As summer draws to a close, the countdown for the return to school is on! Check out our list of back-to-school films that will get your children ready for their first day. We've included the age rating and content advice for each film to help you choose what's right for you and your family.
Inside Out (2015)
very mild threat
When her father starts a new job in the city, the emotions inside a girl's head have to come to terms with her new home and life. The film deals with emotional upheaval in a comic and reassuring manner.
threat and horror
Very mild threat in several scenes where characters have to avoid danger, including where the ground is falling away beneath them, and a scene where they have to avoid a slightly scary clown character. These sequences are quickly resolved.
There are some sad moments, but the overall message of the film emphasises that sadness is an important and essential emotion and that it is normal to feel sad sometimes. The character Anger mentions several times that he knows "a curse word" but we never hear him say it. Bad language is very mild and includes the terms 'sucker', 'what the heck' and 'moron'.
Monsters University (2013)
mild slapstick and comic threat
Prequel to Monsters Inc, in which Mike and Sully first meet at college and move from being rivals to friends, while learning to be scary. Comic threat and slapstick are unlikely to upset even very young children.
violence
Scenes of mild slapstick include a chase sequence during which students and objects are knocked over. In one scene a wardrobe falls on top of a character, and at another point various characters enter a game in which they must dodge a number of neon balls which target them as they run.
threat and horror
Mild comic threat occurs when the 'monster' students have to learn how to scare their victims. Any scenes of threat are brief, mild and comic in nature, occur within a fantasy world, and are balanced by reassuring outcomes.
The film also contains one use of very mild bad language ('jerk').
High School Musical (2006)
no material likely to offend or harm
A popular high school athlete and an academically gifted girl get roles in the school musical and develop a friendship that threatens East High's social order.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023)
mild sex references, references to racism, emotional upset
A 12-year-old girl navigates growing up in this uplifting coming of age drama. Frank and relatable discussion of early-adolescent anxieties such as menstruation, bras and boys is accompanied by humour and is gentle in tone.
language
Use of very mild bad language occurs (‘Jesus’, ‘God’, ‘damn’, ‘hell’).
sex
Adolescent girls frequently discuss kissing boys, getting periods and their desire for their breasts to grow. They sing a comic chant in the hope it will increase their bust sizes. In one scene, they giggle as they study an illustration of male genitals in a scientific anatomy book. They later look at a topless centrefold in a pornographic magazine but no nudity is visible. A 12 year old girl is gossiped about and rumoured to be promiscuous because she is more physically developed than her peers. The attitude towards the girl is condemned and characters’ later regret their behaviour towards her. A boy briefly mocks a girl because of her small breast size and characters kiss on the lips.
discrimination
A woman becomes tearful as she describes her parents’ antisemitic attitude to her marrying a Jewish man and the disapproval of their interfaith relationship. There is a reference to them saying she will go to hell if the marriage goes ahead.
rude humour
An older woman jokes about farting in her sleep.
injury detail
A man accidentally cuts his finger on a lawn mower and there is very brief sight of blood in the aftermath. A girl has sore blisters on the back of heels after wearing shoes without socks.
theme
Scenes include mild emotional upset from family disagreements about religion and faith as well as from the trials and tribulations of puberty and growing up.
Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical (2022)
mild threat, comic violence
This musical, based on Roald Dahl's classic book, is emotional, comic and uplifting. There are scary moments, as well as some upsetting scenes involving abusive behaviour, which could be upsetting for younger children.
violence
Mild comic violence includes a headteacher swings one of her students around by the hair before throwing her over a wall. In one scene she stretches a boy's ears in a fantastical manner. She also throws a school boy into a bin.
threat and horror
There are scenes of threat in which a girl's neglectful parents are verbally cruel to her. In one scene the child's father pushes her to the floor of her bedroom. In another scene a girl lies on a cellar floor after being locked there by her aunt. During a flashback it is implied a woman is about to hit a child. Fantastical scenes which take place at a circus depict an acrobat with dynamite strapped to her body. There are also scenes in which a pantomime-esq villainous headteacher threatens to imprison her students in tiny cells with metal spikes.
flashing/flickering lights
This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
There is very mild bad language ('hell'). There is also rude humour, such as fart and burp jokes. A father who was hoping his newborn would be a boy is disappointed by the baby's lack of a "winky dink". He later behaves in a sexist manner towards his daughter, referring to her as a boy. There is dangerous behaviour in which a child dances on a roof during a musical number. She also plays tricks on her father, such as putting glue into his hat to make it stick to his head.
Tall Girl (2019)
mild violence, discriminatory references
Jodi, the tallest girl in her high school, has always felt uncomfortable in her own skin. But after years of slouching, being made fun of, and avoiding attention at all costs, Jodi finally decides to find the confidence to stand tall.
violence
Mild violence includes a young person punching another for insulting the girl he likes.
discrimination
There are discriminatory quips about a young girl’s height, which are clearly intended to make her feel self conscious.
There is also very mild bad language (‘jerk’, ‘screwed’, ‘oh god’).
Wonder (2017)
mild bad language, violence, scenes of emotional upset
WONDER is a US drama in which a boy with facial disfigurements struggles to fit in at a mainstream school.
violence
Altercations between youngsters contain undetailed kicks and punches. A boy sustains a minor head wound after being pushed over.
language
Mild bad language includes uses of 'crap', 'jerk', 'buttface' and 'God'.
theme
There are several scenes depicting characters in distress, including the central character crying about being bullied, falling out with a friend and the death of his dog. Members of his family provide reassurance, and the narrative is ultimately uplifting.
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (2010)
mild language
Greg Heffley is a 12 year old who is fresh out of elementary and transitions to middle school, where he has to learn the consequences and responsibility to survive the year.
language
There is one use each of 'crap' and 'crappy', as well as uses of 'moron', 'butt', 'tool', 'jerk', 'fricking' and 'God'.
There are also some very mild references to pornography in a story-line about Greg finding a magazine hidden under his older brother's bed. The magazine has a picture of a woman wearing a bikini on the cover. Greg's mother subsequently discovers the magazine and expresses her disgust, stating that the magazine is offensive to women. However, no further detail is seen.
Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone (2001)
mild threat, violence, language
An orphaned boy joins the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry where he learns about magic with his two closest friends. Scary scenes are resolved quickly and moments of tension are balanced by humour.
violence
There are scenes of mild violence after a boy is threatened by an evil wizard. The young boy presses his hands on the wizard's head and it starts to burn, causing his body to disintegrate. There is also a fantastical chess match, in which one of the main characters is attacked with a sword. However, no blows make contact and the character emerges uninjured.
threat and horror
There are moments of mild threat, including a scene in which a boy falls into a snake pit, a scene in which three friends defeat a troll and another in which a character is chased through a spooky forest.
language
There is use of mild bad language ('arse', 'bugger', 'bloody'), as well as milder terms ('God', 'damn').
theme
It is suggested that a young boy doesn't have a particularly enjoyable home life, but none of these scenes are upsetting. There are references to his parents being killed, which some viewers may find upsetting, although their deaths are not shown.
It is suggested that a young boy doesn't have a particularly enjoyable home life, but none of these scenes are upsetting.
Mean Girls (2023)
moderate sex references, language, discrimination
A naive teenager navigates the cliques and power dynamics of high school in this musical comedy. Sexual humour and bullying occurs throughout, but there are positive messages around honesty, acceptance and friendship.
violence
Scenes of bullying occur throughout, in person and via social media. People are ridiculed for their appearance, body shape, personalities and sexuality. This sometimes erupts in comically staged physical violence, and scenes in which people are hurt and offended by the behaviour of others. However, the film ultimately promotes honesty and acceptance.
language
There are implied and partial uses of strong language ('f**k', 'motherf**ker') in comic contexts. Moderate bad language ('bitch', 'slut', 'whore', 'dick') and milder terms also feature, including 'shit', 'ass', 'asshole', 'crap', 'pissed', 'screwed', 'hell' and 'frickin''. There is also use of middle finger gestures.
sex
Sex references occur throughout, including to promiscuity and having sex, condoms, and a passing reference to choking. There is use of terms such as 'slutty', 'sexy', 'horny' and 'humping'. Choreography and lyrics occasionally focus on female characters' breasts. People kiss passionately in some scenes.
discrimination
Students at the school display bullying behaviour towards others, including homophobic language and behaviour. However, such actions are clearly condemned.
drugs
Comic references are made to drugs, including heroin, but without instructional or promotional detail. A teacher is aggrieved when she is falsely accused of dealing drugs by a student.
rude humour
There is infrequent rude humour, including poop jokes and a teenager having a "heavy flow" during her period.
theme
Teenage characters are self-conscious about their weight. A girl is tricked into eating weight-gain bars under the belief they will help her lose weight.
alcohol and smoking
There are scenes in which underage teens drink unnamed beverages at parties, although the ensuing drunken behaviour has disastrous results for the protagonist.
flashing/flickering lights
This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
The School For Good And Evil (2022)
violence, threat, injury detail
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL is a fantasy adventure film in which two best friends are swept away to a magical school where they find themselves at opposite ends in the fight of good vs evil.
violence
There is moderate violence when men and woman battle using bladed weapons and their magical powers. In one scene a man stabs a man in the back, however there is no strong detail.
threat and horror
In brief scenes of moderate horror teenagers are dragged away at speed by black creatures with red eyes. In one prolonged scene of fantasy threat characters are pursued by a reaper with a scythe who tries to kill them.
injury detail
There is some emphasis on blood within a fantastical context, including a scene in which a woman strikes an evil magical being with a sword causing him to disintegrate in to bloody droplets. In one scene a character who is turning into a witch pulls out one of her teeth, but it's brief with no focus on gore.
flashing/flickering lights
This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.
The film features mild bad language ('shit' and 'ass') and very mild terms ('God' and 'hell'). There is also a brief suicide reference when a teenager tries to jump from a building, but this is within a fantastical context. In one scene, a teenage girl is briefly coerced in to a kiss by an evil male character.
Night School (2018)
moderate sex references, infrequent strong language
NIGHT SCHOOL is a comedy in which a group of adults attend night school in order to pass their high school exams.
language
There is infrequent strong language ('f**k') as well as milder terms including 'frickin', 'goddamn', 'asshole', 'ass', 'titties', 'shit', 'bullshit', 'damn', 'bitch', 'dumbass', 'douchebag', 'pissed', 'hell', 'screw', 'son of a bitch', as well as the term 'n***a'.
sex
Moderate sex references include sight of a sex toy, a man receiving pictures of his fiancee in her lingerie and frequent comic references to "walnut" sex (ie. anal sex) and STDs, which are discussed in vague terms.
Spider-man: Homecoming (2017)
moderate fantasy violence, threat, sex references, obscured strong language
SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING is a superhero fantasy action adventure in which a high-schooler with super powers attempts to prove himself worthy of a position on the 'Avengers' team by foiling an arms dealer.
violence
There are several fight scenes featuring crunchy blows. People are slammed into cars or walls, or blasted with energy guns. A superpowered character is struck with a bus but is not seriously hurt. There is barely any injury detail beyond a few small cuts and bruises on a superhero's face.
threat and horror
A group of teenagers is trapped in a lift at the top of a crumbling building. The lift falls but the teens are saved. In another scene Spider-Man struggles to prevent a passenger ferry from sinking after it is cut in two. We hear people screaming but no one is hurt.
language
A woman exclaims, "What the f...?", but the scene ends before the word is completed. Another scene contains bleeped-out words that are implied to be bad language. Milder terms include 'bastard', 'asshole', 'shit', 'bullshit', 'frigging', 'ass', 'crap' and 'ballsy'. There is also infrequent use of the rude 'middle finger' gesture.
sex
A teenager is caught using his computer for crime-fighting activity but lies that he is 'looking at porn' instead. In another scene a group of teens is overheard playing a game of "F, Marry, Kill".