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Lights Out poster

Lights Out

Movie 2016 81 min Horror, Mystery Checked by Dan S · 12 Oct 2026
Official Rating M ClearAge 12+

Why our age differs

Official is M. We say 12+ because the scares are sharp but short, and parent feedback sits under a full M line

What we flagged

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Violence
Moderate
Frightening
Strong
Language
Moderate

Our take

Lights Out follows a sister trying to protect her younger brother from an entity that appears in the dark. Bedroom and hallway jump scares run alongside their mother's distress and a backstory that includes suicide. The swearing is comparatively limited. We put it at around M and up for the sustained scares and the child's peril.

Uplifting themes

Sisterly protectiveness and asking for help with therapy come through by the end. The horror frame still dominates, but family care is real Rebecca pushes back on denial and tries to shield her brother, even when she is scared herself. Adults are flawed, but the sibling bond is worth noting You might compare how movies turn real illness into monsters versus how families actually support someone in depression. Otherwise treat it as a scare flick

Story (may spoil tone)

Rebecca must unlock the terror behind her little brother's experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.

What we flagged

View all categories

Violence
Moderate
Frightening
Strong
Language
Moderate

Details

Violence Moderate Off-screen suicide and a child's cry that Mom killed Dad add emotional…

Off-screen suicide and a child's cry that Mom killed Dad add emotional violence to shadow attacks. Physical fights with the entity are brief but intense when lights fail

Language Moderate s-word and b-word burst out during scares, with holy s-word when the cr…

s-word and b-word burst out during scares, with holy s-word when the creature appears. Count is moderate for PG-13 horror, but younger kids will notice

Frightening Strong A tall shadow woman, flickering lights, and closet dread drive repeated…

A tall shadow woman, flickering lights, and closet dread drive repeated jump scares. The design is simple but effective, and darkness stays the main weapon

Self-harm / suicide Moderate A parent's suicide is part of the family history that feeds the hauntin…

A parent's suicide is part of the family history that feeds the haunting. It is talked about more than shown, but teens should know before watching with a younger sibling

Child peril / abuse Moderate A young boy is stalked in his bedroom and separated from family when th…

A young boy is stalked in his bedroom and separated from family when the lights go out. The fear is supernatural, but parents will feel the sibling worry throughout

Mental health Moderate Depression, psychiatric hospital stays, and therapy questions surround…

Depression, psychiatric hospital stays, and therapy questions surround the mother and the entity. The film links illness to horror tropes, so a calm talk afterward helps

Grief / bereavement Moderate A father's death still shapes the kids' fear and the mother's guilt. Gr…

A father's death still shapes the kids' fear and the mother's guilt. Grief sits under the scare plot even when the runtime moves fast

Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

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Talk after watching

  • How can you tell when a scary movie is using mental illness as part of the monster story?
  • What house rules help younger siblings feel safe after watching shadow creatures in the dark?

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