Is Rain Man appropriate for children?

# Rain Man - Parental Guide This R-rated drama follows two estranged brothers discovering each other after their father's death, but contains strong language and violence throughout. The film includes some sexual content and emotionally intense scenes that may disturb younger children. It's best suited for mature teens and adults interested in character-driven storytelling.

What age is Rain Man suitable for?

Our verdict for Rain Man is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is Rain Man safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

Strong

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

Moderate

About this movie

Type

Movie

Released

1988

Rating

Genre

Drama

Synopsis

When car dealer Charlie Babbitt learns that his estranged father has died, he returns home to Cincinnati, where he discovers that he has a savant older brother named Raymond and that his father's $3 million fortune is being left to the mental institution in which Raymond lives. Motivated by his father's money, Charlie checks Raymond out of the facility in order to return with him to Los Angeles. The brothers' cross-country trip ends up changing both their lives.

Cast

Dustin Hoffman

Raymond Babbitt

Tom Cruise

Charlie Babbitt

Valeria Golino

Susanna

Gerald R. Molen

Dr. Bruner

Full cast on IMDb ›

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

The Shawshank Redemption

Not recommended

Forrest Gump

Not recommended

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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