They Live
7.8/10
jumps
2
gore
4
dread
6
Tap a dot to add your rating.
Where to watch: Not on major US streamers — check digital rental.
How it scared people
The vibe
Reagan-era rage, distilled into a pair of sunglasses that reveal what the billboards actually say: OBEY. CONSUME. The satire is blunt and the film is better for it. Roddy Piper's endless alley brawl with Keith David, a five-minute fistfight over whether to put the glasses on, is one of cinema's great pointless fights.
They Live (1988) Parents Guide
| MPA rating | Rated R |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 94 minutes |
| Jump scares | 1/5 — mild by horror standards — more unsettling than outright scary |
| Gore | 2/5 — only light gore |
| Dread | 3/5 — a lingering atmosphere that stays for the evening |
| Themes | paranoia and distrust; monster attacks |
They Live is rated R by the MPA. We score it 1/5 for jump scares, 2/5 for gore and 3/5 for lingering dread, over 94 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 They Live?
- On our intensity scale, They Live rates 2/10 for jump scares and 6/10 for dread. It is mild by horror standards — more unsettling than outright scary.
- How gory is They Live?
- They Live rates 4/10 for gore — expect only light gore.
- How long is They Live?
- They Live runs 94 minutes (1h 34m).
- What is They Live rated?
- They Live is rated R by the MPA. On our own scale it rates 2/10 for jump scares, 4/10 for gore and 6/10 for dread — the R tells you what it was certified, those tell you what it will do to you.
- Where to watch They Live (1988)?
- They Live 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).
