Stranger Things is one of the most popular shows on Netflix. With its mix of sci-fi, horror, and 80s nostalgia, the series has attracted viewers of all ages since its release in 2016. However, with its sometimes violent and scary scenes, many parents wonder if Stranger Things is appropriate for their kids. In this article, we’ll look at the content and themes in Stranger Things and whether it deserves an R rating.
What rating is Stranger Things?
Stranger Things is rated TV-14 according to the TV Parental Guidelines. This rating signifies that the show is generally unsuitable for children under 14 years old. Some of the content that contributes to this rating includes:
- Violence – There are scenes of supernatural violence and characters getting injured or killed. In some cases, the violence can be bloody.
- Frightening scenes – Many scenes are designed to scare or put viewers on edge.
- Adult language – There is some strong profanity used in dialogue.
- Sexual content – Some episodes imply sexual relationships or feature partially nude scenes.
- Horror elements – The show includes frightening creatures and horror tropes.
Overall, most of the content in Stranger Things falls into the TV-14 guidelines established by the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board. However, some viewers contend that a few specific scenes come close to warranting an R or TV-MA rating due to their intensity.
How does the content compare to an R rating?
The Motion Picture Association film rating system gives an R rating to films that contain adult material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 17. This includes intense violence, strong language, overt sexual content, and drug use. By comparison, Stranger Things contains:
- Moderate violence – While sometimes intense, the violence is not constant or gratuitous.
- Occasional strong language – Profanity is used but not pervasively.
- Mild sexual references – Sexual relationships are only implied or partially depicted.
- No drug use – There is no depiction of drug use.
For the most part, Stranger Things does not reach the level of adult content designated by an R rating in film. However, a few specific scenes have caused debate:
- Season 1’s “The Bathtub” – A scene where a monster drags a character into another dimension shows some blood.
- Season 2’s “The Spy” – A teen character is beaten violently by an older teen.
- Season 3’s “The Sauna Test” – Mostly naked adult characters are shown in a sauna.
These instances push the boundaries of the TV-14 rating but do not cross into clear R-rated territory compared to films. The violence is brief and some nudity is shown but not in a sexualized context.
How scary is Stranger Things for kids?
While not excessively gory, Stranger Things does contain horror elements and scary visuals that may be too frightening for young viewers. Key things parents should be aware of include:
- Menacing creature designs – Demogorgons, demodogs, and the Mind Flayer have a frightening appearance.
- Jump scares – There are occasional jump scares intended to frighten the audience.
- Tension-building music and sounds – Haunting music and eerie sounds create an unsettling atmosphere.
- Dark settings – Many scenes take place at night or in dimly lit interiors.
Younger children around 5-10 years old are most likely to find the horror elements disturbing or traumatizing. Kids 11 and up will probably find the scares to be thrilling and engaging rather than deeply terrifying. But each child’s sensitivity varies, so age guidelines are not definitive.
Is there a lot of gore in Stranger Things?
Although no season of Stranger Things is gory to the point of being classified as horror, there are moments where blood and injury are shown:
- Season 1 – A character is dragged into a portal with some blood shown.
- Season 2 – Humans that creatures have feeding on are shown with slight gore.
- Season 3 – A character explodes with gooey green fluid but no red blood.
Compared to a gory R-rated horror film, the amount of onscreen blood and graphic violence is relatively minimal across three seasons. The creature attacks have little prolonged gore. However, the sight of any blood or consumed humans could be unsettling for younger viewers.
Is there a lot of swearing in Stranger Things?
The language in Stranger Things occasionally includes strong profanity but is not pervasive or constant. Here are some guidelines on swearing across seasons:
- Season 1 – Occasional uses of “shit”, “bitch”, and “asshole”. Roughly 15-20 swear words total.
- Season 2 – Slight increase with words like “fuck” said a couple times. 20-25 swear words.
- Season 3 – The most profanity with a few uses of “fuck” and multiple variations of “shit”. 30-35 swear words.
The language reflects the authentic dialogue of ’80s teens but never reaches levels that would be very concerning for PG-13 ratings. There is also no sexual slang used. The swearing is spread out rather than clustered heavily.
How mature are the themes in Stranger Things?
While aimed at general audiences, Stranger Things does touch on some mature themes that tweens and young teens may find impactful or thought-provoking:
- Death of characters – Both child and adult characters die, which could be upsetting.
- Teen romance – Teen couples kiss and references to sex occur.
- Horror violence – Violent creature attacks, injuries, and blood.
- Emotional trauma – Characters experience grief, guilt, PTSD, and childhood trauma.
- Parent-child conflict – Arguments reflect rising tensions in adolescence.
Younger kids may struggle to grasp and process some of these complex themes. Parents may want to watch the show first to judge if the maturity level aligns with their child’s development.
Does Stranger Things have jump scares?
Stranger Things utilizes jump scares sparingly for dramatic effect. Some notable jump scares include:
- Season 1 – Demogorgon pops up in the darkness behind Barb.
- Season 2 – Rats suddenly swarm the basement where Hopper is investigating.
- Season 3 – Nancy is startled by rats while reaching for a gun.
These can be effective in providing jolts for the audience. However, the show relies more on atmospheric tension and mystery rather than constant jump scares. The jump scares are mainly saved for important story moments.
Is Stranger Things appropriate for middle schoolers?
Many middle schoolers in the 11-14 age range may be able to handle much of the content in Stranger Things, but parental discretion is still advised. The horror, violence, and mature themes may be too much for some younger middle school kids under 12. Key factors for parents to consider include:
- Assessing their child’s maturity level and tolerance for scary content.
- Watching the show first or researching troubling scenes kids should avoid.
- Setting viewing rules and parameters like only one episode per day.
- Watching episodes together and discussing any disturbing elements.
- Ensuring kids know that fantasy violence on TV is not reality.
With involvement and guidance from parents, Stranger Things can be an age-appropriate show for many middle schoolers to enjoy. But it depends on each child’s sensitivities and developmental readiness.
Does Stranger Things have a lot of violence?
Stranger Things depicts supernatural violence between humans, monsters, and government agents. While action-packed, the amount of violence does not reach extreme levels:
- Season 1 – Monster attacks, shootouts, fights resulting in some deaths.
- Season 2 – Creatures hunting humans, portal/lab explosions, brutal teen bullying scene.
- Season 3 – Fights with Russian soldiers, citizens possessed and harmed by the Mind Flayer.
The violence serves the story rather than feeling gratuitous. It mostly involves threats to main characters who survive. Compared to very violent R-rated films, the violence level is moderate without constant blood and gore. But it could still be frightening for kids.
Is there sexual content in Stranger Things?
While some sexual relationships are implied between teen couples, Stranger Things does not depict extensive sexual activity. The most sexually-related content includes:
- Teens kissing and flirting.
- Couples shown waking up in bed together clothed.
- Verbal references to romantic relationships between adults.
- Brief partial nudity in non-sexual contexts like bathing.
The show captures coming-of-age dynamics in an authentic way. But the sexual content stays safely within PG-13 parameters and is not lewd or fetishized. There is no full-frontal nudity and sex acts are only vaguely implied off-screen.
Conclusion
Based on its content, Stranger Things merits its TV-14 rating and is not equivalent to a graphic R-rated horror film. While some brief scenes push the boundaries, most episodes contain only moderate violence, scary images, language, and sexual references. Ultimately, the appropriateness depends on each viewer’s age and sensitivity. With guidance from parents who watch first, Stranger Things can be enjoyed by mature tweens and teens able to distinguish its fiction from reality. But younger elementary school kids may find certain parts too frightening or intense. For most middle schoolers and above, Stranger Things provides fun horror-tinged entertainment without being excessively traumatic.