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Movie · Music, Drama · 2021 · PG-13

Tick, Tick... Boom!: parents' guide

13+our pick

Best for ages 13 and up. Rated PG-13 for some strong language, some suggestive material and drug references.

A heartfelt musical biopic for tweens and teens about Jonathan Larson, the composer of Rent, racing to make it before he turns 30. The content is fairly mild for a PG-13: a few s-words and one crude word for female anatomy, a couple who start making out in bed and stop, party drinking, drug talk and one brief scene of a character smoking a joint. The emotional weight comes from the AIDS crisis: a friend lands in the hospital, another reveals he is HIV positive, and the film notes Larson's own sudden death at 35. Best for about 13 and up, and great for theater kids.

What's in it

Violence

None

No violence. The only physical harm is illness: a friend in the hospital with AIDS and talk of friends who have died of it.

Language

Moderate

Plugged In counted three s-words; there's also one 'p---y,' plus 'hell,' 'ass,' 'crap' and 'damn.' God's and Jesus' names are used as exclamations about five times. No f-words were noted.

Sex and nudity

Mild

Jon and his girlfriend kiss passionately and fall into bed, where he climbs on top of her and tugs at her dress before they stop. Also: a song with sexual innuendo, an underwear catalog, street posters for sex shows and a shirtless man.

Drinking, drugs and smoking

Strong

In one scene a character smokes a marijuana joint, per the UK's BBFC, though Common Sense reports no drug use shown. A party guest praises the drugs at artists' parties, adults drink beer, wine and liquor, and some smoke cigarettes.

Scary or intense scenes

Mild

No peril or scary scenes. The AIDS crisis hangs over the story: a friend is shown in a hospital bed, Jon mentions theater friends who have died, another friend reveals he is HIV positive, and an epilogue about Larson's sudden death may bring tears.

Worth talking about

Jon nearly loses his girlfriend and best friend while chasing his dream. Ask your teen how to balance big goals with the people who support them.

Where to stream →

On our lists

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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, movieguide.org, the MPA, Wikipedia, 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.