Movie Knight
The Cider House Rules
Teens

The Cider House Rules

Best from age 16 · PG-13 · 1999 · 126 min

The Cider House Rules

Homer Wells, an orphan raised in a Maine orphanage, becomes a skilled assistant to the eccentric Dr. Larch, learning medicine. Longing for a life beyond the orphanage, Homer ventures out into the world. He discovers love, loss, and difficult choices at a cider apple orchard, confronting complex moral dilemmas and his own destiny.

What's in it

0 = none · 10 = intense

Violence & peril

Moderate

3/10

Language

Moderate

3/10

Drinking, drugs & smoking

Strong

6/10

Romance & sensuality

Moderate

5/10

Scary moments

Mild

2/10

Heads up

  • Discussions and depictions of abortion.
  • Scenes involving drug use and addiction.
  • References to a past incestuous relationship.
  • A character passes away from an overdose.

Models well

  • Compassion and empathy
  • Making difficult moral choices
  • Seeking purpose and belonging
  • Responsibility and care for others

Talk about it after

  • The choices Homer makes throughout his life and why he makes them.
  • The differing views on medical ethics and doing what is right.
  • The complexities of love, loss, and family outside of traditional structures.
  • The challenges of growing up and finding your own path.
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Cast & crew

The Cider House Rules (1999) Official Trailer - Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron Movie HD