Parents Guide for
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) More at IMDbPro »

suggested mpaa rating: PG for Mild Thematic Elements and some Violent Images

Note: The number at the beginning of each section refers to how much explicit content of that kind there is in the film on a scale of 1-10. The fraction at the end of the last section is the total sum of the sections over the highest sum possible (50), and is therefore an approximation of about how explicit the film is as a whole.

Sex and Nudity: None.

Note: In the beginning scenes there are human-like apes (actors in costume) along with two juvenile chimpanzees. Since chimpanzees don't wear clothes, describing them as "nude" doesn't quite seem appropriate. There is a human fetus shown (normal & healthy) at the very end.

Violence and Gore: 3

There is a short scene in the beginning where apes kill another ape. (It should not be offensive to animal lovers as the apes were played by humans.)

A computer system (HAL) kills 3 scientists/doctors by electronically cutting off their life support during their time in hibernation.

A man, outside of a spaceship, dies from lack of oxygen (caused by the HAL computer system).

Profanity: 2

Mild language presented. Words included are a few 'hells' and 'damns', said quickly and casually in conversation.

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking: 1

Some alcohol is consumed.

Frightening/Intense scenes: 8

There is some intensity where HAL, a computer system that has full control over a spaceship, kills 3 hibernating scientists/doctors by electronically cutting off their life supports. We also see an astronaut floating in space, supposedly after being hit by a space pod (controlled by HAL). There are also tense (but tamer) scenes involving the robot denying one astronaut entrance into the spaceship, and leaving him to die (although he does make it back into the spaceship).

When Dave takes out HAL's crystals from the memory center, he pleads Dave to stop. He tells Dave he can feel the pain, and "he" is afraid, etc. HAL later sings Daisy Bell in an increasingly low voice (due to slowly "shutting down").(This is more emotional than disturbing.)

An astronaut travels into a star gate/portal into another dimension. The following colorful visuals accompanied by a haunting music arrangement (which runs for about 10+ minutes) may be a little disturbing for some viewers. He is later shown in hotel room with an older version of himself, and finally turns into fetus.

The film deals with a lot of things that our physics cannot explain, and this in it's self is instinctively thought provoking and frightening. There is no benefit of any definite conclusions, so the film leaves you with a harrowing effect that does not alow you to stop thinking about the sometimes disturbing and unexplainable imagery.

Most of the film contains mysterious, surreal and creepy atmosphere and imagery, and is accompanied by an eerie score at times. Also, sometimes the silence of space can achieve the exact same effect of being eerie.

Like all of Stanley Kubrick's work, the films plot is very mature and thought provoking. Younger viewers will not understand the complexity of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Its content is more appropriate of a PG or even a PG-13 rating, rather than the G rating it has been assigned.

An idea of how accurate the TECE (below) is: 1-10 is a little-kid suitable, G-Rated type of film (i.e. Care Bears, Sleeping Beauty); 10-15 is going to be a little harsher, but not by much (i.e. The Incredibles); 15-20 could be pretty high up there (i.e. Indiana Jones); 20-25 is good for anyone around 12 (i.e. The Dark Knight); 25-30 is going to be a film most likely not suitable for anyone that is squeamish or immature; 30-40 is recommended for around 15-16 and up; 40+ is pretty much for adults, with ratings such as heavy R and NC-17 (i.e. A Clockwork Orange).

Overall Rating: 15