Is A Monster Calls scary?

Only a little. A Monster Calls has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

How gory is A Monster Calls?

No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.

What is A Monster Calls rated, and is it OK for kids?

Rated PG-13, and mild for one: no sex or nudity and mild language.

A Monster Calls (2016)

Film · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

Adventure, Family, Fantasy

A boy facing immense loss finds solace and strength in an ancient, storytelling tree monster.

Melancholy. A family watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it is devastating.

Not on a US subscription service as of Oct 27, 2026.

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A Monster Calls parents guide

It stays inside its PG-13, with no sex or nudity and mild language.

Rated PG-13, but by what is on screen our estimate is fine from about 7.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: A couple; One or two sudden jolts.
Gore: No gore
Violence: Some violence; Some fighting or peril.
Sex and nudity: None noted
Language: Mild; Mild words like damn, hell or crap.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is A Monster Calls scary?: Only a little. A Monster Calls has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is A Monster Calls?: No gore and some violence. Squeamish viewers are fine here.
What is A Monster Calls rated, and is it OK for kids?: Rated PG-13, and mild for one: no sex or nudity and mild language.