Free Guy: A Parents Guide

Free Guy: A Parents Guide & Bonus Features

In this movie, Ryan Reynolds plays a character named Guy who discovers that he’s a Non-Player Character in a video game called Free City.  When he suddenly begins to question his existence after an interaction with a player, he sets out on a path of self-discovery that could lead to real consequences IRL (in real life).  A movie that has some similarities to video games like Grand Theft Auto, here’s what parents need to know about the Free Guy age rating.

What is Free Guy Rated? 

Free Guy is rated PG-13, which means that some material is not suitable for children under the age of 13.  For example, it might contain language, violence, nudity, and/or sexually suggestive language.  Here, the movie doesn’t contain any sexual content like nudity.  However, it does contain violence, a lot of language, and sexually suggestive dialogue.  More about all that below.

Language

There are a lot of curse words in this movie.  I stopped counting after a while.  Characters say words like “h*ll,” “pi**ed,” “s**t,” “h*ll,” “a**,” “fu**ing,” “b*llsh*t,” “go**amn,” and “d*mn,”  Several times.  There are also variations of those curse words used, like “b*atch.”  And there’s a young character in the movie that starts saying the phrase “mother …..” before she’s interrupted.  I thought there was a lot of profanity in Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings and Black Widow, but it pales in comparison to this particular movie.

Violence

Because this is an action comedy movie based on a video game, there are several action scenes involving violence.  Weapons like guns, grenades, and axes are used so you can expect a lot of scenes involving explosions, shootings, and car chases.  However, while the scenes do contain violence, they aren’t overly graphic.  

Sexually Suggestive Dialogue

I found myself cringing during some of the scenes involving sexually suggestive dialogue.  Especially one scene in particular involving a young man playing the video game and talking back to his mom.  There are references to his sock and his video game character uses phrases like “itchy kitty.”  There are also a few scenes involving two characters kissing, but nothing too graphic.  But, there are also discussions regarding losing one’s virginity.  As a parent, you’ll want to be aware of this, especially for younger children.

Jodie Comer as Molotov Girl and Ryan Reynolds as Guy in 20th Century Studios’ FREE GUY. Photo by Alan Markfield. © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Overall Thoughts

This movie does push its PG-13 rating to the limits, especially from a parent’s standpoint.  As always, you’ll want to use your discretion because you know your child best.  

Free Guy, though, is a highly entertaining movie with quite a few cameos.  One of the cameos, in particular, had me clapping.  And the soundtrack is amazing.  I can’t think of another actor other than Ryan Reynolds who could have played Guy to such perfection.