The Boy
4.8/10
jumps
6
gore
2
dread
6
Tap a dot to add your rating.
Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix (US, subject to change)
▶ Watch the trailer
How it scared people
The vibe
A nanny is hired to care for a porcelain doll the elderly parents treat as their living son, and the house has rules. A tidy gothic programmer with one big swing of a twist — you'll either roll your eyes or grin. Either way the doll's face does its job.
The Boy (2016) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated PG-13 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 97 minutes |
| Jump scares | 3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences |
| Gore | 1/5 — almost no gore |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | sinister dolls or puppets; characters cut off from help; psychological distress |
The Boy is rated PG-13 by the MPA. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 1/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 97 minutes. Better suited to teens than to younger children.
We rate what the film does — scares, gore, dread — not scene-level content like language or nudity, which we don't track.
Before you press play
- How scary is The Boy?
- On our intensity scale, The Boy rates 6/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences.
- How gory is The Boy?
- The Boy rates 2/10 for gore — expect almost no gore.
- How long is The Boy?
- The Boy runs 97 minutes (1h 37m).
- What is The Boy rated?
- The Boy is rated PG-13 by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 2/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread — the PG-13 tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch The Boy (2016)?
- As of our last update, The Boy is streaming on Netflix in the US. Availability changes, so check your service before settling in.
