What age is Rush appropriate for?

Rush is rated R and PopcornCheck recommends it for ages 16+, based on reading the actual screenplay. The film contains a graphic scene of Niki's Ferrari catching fire with him trapped and screaming as flames engulf him, a decapitated driver's head shown after a crash, sexual content including James having sex with a nurse and stewardesses, and heavy language including 25 uses of 'fuck/fucking.'

Does Rush have swearing or bad language?

Rush has Extreme language. 'Fuck/fucking' is used approximately 25 times throughout the film

Rush has Extreme violence. Niki's Ferrari crashes and catches fire at Nurburgring; he's trapped in the burning car at 800 degrees, screaming as flames engulf him while other drivers burn their hands trying to free him

Is Rush scary for children?

Rush has Moderate scary scenes. Niki is trapped in his burning car, unable to undo his seatbelt, screaming as flames engulf him before he loses consciousness — a prolonged and distressing sequence

Is Rush OK for Kids?

Name: Rush
Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama, Action
Released: 2013
Duration: 123 min
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara, Pierfrancesco Favino

DramaAction

16+

R⭐ 8.1 / 102013 · 2h 3m

Ron Howard

Where to Watch

United States

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

Niki's Ferrari crashes and catches fire at Nurburgring; he's trapped in the burning car at 800 degrees, screaming as flames engulf him while other drivers burn their hands trying to free him
A decapitated driver's helmeted head is shown lying on the ground after a crash into guard rails during Spanish GP testing
James punches a journalist multiple times, bloodying his nose and stuffing a tape recorder in his mouth after the man asks disrespectful questions about Niki
Multiple car crashes and collisions occur throughout races, with cars spinning out, hitting barriers, and tires bouncing
Niki's face is shown severely burned and scarred with blood-stained bandages and skin grafts from his thigh, giving him a grotesque appearance after the accident
Overall tone is realistic and consequential rather than stylized — the film emphasizes the genuine mortal danger of 1970s Formula 1 racing

💬Language

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mild Words

(damn, hell)

Moderate

(ass, b**ch)

Strong

(sh*t)

Extreme

(f**k)

'F**k/f**king' is used approximately 25 times throughout the film
'A**hole' is used 12 times and 'bulls**t' 8 times
'Pr**k' appears twice, both considered strong profanity
Moderate language includes 'da**/dammit' (6 times), 'hell' (5 times), and 'b**tard' (3 times)
This is frequent, unfiltered adult language throughout, not isolated to one or two scenes

👻Scary Scenes

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mildly Tense

Startling Moments

Genuinely Scary

Deeply Disturbing

Niki is trapped in his burning car, unable to undo his seatbelt, screaming as flames engulf him before he loses consciousness — a prolonged and distressing sequence
Niki receives last rites in the hospital while barely conscious, with his family crying, believing he will die
Niki screams in agony putting his racing helmet on over open burn wounds for the first time
The final race at Fuji takes place in heavy rain with dangerous visibility; drivers are shown terrified, praying, and crossing themselves as cars aquaplane out of control
TV footage shows clips of other violent driver-death accidents, referenced as part of the sport's history
Scary moments are generally resolved through Niki's survival and eventual recovery, but the emotional weight of near-death and mortality persists throughout the film

💕Romance

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Crushes & Holding Hands

Kissing & Dating

Suggestive

Sexual Content

James and a nurse have passionate sex in the shower and on a bed, both screaming, in an explicitly described lovemaking scene
James is shown with two stewardesses in a hotel room; uniforms are on the floor and it's implied they had sex together
James is shown in a first-class airplane bathroom with a stewardess, described suggestively as a pain reliever
Niki and Marlene share a passionate kiss, with Marlene kissing him despite his horrific facial scarring after the accident
Suggestive content includes James and Suzy's wedding embrace for cameras, and implied intimacy between Suzy and Richard Burton/Elizabeth Taylor including a diamond necklace gift

🍺Substances

Moderate▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Mentioned in Passing

Shown Casually

Featured Prominently

Glorified or Abused

James smokes a joint before the Crystal Palace race, passed to him by Hesketh
Ashtrays filled with half-smoked joints are shown in James's apartment
James drinks heavily throughout the film — whiskey in his apartment, multiple bar scenes, and drinking before and after races
Champagne drinking is shown during celebrations at races and events
There are brief references to cigarette smoking among drivers
Substance use is shown as part of James's reckless lifestyle rather than glorified without consequence

⚡Stimulation

Extreme▼

Moments in the script, mildest → most intense

Gently Engaging

Exciting

Intense

Overwhelming

Racing sequences feature high speed, near-misses, dangerous overtakes, aquaplaning, and loss of control
Niki's comeback race at Monza is intense, showing him terrified and overcoming flashbacks while building speed despite severe injuries
The final race at Fuji in the rain is overwhelming — near-blind driving through spray, James refusing to pit despite tire failure, and Niki's tense withdrawal decision
Niki's hospital treatment includes a vacuum pump procedure causing excruciating pain while he watches James win races on TV
Sensory-sensitive children would likely find the racing sequences and crash scenes too intense; this is not a film for younger or easily overwhelmed viewers

Rush — Heads Up for Parents

Despite being a sports drama, the film includes a graphic burning car sequence where Niki screams while trapped in flames, a shown decapitated head from a crash, explicit sexual content in a shower scene, and around 25 uses of 'f**k' — parents expecting a family-friendly racing movie should be aware this is intended for mature audiences.

About Rush

Rush is a biographical drama based on the real-life rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 racing season. The film mixes high-speed racing sequences with intense personal drama, including a horrific fiery crash and its brutal physical aftermath, all building toward a rain-soaked championship-deciding finale. It's an adult sports drama about ambition, mortality, and grudging respect between fierce competitors.

👨‍👧

Best watched together

The graphic burn injury and decapitation imagery, frequent strong language, and sexual content mean this is best watched with a parent present for teens 16+, who can discuss the film's themes of mortality, risk-taking, and rivalry raised in scenes like Niki's crash and the Fuji finale.

Family Takeaways from Rush

What it gets right

✓The film honestly portrays the real physical and mortal stakes of professional racing, including Niki's genuine near-death experience and painful recovery shown through the last rites scene and hospital treatment
✓It shows two very different men — one disciplined and calculating, one reckless and charismatic — each achieving respect through their own approach, avoiding a simplistic 'right way vs wrong way' message

Rush Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Values & Themes

●Traditional family values

The film depicts Hunt and Lauda as devoted family men whose marriages and children provide emotional grounding and motivation throughout their dangerous careers. Both drivers' relationships with their wives are portrayed as central to their character development and personal growth.

Cast:Chris HemsworthDaniel BrühlOlivia WildeAlexandra Maria LaraPierfrancesco Favino