portraying a warm, supportive marriage rather than anything sexual

🍺Substances

Very Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

A brief reference to coffee being made during a morning scene
No alcohol, drugs, or smoking are depicted or discussed beyond this passing mention
Substance content is essentially negligible in this film

⚡Stimulation

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

The extended exorcism sequence combines violent struggle, physical restraint, and supernatural effects for a sustained intense stretch
Chase sequences through the house as possessed Carolyn pursues her family add rapid, high-tension pacing
The bathtub scene where Carolyn tries to drown April is described as overwhelming in its intensity
Investigation sequences with sudden supernatural manifestations like the slamming cellar door create jolting, unpredictable moments
This film's pacing and sound design would likely overwhelm sensory-sensitive children or those under 10

The Conjuring — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a horror film, parents may be caught off guard by how the demonic entity directly threatens a child by name, telling Christine 'it wants my family dead,' which is more personally targeted and disturbing than typical jump-scare horror.

About The Conjuring

The Conjuring follows the Perron family as they move into a new home that becomes plagued by a dark supernatural presence, prompting paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to intervene. The film builds dread through escalating hauntings, a possessed mother, and a climactic exorcism, all filmed in a tense, atmospheric horror style rather than graphic gore.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

Given the intensity of the exorcism sequence, the bathtub drowning attempt, and the demonic entity's direct threats to a child, teens under 15 will benefit from a parent present to contextualize the religious themes and process the frightening imagery afterward.

Family Takeaways from The Conjuring

What it gets right

✓The film portrays parental sacrifice positively, as Carolyn fights the possession from within specifically to protect her children rather than harm them
✓Ed and Lorraine's marriage is shown as a genuine partnership built on faith and mutual support, offering a positive model of teamwork under pressure

The Conjuring Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion

●Christian themes

Ed and Lorraine Warren's Catholic faith is central to their demon-fighting methodology, with crucifixes, holy water, and prayer serving as their primary weapons against evil. The film presents Christian faith as genuinely powerful and necessary for spiritual protection.

Cast:Vera FarmigaPatrick WilsonLili TaylorRon LivingstonHayley McFarland