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The Hate U Give poster

Is The Hate U Give OK for Kids?

CrimeDrama
15+
PG-13⭐ 7.5 / 102018 · 2h 13m
George Tillman Jr.

Where to Watch

United States

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What's In It

Based on the actual screenplay
🗡️Violence
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Cartoon / Comedic
4
Action & Peril
2
Injuries & Death Shown
2
Graphic & Disturbing
  • A police officer shoots unarmed teenager Khalil Harris during a traffic stop; the shooting and its bloody aftermath are shown in graphic, prolonged detail as Starr watches him die.
  • Seven is shown bleeding and injured after being beaten by King's gang members.
  • Gunfire erupts at a party causing panicked screaming and a chaotic evacuation.
  • A drive-by shooting sends bullets through the windows of the Carter family home during dinner, directly endangering Starr's family.
  • A barbershop is intentionally set on fire with characters trapped inside, coughing and struggling through smoke to escape.
  • An armed standoff occurs between Maverick and gang leader King, during which young Sekani obtains and holds a gun.
  • Police in riot gear deploy tear gas and aggressive crowd-control tactics against protesters.
  • Starr punches classmate Hailey in a heated physical altercation after Hailey's racist comments.
  • Overall tone: violence is treated as traumatic and consequential rather than entertaining, driving the film's exploration of racial injustice and community pain.
💬Language
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Mild Words
(damn, hell)
2
Moderate
(ass, b**ch)
129
Strong
(sh*t)
3
Extreme
(f**k)
  • Strong profanity is frequent throughout: s**t (47 times), da** (28), a** (19), f**k/f**king (15), hell (12), and b**ch (8).
  • The n-word is referenced three times in dialogue discussing its history and impact, though not fully spoken by characters on screen.
  • Milder language includes cr*p/crappy used twice.
  • This is a heavily profane script by any standard, with cumulative strong language well beyond what's typical even for PG-13 dramas.
👻Scary Scenes
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Mildly Tense
1
Startling Moments
1
Genuinely Scary
3
Deeply Disturbing
  • Khalil's death scene is disturbing and prolonged, showing him bleeding out after being shot while Starr pleads with him.
  • The traffic stop itself is tense and frightening as police harassment of Starr and Khalil escalates unpredictably to deadly force.
  • A drive-by shooting startles with sudden gunfire crashing through the family's windows during an ordinary dinner scene.
  • It is disturbing to see young Sekani obtain and hold a gun during the Maverick/King confrontation.
  • Starr experiences PTSD flashbacks and nightmares reliving the shooting, depicted as genuine emotional trauma.
  • The barbershop fire is a tense sequence with characters escaping through smoke-filled rooms.
  • Riot police advancing on protesters with tear gas creates a tense, chaotic climax; resolution comes through community solidarity rather than violence being 'won.'
💕Romance
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
1
Crushes & Holding Hands
3
Kissing & Dating
2
Suggestive
0
Sexual Content
  • Khalil and Starr share a brief kiss in the car, a tender moment shortly before the shooting occurs.
  • Starr and her boyfriend Chris kiss multiple times throughout the film, including a romantic moment at prom.
  • Chris brings a condom to Starr's house and references wanting to get 'right to it,' making Starr visibly uncomfortable with the implied sexual pressure — nothing explicit is shown.
  • Khalil confesses he still has feelings for Starr, referencing their first kiss in a church basement.
  • No sexual content is depicted on screen; romantic elements are handled through kissing and dialogue only.
🍺Substances
Moderate▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
2
Mentioned in Passing
2
Shown Casually
3
Featured Prominently
0
Glorified or Abused
  • Khalil sells drugs for the King Lords gang to support his family, portrayed sympathetically as a product of economic desperation rather than glorified.
  • There is extended dialogue discussing the drug trade in Garden Heights as a systemic economic issue affecting the community.
  • Khalil's mother is mentioned as a crack addict, shown as a source of family hardship, not glamorized.
  • A party scene includes casual references to Molly and pills among partygoers, alongside general references to drinking.
  • Marijuana ('purp') is mentioned in dialogue.
  • Khalil's grandmother is shown undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, an unrelated medical substance context.
  • Substance use throughout is tied to hardship and consequence, not portrayed as glamorous.
⚡Stimulation
Extreme▼
Moments in the script, mildest → most intense
0
Gently Engaging
1
Exciting
4
Intense
1
Overwhelming
  • The traffic stop scene builds slow, escalating dread between the officer and Khalil before erupting into violence.
  • The shooting scene itself is overwhelming — sudden gunfire, screaming, and blood create a jarring sensory and emotional shock.
  • Starr's grand jury testimony is intense, an emotionally raw recounting of trauma in a formal, high-stakes setting.
  • The protest-to-riot sequence is intense and chaotic, with tear gas, shouting, and aggressive police movement.
  • The barbershop fire sequence adds another intense, high-tension rescue scene.
  • Hip-hop music sequences and party scenes offer more exciting, upbeat energy as contrast.
  • This film is not suitable for sensory-sensitive children given the frequency of intense, sudden traumatic sequences.
The Hate U Give — Heads Up for Parents

Despite dealing with a serious real-world issue, parents should be aware the film contains a graphic, prolonged on-screen shooting of a teenager along with pervasive strong profanity (s**t, f**k, a**, b**ch used dozens of times combined) that may catch parents off guard given the film's PG-13-style marketing around its important social message.

About The Hate U Give

Starr Carter, a Black teenager who moves between her poor neighborhood and a mostly white prep school, witnesses her childhood friend Khalil get fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. The film follows her journey from fear and silence to finding her voice as an activist, testifying to a grand jury and leading her community through the aftermath of the shooting and the violence that follows. It's an emotionally intense drama dealing directly with police brutality, systemic racism, gang violence, and family loyalty.

⚠️
Watch with your child
The graphic shooting of Khalil, Starr's PTSD flashbacks, the drive-by shooting at her home, and heavy use of strong language make this a film teens 15+ should watch with a parent present to process the trauma and discuss the real-world themes of police violence and racial injustice.

Family Takeaways from The Hate U Give

What it gets right

  • ✓The film shows Maverick and his wife's relationship as a model of love and commitment, demonstrating a healthy partnership amid crisis.
  • ✓It depicts family meals and togetherness as a grounding force, emphasizing love even during traumatic events.

The Hate U Give Cultural & Values Guide

Cultural & Values Guide

Faith & Religion
●Christian themes

The film includes church community support after Khalil's death and references to Christian faith, including Starr and Khalil's first kiss occurring in a church basement.

Values & Themes
●Traditional family values

The film emphasizes family bonds and parental sacrifice, showing Maverick and his wife's committed partnership and family meals that reinforce togetherness and love.

Cast:Amandla StenbergRegina HallRussell HornsbyKJ ApaCommon

Is The Hate U Give 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: Not recommended 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 Hate U Give

  • Is The Hate U Give appropriate for a 15-year-old?
  • Does The Hate U Give have violence?
  • Is The Hate U Give OK for kids?
  • What is the age rating for The Hate U Give?

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