What age is 42 appropriate for?

42 is rated PG-13 and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 13+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film contains sustained, explicit racial slurs (Nigger/Nigra used 47 times, Negro used 35 times) directed at Jackie Robinson, most intensely during Ben Chapman's relentless verbal abuse in the Philadelphia series, along with scenes of on-field violence like Enos Slaughter spiking Robinson's leg until it bleeds and Robinson being beaned in the head by a pitch at Forbes Field.

Does 42 have swearing or bad language?

42 has Extreme language. Extremely frequent racial slurs: 'Nigger/Nigra' used 47 times and 'Negro' used 35 times, plus 'Nigger lover' used once, mostly directed at Jackie Robinson by opposing players and hostile crowds

42 has Moderate violence. A catcher intentionally drives his glove and ball into Jack Robinson's face during a game, leading Robinson and the catcher to wrestle and shove each other at home plate

Is 42 scary for children?

42 has Moderate scary scenes. A man arrives at the Brock house in Sanford threatening violence if Robinson stays, and Smith and Robinson later flee Sanford at night to avoid a mob of white men

Is 42 OK for Kids?

Name: 42
Director: Brian Helgeland
Genre: Drama
Released: 2013
Duration: 128 min
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie, Christopher Meloni, Ryan Merriman

Drama

13+

PG-13⭐ 7.5 / 102013 · 2h 8m

Brian Helgeland

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

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Cartoon / Comedic

Action & Peril

Injuries & Death Shown

Graphic & Disturbing

A catcher intentionally drives his glove and ball into Jack Robinson's face during a game, leading Robinson and the catcher to wrestle and shove each other at home plate
Enos Slaughter spikes Jack Robinson's leg during a double play attempt, causing visible bleeding
Jack Robinson is beaned in the head by a pitch at Forbes Field and goes down in a heap
Jack Robinson smashes a baseball bat into concrete in a tunnel, breaking it into splinters out of frustration
Physical altercations include Leo Durocher heaving a soup pot across a hotel kitchen, Eddie Stanky lunging at Ben Chapman in the dugout, Robinson and Dixie Walker lunging at each other before being separated, and Burt Shotton physically confronting a hotel manager over discrimination
Overall tone: violence is sports-related or born from racial tension and frustration rather than graphic brutality, with no deaths shown on screen

💬Language

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

Extremely frequent racial slurs: 'Nigger/Nigra' used 47 times and 'Negro' used 35 times, plus 'Nigger lover' used once, mostly directed at Jackie Robinson by opposing players and hostile crowds
Additional ethnic slurs include 'Coon' (2), 'Kike' (1), 'Wop/Dago' (3), and 'Jew' (1)
Strong language includes 'Da**/Dammit' (12), 'Hell/Hells' (8), 'Godda**' (6), 'B**tard' (4), 'A**/Asses' (3), and 'Sonofabitch' (2)
No f-words or c-words detected, but the sheer volume and cruelty of the racial slurs make this the film's most significant content concern

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

A man arrives at the Brock house in Sanford threatening violence if Robinson stays, and Smith and Robinson later flee Sanford at night to avoid a mob of white men
Branch Rickey shows Pee Wee Reese a disturbing stack of death threats made against Robinson and his family
The FBI takes a death threat against Robinson seriously in Cincinnati, adding real tension about his safety
Ben Chapman's relentless verbal abuse and racial slurs during games create sustained emotional distress rather than jump scares
A quieter unsettling moment shows baby Jackie Jr. in his crib while his parents process the threats and systemic racism around them
These tense moments are resolved through Robinson's restraint, growing team support, and eventual on-field success rather than any violent climax

💕Romance

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

Jack proposes to Rachel over the phone from Brooklyn, and the two share several kisses on the street after games throughout the season
Their wedding night at the Clark Hotel is shown discreetly with the door closing as they enter
One suggestive but non-explicit scene shows Rachel in a nightgown embracing Jack's bare chest by a hotel room window
Romance is portrayed as loving and supportive, with no explicit sexual content shown

🍺Substances

Mild▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

Leo Durocher is shown in bed with a woman, with dialogue referencing adultery, and Branch Rickey references Bible verses about adultery in a conversation with him
Ben Chapman is shown drinking beer in the locker room after a game
Mr. Brock offers Jack a rum and coke, but Jack declines, stating he doesn't drink; Wendell Smith does drink a rum and coke at the Brock house
Rickey also mentions offering Wendell Smith fifty dollars plus expenses, a brief financial reference rather than substance use
Substance use is casual and not glorified or a focus of any scene

⚡Stimulation

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Opening Day at Ebbets Field is a high-intensity sequence with 30,000 fans, national attention, and palpable racial tension
Ben Chapman's sustained verbal abuse during the Philadelphia series creates prolonged emotional intensity
A hotel refusal in Philadelphia forces the entire team onto buses, adding to the tense, high-stakes atmosphere
The Cincinnati game features segregated crowds building tension before Pee Wee Reese's gesture of solidarity
Jackie Robinson's pennant-clinching home run, intercut with Rachel listening on the street, is an exciting emotional high point rather than an overwhelming sensory sequence

42 — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being about baseball, parents should be prepared for extremely frequent and explicit racial slurs (82+ instances combined of 'Nigger/Nigra' and 'Negro'), most concentrated in Ben Chapman's dugout abuse scenes, which may be more intense and sustained than parents expect from a sports drama.

About 42

42 tells the true story of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, focusing on the racist abuse he endured and the support he received from Branch Rickey, his wife Rachel, and eventually his teammates. It's a serious, historically grounded drama that portrays racism unflinchingly, including frequent use of period-accurate slurs, while ultimately being an uplifting story about courage and dignity.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

The sheer volume of racial slurs (over 80 instances) and disturbing content like the death threats Branch Rickey shows Pee Wee Reese warrant a parent present to provide historical context and discuss the racism depicted, especially for viewers under 15.

Family Takeaways from 42

What it gets right

✓The film honestly portrays the brutality of period-accurate racism, including Ben Chapman's relentless verbal abuse during the Philadelphia series, without softening it for comfort
✓It shows change happening gradually and realistically through individual choices, such as Ralph Branca inviting Jack to shower with the team and Bobby Bragan recanting his earlier opposition

42 Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion

●Christian themes

Jackie Robinson's faith is explicitly shown as central to his strength in facing racial persecution. His wife Rachel's prayer scenes and their shared Christian beliefs are portrayed as fundamental to overcoming adversity.

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The unwavering support between Jackie and Rachel Robinson, along with their commitment to family despite enormous external pressure, is central to the film's emotional core. Their marriage and family unity are portrayed as foundational to Jackie's success.

Cast:Chadwick BosemanHarrison FordNicole BeharieChristopher MeloniRyan Merriman