Nomadland: parents' guide
Best for ages 15 and up. Rated R for some full nudity.
A gentle, contemplative drama for older teens and adults about a widow who lives in her van and works seasonal jobs across the American West, alongside real-life nomads. It's rated R almost entirely for one brief, non-sexual scene of the lead floating nude in a lake. There's no violence and little profanity, but grief and loss fill the film, and characters talk openly about suicide, terminal cancer and a son who took his own life. Slow pacing aside, it suits mature teens from about 15.
What's in it
Violence
NoneNo violence. The biggest jolt is a box of dishes crashing to the floor. Deaths happen offscreen.
Language
ModerateInfrequent: Plugged In counted one s-word, two uses of 'bitch' and one misuse of Jesus' name, plus a few exclamations of 'oh my God.' A list of nomad rules adds another s-word.
Sex and nudity
StrongOne brief, non-sexual scene shows the lead floating naked in a lake with full-frontal nudity, the reason for the R. Her bare hip and side are seen in a bathroom. A couple dances and hugs.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateThe lead smokes often, and adults drink shots at a bar, wine at dinner and beer at gatherings. AA meetings are mentioned. No drug use.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateNothing scary, but quiet grief throughout. Characters describe a son's suicide, a woman's past suicidal plan, and a friend with cancer who plans to end her life. A companion dies offscreen and is remembered.
Sensitive topics
- Suicide
- Death of a child
Worth talking about
Fern picks the road over a house and a family's spare room. Talk about what makes a place feel like home, and how people rebuild after losing someone.
On our lists
Similar picks around 15+
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.