Movie · Romance, Comedy, Drama · 2018 · PG-13

Love, Simon: parents' guide

13+our pick

Best for ages 13 and up. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual references, language and teen partying.

A warm, funny teen romance that suits families with teens, about a closeted high school senior who is blackmailed by a classmate and then outed online before he is ready. The messages about self-acceptance, honesty and a supportive family are strongly positive. Parents should know about one f-word and roughly a dozen s-words, homophobic slurs and bullying, a crude cafeteria scene where two boys mime sex acts to taunt a gay student, jokes about masturbation, and a party where teens get drunk. Romance goes no further than kissing. A good pick from about 13.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

Very little. A boy grabs a classmate by the jacket and hauls him through a library during an angry confrontation, and someone tries to yank a microphone from a performer. No injuries.

Language

Moderate

One clear f-word and a couple of near misses, about a dozen s-words, plus "ass," "bitch," "crap" and "hell." God's name is misused often, sometimes as "goddamn," and homophobic slurs are aimed at gay students.

Sex and nudity

Moderate

Several kisses, between boys and between a boy and a girl. Two bullies crudely mime sex on a cafeteria table to mock a classmate, and there are jokes about masturbation, a hand job and hookup apps, plus a revealing costume.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Moderate

Teens drink at a house party, play beer pong and take shots. Simon comes home drunk and his parents let it slide because a sober friend drove him. A drunk teen throws up, and someone jokes about huffing paint.

Scary or intense scenes

Mild

Not scary, but emotionally tense: Simon lives in fear of exposure, is blackmailed for weeks, and is then outed to the whole school online, which brings taunting and a painful family conversation.

Sensitive topics

  • Bullying

Worth talking about

Simon is outed before he chooses to tell anyone. Why should coming out be a person's own decision, and how can friends show support?

Where to stream →

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, moviemom.com. 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.