Nyad: parents' guide
Best for ages 14 and up. Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexual abuse, some strong language and brief partial nudity.
An inspiring true sports drama for teens, following Diana Nyad's attempts in her sixties to swim from Cuba to Florida. Families should know that flashbacks show her being sexually abused by her swim coach at 14; the assault is mostly off screen but unmistakable, and its lasting effect is a theme. Expect one f-word and more than 20 s-words, plus jellyfish stings, sharks, storms, sores and hallucinations during the swims, and a brief photo of the real Nyad nude from behind. A strong friendship between two women anchors it. Best for about 14 and up.
What's in it
Violence
StrongSexual abuse: flashbacks show a coach entering a sleeping 14-year-old's room and assaulting her, mostly off screen and with her clothed. The adult Nyad describes a violent revenge fantasy against him. A jellyfish sting leaves a welt, and a flashback shows a father hitting a mother.
Language
ModeratePlugged In counted one f-word and more than 20 s-words, plus 'a--hole,' 'bitch,' 'dick,' 'damn' and 'hell.' God's and Jesus' names are used as exclamations about ten times.
Sex and nudity
MildA brief real-life photo of Nyad nude from behind, showing her tan lines, appears near the end. Some flirting; Nyad and her coach Bonnie are gay and once dated. Sports-bra outfits. The abuse is covered under violence.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
MildAdults drink wine and beer, a joint is mentioned, and Nyad takes pills for a headache that turn out to be a drug she is allergic to.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateReal danger at sea: lightning storms, sharks kept away by an electric field, painful jellyfish stings, a woman revived after nearly drowning, vomiting and exhausted hallucinations. The abuse flashbacks, with a girl crying afterward and screaming underwater in a pool, are upsetting.
Sensitive topics
- Sexual assault
- Child abuse
- Domestic abuse
Worth talking about
Nyad says she survived abuse by refusing to be a victim. Talk with your teen about how trauma can shape a person for decades, and who a young person can tell if an adult crosses a line.
On our lists
Similar picks around 14+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, movieguide.org, 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.