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Some Kind of Wonderful poster

Is Some Kind of Wonderful OK for Kids?

RomanceComedy
13+
PG-13⭐ 7.0 / 101987 · 1h 35m
Howard Deutch

Where to Watch

United States

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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
0
Cartoon / Comedic
5
Action & Peril
1
Injuries & Death Shown
0
Graphic & Disturbing
  • Hardy Jenns pushes and shoves Keith at a gas station while threatening him
  • A school fight breaks out where bullies hit Keith before a teacher breaks it up
  • Hardy grabs Amanda aggressively in a hallway until Mrs. Albright intervenes
  • At Hardy's party, Keith is surrounded and threatened by Hardy and his friends before Keith punches Hardy in the face
  • Laura claims she has a black-and-blue mark from Keith, though he denies roughing her up
  • No weapons are used and no one is seriously injured on screen; the violence is realistic teen aggression rather than graphic or bloody
💬Language
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
14
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
4
Strong
(sh*t)
2
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Strong language includes 'da**' (x2), 'godda**' (x1), and 'hell' (x1)
  • Extreme language includes 'f**k/f**king' used twice
  • Moderate language includes 'a**' (x5), 'cr*p' (x3), 'sucks' (x1), 'p**s' (x1), 'b**tard' (x1), 'bulls**t' (x2), and the slur 'faggot' (x1)
  • Mild language includes 'wimp' (x1)
  • The presence of the slur 'faggot' and multiple f-words pushes this beyond a simple PG-13 word count for some parents
👻Scary Scenes
Mild▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
3
Mildly Tense
1
Startling Moments
0
Genuinely Scary
0
Deeply Disturbing
  • Laura warns Keith that Hardy is setting him up for an ambush at the party, creating tense anticipation
  • Keith's confrontation with his father about the missing college money is emotionally tense but not frightening
  • The museum scene where Keith and Amanda realize they've both been manipulative carries tense emotional weight rather than fear
  • Hardy and his friends surrounding Keith at the party is a startling moment of implied threat, resolved when Keith punches Hardy and the situation de-escalates
  • There is no supernatural threat, monster, or jump-scare style horror in the film
💕Romance
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Crushes & Holding Hands
2
Kissing & Dating
2
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Keith develops a crush on Amanda Jones and works up the courage to ask her out
  • Watts teaches Keith how to kiss by pretending to be Amanda, and they almost kiss themselves
  • Keith and Amanda share a kiss at the art museum during their date
  • Their date includes an intimate restaurant dinner with caviar and suggestive conversation
  • Hardy makes crude comments about Amanda's body, including references to 'doing her'
  • Watts reveals she has deeper romantic feelings for Keith beyond friendship
  • No nudity or explicit sexual content is depicted; romance stays at kissing and suggestive dialogue
🍺Substances
Very Mild▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Mentioned in Passing
0
Shown Casually
0
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • Beer is briefly referenced in connection with Hardy's party but not shown being consumed in detail
  • Keith's mother comments about fiber intake, and his father indirectly mentions alcohol
  • Substance use is not shown on screen, glorified, or a focus of any scene
⚡Stimulation
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
3
Intense
0
Overwhelming
  • Keith's father yelling and confronting him about the stolen college money creates a high-emotion, intense scene
  • The party confrontation scene, with Keith surrounded by Hardy's friends and then punching Hardy, is a fast, tense sequence
  • Amanda's emotional revelation about her manipulative behavior and self-hate is emotionally intense
  • Keith preparing for his date is a lighter, more upbeat and exciting sequence
  • Sensory-sensitive children may find the father-son argument and party confrontation overwhelming due to raised voices and physical tension
Some Kind of Wonderful — Heads Up for Parents

Despite its light teen-romance premise, parents should be aware the script contains two uses of 'f**k/f**king' and one use of the slur 'faggot,' plus a real punch thrown at a party (Keith hits Hardy in the face) — stronger content than the film's poster and reputation might suggest.

About Some Kind of Wonderful

Some Kind of Wonderful is a 1987 teen drama about Keith, a working-class high schooler who falls for the popular Amanda Jones and spends his college savings trying to impress her, while his tomboy best friend Watts secretly harbors feelings for him. The film blends teen romance with class conflict, culminating in a party confrontation with the wealthy bully Hardy Jenns and a father-son reckoning over money and expectations.

👨‍👧
Best watched together
The manipulative dating dynamics between Keith and Amanda, the intense father-son argument over the college money, and the strong/extreme language (including a slur) are worth discussing with young teens (13-15) present, even though the film is otherwise appropriate for that age group.

Family Takeaways from Some Kind of Wonderful

What it gets right

  • ✓The film shows a father and son moving from an intense, angry confrontation about the stolen college money to genuine parental support and acceptance
  • ✓Keith defends Amanda's honor at Hardy's party despite the personal risk of being outnumbered, modeling courage under pressure
  • ✓The museum scene honestly depicts both Keith and Amanda admitting they manipulated each other, encouraging self-reflection rather than glossing over flawed behavior

Some Kind of Wonderful Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes
●Traditional family values

Keith's father serves as a positive male role model who encourages his son's artistic pursuits and gives wise counsel about relationships. The film consistently portrays strong parent-child bonds and family support as foundational to the characters' growth.

Cast:Eric StoltzMary Stuart MastersonLea ThompsonChynna PhillipsCraig Sheffer

Is Some Kind of Wonderful 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 Some Kind of Wonderful

  • Is Some Kind of Wonderful appropriate for a 13-year-old?
  • Does Some Kind of Wonderful have violence?
  • Is Some Kind of Wonderful OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for Some Kind of Wonderful?

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