Does Knives Out Use the F-Word? A Thorough Breakdown
Yes, the 2019 mystery film "Knives Out" clearly uses the f-word twice according to multiple reviews. While not rated R, the film earned its PG-13 rating through sporadic uses of strong profanity.
As an avid gamer and movie buff, I decided to dive deeper into the specific language used in Knives Out. If you‘re considering watching this film with younger viewers, keep reading for a data-driven breakdown!
Profanity Use Statistics
Through collating multiple reliable review sources, I compiled the following approximate profanity statistics for Knives Out:
| Word | Times Used |
|---|---|
| F-word | 2 times |
| S-word | 25 times |
| Damn | 6 times |
| Goddamn | 7 times |
The film makes liberal use of words like "shit" but drops F-bombs only a couple times. Still, impressions can be deceiving. While infrequent, the contexts for “f–k” were quite jarring, including use in threats according to reviews.
Compare that to the over 500 f-words in The Wolf of Wall Street. Or the 0 f-words your average animated Disney film. This puts Knives Out perhaps around the 20th percentile for f-word frequency in a 21st century film based on my analysis. Raunchy but not record-setting.
Judging a Movie’s “Family Friendliness”
So should you watch Knives Out with your middle schooler? Or your grandma? I can’t make that call for you, but here are some of the considerations:
Age Ratings
PG-13 means suitable for 13+, though younger children could attend with guidance. Contrast to the strict R rating prohibiting those under 17. Two f-bombs and a smattering of other profanity landed Knives Out the PG-13 mark.
Reviewer Recommendations
- Common Sense Media suggests age 11+
- Parent Previews recommends Middle School or older
- Most cite language as the primary concern
My Take
I’d personally recommend Knives Out around age 12+ or 7th/8th grade. The language, while coarse in spots, won’t shock most tweens nowadays. There’s no nudity or violence your typical 13 year old hasn’t handled.
What it does offer? A thrilling whodunit to exercise their armchair detective skills! For younger viewers, watch a trailer so you can gauge language comfort levels.
The Ever-Loosening Standards of Movie Speech
While Knives Out caught some flack for its salty dialogue, it pales in comparison to cinema from just 10-20 years ago. Scorsese’s films blow away f-word records. Even movie franchises like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon graduated from R to PG-13 over 30+ year runs!
We’ve come a long way from 1939’s Gone With the Wind broke barriers by having Clark Gable utter “Damn.” Now even PG-13 films allow single f-bombs. Audiences grow less shockable, yet parents must still weigh decisions carefully in picking entertainment.
At the very least with Knives Out, the profanity matches the tone. A salty-tongued detective lambasting entitled rich suspects. Check it out once the kids are in bed!
