Is In The Heights Suitable For Children?

In the Heights is finally being released after a year-long delay, but is it suitable for children or is the movie made with adults in mind? The musical first made its Broadway debut in 2008 and has been going strong ever since with national tours and general praise for the book and music, which was written by Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda. After a long journey to get to the big screen, audiences can finally head to the heart of New York for a Carnaval del Barrio. 

Set in the midst of a heatwave in July, Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) tells a group of children the story of Washington Heights and its people, including his friends Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), Nina (Leslie Grace), and Benny (Corey Hawkins). Directed by Jon M. Chu, In the Heights is expected to make a spectacular summertime splash as it tells the stories of various characters from the Latin American community. Music, dancing, and celebrations of life and culture await. Thanks to COVID-19 and last year’s theater closures, the film is one of many that will simultaneously debut in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service, where it will be available for 30 days. 

In the Heights is officially rated PG-13. The “13” portion of the rating isn’t necessarily an encouraging sign that the movie is okay for kids to watch, but ratings can be confusing considering their limitations; it always depends on the reasons for why the film has been given a particular rating. In the case of In the Heights, the film has some suggestive references, but the romantic exchanges between Usnavi and Vanessa, Nina and Benny play out with some harmless flirtation and pining that happens. The suggestive references themselves are barely a blip on the radar and not too on the nose that kids will necessarily pick up on it. There is also some very mild cursing in the film, but there are no F-bombs being dropped at every turn or anything. Again, the film’s use of profanities is miniscule, with a “damn” dropped here or there in passing (and mostly in stressful situations). 

What’s more, Usnavi is telling his entire story to children throughout the film and that alone speaks to its accessibility to younger audiences. They’re riveted by the story and it’s likely the kids who watch the film will be, too. All this to say that the movie musical is ultimately safe for kids to watch. There is a lot of singing and dancing, tame jokes, and serious moments throughout, including some parent-child tension, but it’s the kind of film that generally caters to everyone as it’s genuinely hopeful and happy. Whereas musicals like Into the Woods had some obviously scary moments and dark themes, and Rent and Chicago were certainly musicals geared more toward adults with their subject matter, In the Heights has a style, story, and songs that are very family-friendly. 

The film is summer fun wrapped in a film, with an electric energy and musical beats that kids will likely find engaging and singing along to afterward. It’s possible that much of the audience for In the Heights will be adults, but there’s nothing about the film that is inherently inappropriate for children. Warner Bros. is expecting the musical adaptation to resonate with audiences of all ages. It’s an event film and certainly the kind of theater/at-home viewing experience adults should feel safe watching and enjoying with kids.

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Mae Abdulbaki
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Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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