Shiva Baby: parents' guide
Best for ages 16 and up. Not formally rated.
A sharp, anxious comedy for older teens and adults, set almost entirely at a Jewish post-funeral gathering where a college senior runs into her ex-girlfriend and the older married man who pays her for sex, along with his wife and baby. It opens with a strong sex scene followed by brief breast nudity, and sex work, sexting and oral sex come up throughout. Language is strong, though there's no violence. The awkward tension is very funny but can feel stressful. The frank sexual content makes it best for 16 and up.
What's in it
Violence
NoneNo violence. Tempers flare in arguments, a vase gets knocked over in a scuffle over the baby, and an accident leaves a small cut on a woman's leg.
Language
StrongMany f-words, plus 'shit,' 'bitch,' 'ass' and 'whore,' used in arguments and banter throughout the film.
Sex and nudity
StrongOpens with a sex scene with loud moaning and thrusting, followed by a glimpse of bare breasts. Later a woman tries to start oral sex, sends a topless photo, and older women give blunt sexual advice.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
MildAdults drink wine at the gathering, and there's one passing reference to smoking pot. No one is shown drunk or high.
Scary or intense scenes
MildNothing scary, but mounting anxiety, a constantly crying baby and jittery music create a stressful mood. Danielle has what look like anxiety attacks, struggles to eat, and relatives joke about whether she has an eating disorder.
Worth talking about
Danielle says her arrangement with Max gives her a sense of control. What do you think she's really looking for, and why does she hide so much from her family?
On our lists
Similar picks around 16+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, bbfc.co.uk, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes, ageratingjuju.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.