The Princess Bride

Why Is The Princess Bride Rated PG?

Played out in swashbuckling, melodramatic style, The Princess Bride‘s biggest concern for family viewers will be it’s violent depictions. While usually intended to invoke humor (like some elaborate sword fights, hand to hand combat and a battle of wits that ends in a death by poisoning), some of the portrayals come off as quite serious (such as characters and an animal impaled by swords and daggers—with blood shown, and a merciless Gestapo who tortures his victim with an unexplained suction-cup machine). Other miscellaneous issues include a kidnapping attempt, death threats, falls down cliffs, attacks by viscous animals, scorches by fire, near suffocation in sandpits, contemplations of suicide and a desire for vengeance. Sexual content is limited to a couple of innuendos and some passionate kisses. There is also a character overcome with drunkenness, a moderate profanity and some terms of deity used as expletives.