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Movie · Drama, Comedy, Sci-fi · 1998 · PG

The Truman Show: parents' guide

10+our pick

Best for ages 10 and up. Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

A clever, thought-provoking fable that tweens and parents can enjoy together. Truman is a cheerful insurance man who slowly realizes that his whole life, from his town to his wife and best friend, is a round-the-clock reality TV show. Content is light: some mild swearing with an s-word, beer drinking, and innuendo that goes over young heads. The tensest moments are a flashback in which young Truman sees his father swept overboard in a storm, and a manufactured storm that nearly drowns him as an adult. The ideas about privacy and manipulation suit 10 and up best.

What's in it

Violence

Mild

Mostly pushing, shoving and a car chase. During a tense argument at home, a sharp kitchen tool is held near someone's neck. A staged boating accident and a later engineered storm put Truman in danger, without injury detail.

Language

Moderate

Infrequent, about a dozen mild profanities in all: at least one s-word, plus 'son of a bitch,' 'bastard,' 'ass,' 'damn,' 'goddammit' and Jesus' name as an exclamation. No f-words.

Sex and nudity

Mild

Kissing and close dancing, and mild innuendo where the camera cuts away from the married couple. The show's creator plans to broadcast the conception of a baby. No nudity.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Mild

Truman's best friend nearly always shows up with a six-pack, and they drink beer together. A little cigarette smoking. No drunkenness or drugs.

Scary or intense scenes

Moderate

A flashback shows young Truman watching his father swept overboard and seemingly drown in a storm, leaving him terrified of water. Later the show's creator orders a violent storm that capsizes Truman's boat. Learning that everyone has lied to him can unsettle.

Sensitive topics

  • Death of a parent

Worth talking about

Ask what Truman gives up and gains by leaving a safe, controlled life, and how much of what we see on screens today is staged for an audience.

Where to stream →

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, movieguide.org, Plugged In, moviemom.com, the-numbers.com, 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.