Only a little. Black Mass has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

How gory is Black Mass?

Graphic gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.

What is Black Mass rated, and is it OK for kids?

Brutal violence, frequent strong language and graphic gore. The R is earned, so not for kids.

Black Mass (2015)

Film · 2h 3m · Rated R

Crime, Drama

A notorious gangster becomes an FBI informant, unleashing a wave of gritty crime and bleak betrayals.

Suspenseful and pulpy. A full-attention watch at a measured pace. Emotionally it is devastating. Based on true events.

Streaming on The Roku Channel (free).

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Black Mass parents guide

Nothing past what an R promises: some innuendo or implied sex and brutal violence.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: None noted
Gore: Graphic gore; Blood and wounds shown clearly.
Violence: Brutal violence; Our top level for violence.
Sex and nudity: Mild; Mild means innuendo, or sex implied off screen, with no nudity.
Language: Strong; Frequent strong profanity or slurs.

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 Black Mass scary?: Only a little. Black Mass has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is Black Mass?: Graphic gore and brutal violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
What is Black Mass rated, and is it OK for kids?: Brutal violence, frequent strong language and graphic gore. The R is earned, so not for kids.

What is Black Mass about?

The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

No. Brace yourself.