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Movie · Sports, Drama · 2017 · PG-13

Battle of the Sexes: parents' guide

13+our pick

Best for ages 13 and up. Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and partial nudity.

A smart, crowd-pleasing sports drama for teens and parents, built around the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. There is no violence and only light swearing, with a single s-word. The PG-13 comes from King's affair with her female hairdresser: passionate kissing, undressing to underwear, a woman's bare back, and a brief sex scene without explicit detail. Smoking is constant, since a cigarette brand sponsors the women's tour, and Riggs's gambling addiction strains his marriage. Open sexism and a hidden relationship drive the story, which makes it a good conversation starter. Best for about 13 and up.

What's in it

Violence

None

No violence. The conflict comes from trash talk, minor on-court strain, and a married couple's shouting match in which clothes get tossed out a window.

Language

Moderate

Light overall: one s-word, plus 'hell,' 'damn,' 'goddamn' and 'balls,' with God's and Jesus' names used as exclamations several times. Men talk down to the women players as 'honey' and 'girls.'

Sex and nudity

Moderate

King and her hairdresser flirt, kiss passionately and undress to their underwear; one scene shows them having sex without explicit detail, and they are later under the sheets. A woman's bare back is seen as she walks off in panties. Some innuendo, and Riggs poses nearly nude for a photo shoot.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Moderate

Cigarettes are everywhere, and one character hands out packs from the tour's tobacco sponsor. Adults drink at clubs and parties, and Riggs swallows handfuls of vitamins and pills, including an unnamed stimulant.

Scary or intense scenes

None

Nothing frightening. The tension is emotional: a strained marriage, a relationship that has to stay hidden, and the pressure of a nationally televised match.

Sensitive topics

  • Addiction

Worth talking about

King keeps her relationship secret while fighting openly for equal pay. Ask your teen why she felt one fight had to stay hidden, and how attitudes toward women and gay athletes have changed since 1973.

Where to stream →

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, Wikipedia, movieguide.org, moviemom.com, 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.