Aftersun: parents' guide
Best for ages 14 and up. Rated R for some language and brief sexual material.
A quiet, aching memory piece for teens and adults, not a breezy vacation movie despite its Turkish resort setting. A woman looks back on a holiday she took at 11 with her young father, and we gradually sense he was fighting a depression she couldn't see. The content itself is fairly light: a few f-words, teens kissing and talking about sex, smoking and drinking. The weight is emotional. The film strongly suggests the father later took his own life and shows him in moments of reckless risk. Best for about 14 and up, ideally watched together.
What's in it
Violence
MildNo fights. The father cuts off his own arm cast with small scissors, steps in front of a moving bus and balances on a balcony railing. He teaches his daughter self-defense moves. Liquid dripping into a bucket may be blood.
Language
ModerateAt least three f-words, plus 'arse,' a few misuses of God's name, and a middle finger.
Sex and nudity
ModerateTeens make out by the pool, and the 11-year-old shares a first kiss with a boy her age. She secretly watches a teen girl describe a sex act with hand gestures. The dad is briefly seen naked from behind.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateThe dad smokes on the sly and drinks beer; one night he drinks heavily, passes out and locks his daughter out of their room. Teens do shots, and he offers her a sip of beer.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateNothing scary, but deep sadness: a father hiding depression, a scene of him sobbing alone, and strong hints he did not live long after the trip. He walks alone into the dark sea at night, an uneasy moment.
Sensitive topics
- Suicide
- Self-harm
- Death of a parent
Worth talking about
Calum hides his pain behind being the fun dad. Talk about how depression can look from the outside, and who a teen could tell if a parent or friend seems to be struggling.
On our lists
Similar picks around 14+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, bbfc.co.uk. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.