The Conjuring: parents' guide
Best for ages 15 and up. Rated R for sequences of disturbing violence and terror.
A polished, very scary haunted-house film for teens who enjoy horror and can still sleep afterward. Real-life paranormal investigators help a family of seven whose farmhouse is plagued by a malevolent spirit. It earned its R almost entirely for fear: blood is limited, language is mild, and sexual content is a joke and a cutaway. What matters for families is the relentless suspense, a possessed mother turning on her own children, a family dog found dead, and a back story of suicide and child sacrifice. Catholic exorcism rituals are central to the climax.
What's in it
Violence
ModerateUnseen forces drag girls by the hair and feet, slam people into walls and glass, and choke them. A possessed woman spits blood, a man's face is clawed bloody, and a mother tries to stab her daughter.
Language
ModerateOne s-word, a handful of 'goddamn' and 'damn,' a 'hell,' a 'piss' and an unfinished 'son of a...' No f-words; the rest of the language is mild.
Sex and nudity
MildA married couple jokes about 'christening' the new house before the camera cuts away, and the investigators share a wedding-night joke. A chaste kiss; no nudity.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
MildAdults drink wine and whiskey, and a man falls asleep at his desk beside a glass of whiskey. No drunkenness or drugs.
Scary or intense scenes
StrongNear-constant dread with many jump scares, a sinister doll, ghostly children, a body hanging from a tree, birds smashing dead into windows, and a long, violent exorcism of a mother.
Sensitive topics
- Suicide
- Animal death
- Child abuse
- Death of a child
Worth talking about
The film is billed as based on a true story. Talk with your teen about how filmmakers use that label and how much of a 'true' horror story is invented.
On our lists
Similar picks around 15+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, Wikipedia, movieguide.org. 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.