The Big Sick: parents' guide
Best for ages 15 and up. Rated R for language including some sexual references.
A warm, funny and often moving romantic comedy for older teens and adults. Based on a true story, a Pakistani American comic's relationship collapses over his family's expectation of an arranged marriage, then his ex falls gravely ill and is placed in a coma while he gets to know her parents. Plugged In counted about 60 f-words, sex is implied and joked about but not shown, and characters sometimes drink to excess. A racist heckler and the tense hospital scenes may upset some viewers. The language is the main reason for 15.
What's in it
Violence
MildNo real violence. Kumail angrily knocks over a trash can, and Emily's mother lunges at a racist heckler during a comedy show. Couples argue harshly.
Language
StrongPlugged In counted about 60 f-words, a dozen s-words and frequent misuse of God's name, plus 'bitch,' 'prick,' 'dick' and crude words for anatomy and bodily fluids in stand-up routines.
Sex and nudity
ModerateA couple sleeps together after a date, then kisses and cuddles under the sheets, partly undressed but with no nudity shown; Kumail is also seen in bed with another woman. Crude stand-up jokes about sex acts and anatomy, and an infidelity is discussed.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateFrequent drinking of wine, whiskey and shots; three main characters get drunk together and one passes out. A comic is implied to use cocaine, and there are jokes about other drugs and past marijuana use.
Scary or intense scenes
ModerateEmily's fast-spreading infection and medically induced coma leave her survival in doubt for much of the film, with tense hospital scenes and frightened family. No graphic medical imagery.
Sensitive topics
- Racism
Worth talking about
Kumail hides his relationship from parents who expect an arranged marriage. How do you balance respect for family and culture with making your own choices?
On our lists
Similar picks around 15+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, movieguide.org, the MPA. 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.