The Odyssey: parents' guide
Best for ages 16 and up. Rated R for violence and some language.
An epic, often brutal take on Homer for older teens who can handle sustained battle violence and monsters. Nearly three hours long, it follows Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War, with sword and arrow combat, men devoured by monsters, a Cyclops blinded and a disturbing transformation of men into pigs. Blood is fairly limited, but the violence is frequent, soldiers' sexual violence is implied, a dog is killed, and a king's sacrifice of his young daughter is part of the backstory. A few f-words, implied sex between married characters and brief male rear nudity. Best for 16 and up.
What's in it
Violence
StrongFrequent battles with swords, spears and arrows, including arrows to the head, civilians slaughtered at Troy and men eaten by monsters. Rape by soldiers is implied, not shown, and Helen's scarred face hints at her husband's revenge. A puppy is thrown from a cliff.
Language
ModerateA few strong words: about three f-words and one s-word by one count, plus 'damn,' 'bastard' and 'piss.'
Sex and nudity
ModerateA married couple kisses passionately in bed before a cutaway, and another bedroom scene implies sex. Odysseus's relationship with Calypso is implied. Brief bare male backsides, a nude monster with nothing explicit shown, and sirens in sheer clothing.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
ModerateSuitors feast and drink heavily, and some appear drunk. Odysseus eats lotus flowers that make him forget, and a man dies after drinking poison.
Scary or intense scenes
StrongSustained intensity: a Cyclops and a six-headed sea monster devour men, the dead rise from the earth, a witch painfully turns men into pigs, and a siren lures a sailor to drown. Odysseus also shows signs of war trauma.
Sensitive topics
- Sexual assault
- Animal death
- Death of a child
- Domestic abuse
Worth talking about
Odysseus is celebrated as a hero, yet his choices cost many of his men their lives. Talk about what makes a good leader and whether cleverness justifies deception.
On our lists
Similar picks around 16+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, the MPA, movieguide.org, deseret.com, nbcwashington.com, bark.us, cineparenting.com, netflixjunkie.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.