Why is movie Everything Everywhere All At Once rated R?

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Everything Everywhere All at Once is a trippy sci-fi/fantasy martial arts adventure from the directors of the dark comedy Swiss Army Man. It centers on a middle-aged laundromat owner named Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh), who discovers she must help save the multiverse during a routine trip to file her business taxes. Expect occasional strong language (mostly several uses of "f--k" and "s--t"), as well as plenty of violence, including stylized martial arts sequences that use both real and improvised weapons and include close-range brawling. There are a few deaths and a couple of bloody scenes. People kiss, there are super-quick shots of the main character making love (the focus is on her face or back), and you'll see fighting sex toys (both as weapons and skill amplifiers). Diverse representation includes a non-stereotypical Chinese American family and two women over 50 in central roles, as well as two women in a loving and supportive relationship. Families will have plenty to discuss after watching the movie, which is best suited for older teens and adults.

Community Reviews

  • Parents say (16)
  • Kids say (33)

April 15, 2022

Truly amazing movie, but not appropriate for children.

This is one of the best movies I have ever seen, delightfully smart and funny, with a perfect amount of energizing and cleverly choreographed Kung Fu moments. However, when considering whether or not it is an appropriate movie for kids, I think some of the other reviews I’ve read are misleading. I watched it with my 14-year-old, and I don’t regret doing so, however, you really do have to be prepared to have conversations about sex toys and sexual preferences, and how they fit in this movie as a comedic element. They are featured quite heavily in a couple of the fight sequences , regardless of the complete lack of actual sex scenes.

11 people found this helpful.

May 14, 2022

Bloody sex toys as weapons?

Think foot long bloody sex toys being used to kill a security guard and violent (meant to be comical) anal penetration during a fight scene. This movie is meant to take a comedic approach but it was unexpectedly graphic at times. Some BDSM (ball gag etc) references as well. The acting was great, the multiverse theme was very creative but overall it was excessive and gratuitous. The feel good family reconciliation in the end and ‘nothing matters except your own happiness’ finale fell flat. Every review I read was glowing, and I love Michelle Yeoh but I genuinely contemplated leaving before the end of the movie. Important to note there are mature sexual themes relating to violence, not my cup of tea.

This title has:

Too much violence

Too much sex

5 people found this helpful.

What's the Story?

In EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, Evelyn Wong (Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), have an important appointment to file their taxes at their local IRS office because their laundromat's business taxes are under review. Complicating the day is Evelyn's elderly father (James Hong), who's visiting from China, and her daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), who tried to introduce her girlfriend to him, much to Evelyn's chagrin. On the way to see their IRS agent, Deirdre (Jamie Lee Curtis), with a shopping caddy full of receipts, Evelyn has a bizarre encounter with Waymond, who explains that at that moment, he's a Waymond from the multiverse and that she could be just the Evelyn he's looking for in an attempt to defeat a common villain who's about to destroy the universe with cult-like devotees. She's just one of many Evelyns across the multiverse, and in order to "verse jump" to attain her other selves' skills, she has to perform tasks both wacky and mundane, like switching shoes to the wrong feet, drinking half-and-half, giving herself four papercuts, and, in one case, sitting on a butt plug. Using all of her other versions' skills, Evelyn just might be able to keep the villain from sucking everyone and everything into the void.

Is It Any Good?

A crowd-pleasing, genre-bending adventure that's funny, dizzying, and infinitely memorable, this movie is also a lot. If the screenplays for Kung Fu Hustle, The Matrix, Being John Malkovich, Spaceballs, Kill Bill, and Spider-Man: No Way Home were blended together, the result would approximate this movie. There's much to keep track of, and the filmmakers ingeniously wrap layers and layers onto what sounds like a boring framing story: A 50-something Chinese couple tries to refile their taxes on the same day they throw a party at their laundromat to impress their elderly father/father-in-law. But there's nothing remotely boring or predictable about what happens throughout the day, as Evelyn expands her consciousness through the silliest of tasks to psychically visit other versions of herself based on all the "sliding door" decisions she's made. The cast is all praise-worthy, but particular kudos go to Yeoh, Quan, and Curtis for their joyously watchable performances. Hsu and Hong are also fabulous as the melancholy (and ironically named) Joy and the stubborn Chinese father who each have a complicated relationship with Evelyn.

Speaking of joy, it's best to see this film knowing only that it's worth seeing. While there aren't a lot of huge twists, there's a definite nonsensical and communal energy to it all, and it's ideal to watch it surrounded by laughing, cringing, and even crying moviegoers. One multiverse sight gag worth teasing involves a Ratatouille-like conceit, except the animal is a raccoon, not a rat. That one features Harry Shum Jr. as the Linguini-like chef at a Japanese steakhouse where one of the multi-Evelyns works. It's not only hilarious, but, like the movie, surprisingly touching. Parent-child issues are a major theme, and the story explores heavy topics such as depression, ennui, marital disappointment, and homophobia, but with a heavy dose of levity, googly eyes, and hope.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Everything Everywhere All at Once. When is it funny, and when is it dark? What's the impact of it, and why is it necessary to the story?

  • Discuss mental health and family dynamics and how they're depicted in the movie. What do the main characters learn from their experiences?

  • Which of the multiverse Evelyns was your favorite? How did all of the Evelyns' skills help the main Evelyn fulfill her destiny? How about the various Waymonds?

  • Discuss the importance of racial, ethnic, and generational representation in popular culture. Can you think of other movies that center Asian characters or older women?

  • How do the characters demonstrate courage, empathy, self-control, and teamwork? What makes those important character strengths?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: March 25, 2022
  • On DVD or streaming: June 7, 2022
  • Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu
  • Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
  • Studio: A24
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • Topics: STEM, Sports and Martial Arts
  • Character Strengths: Courage, Empathy, Self-control, Teamwork
  • Run time: 132 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: some violence, sexual material
  • Last updated: November 25, 2022

Why does Everything Everywhere All at Once have an R rating?

A poster for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, directed by Daniels. The film is rated R for sexual material, language and violence.

Does Everything Everywhere All at Once have inappropriate scenes?

The film contains scenes where sex paraphernalia are used in non-sexual contexts for humorous effect.

Is there anything inappropriate in everything everything?

Everything everything is a great elementary and middle school read. Though it may be a bit challenging for a seven year old to understand, many could. It has a small sex scene in the story plot. If your child is younger, like seven or eight, you may decide it's to much for them to read.

Is Everything Everywhere All at Once a kids movie?

Overall, I'd say this story is 13+.