The Fly
8.2/10
jumps
6
gore
10
dread
8
Tap a dot to add your rating.
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Cronenberg's remake is a doomed romance wearing a body-horror exoskeleton: a brilliant man dissolves by inches while the woman who loves him watches. The Brundlefly makeup is legendary, but it's the tenderness that makes the ending land like a funeral.
The Fly (1986) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 96 minutes |
| Jump scares | 3/5 — moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences |
| Gore | 5/5 — extreme gore — not for the squeamish |
| Dread | 4/5 — heavy atmosphere — expect it to sit with you afterwards |
| Themes | graphic bodily transformation |
The Fly is rated R by the MPA. We score it 3/5 for jump scares, 5/5 for gore and 4/5 for lingering dread, over 96 minutes. Weigh the gore first: extreme gore — not for the squeamish. Older teens and adults, mostly on the strength of what it shows.
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 Fly?
- On our intensity scale, The Fly rates 6/10 for jump scares and 8/10 for dread. It is moderately scary, with a handful of strong sequences.
- How gory is The Fly?
- The Fly rates 10/10 for gore — expect extreme gore — not for the squeamish.
- How long is The Fly?
- The Fly runs 96 minutes (1h 36m).
- What is The Fly rated?
- The Fly is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 6/10 for jump scares, 10/10 for gore and 8/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch The Fly (1986)?
- The Fly is not on major US subscription streamers right now — look for it on digital rental or purchase (Apple TV, Prime Video, or your usual store).
