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Parents' Guide to

Moonstruck

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Award-winning '80s romcom has some mature themes.

Movie PG 1987 102 minutes
Moonstruck Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Music/Movies
Music/Movies Adult
December 25, 2012
age 10+

Sex: 8/10, Violence: 2/10, Language: 4/10, Drinking: 4/10

Sex: There is one heavy kissing scene that I would almost call a makeout scene. A man pulls a woman off of a chair and kisses her heavily in his kitchen for a few seconds. She eventually pulls away and gets nervous, but then jumps right back at him. This whole time you can tell they are french kissing because their lips don't even move that much. *A man carries a woman to his bed and throws her down. They talk to each other and use sexual phrases such as "Leave nothing but the skin over my bones" and "Take that revenge out on me". *A man tries to kiss a woman, but she pulls away and reminds him she is just going on a simple date with him. *A young man walks and older woman home and tells her that she could come to his apartment, but she refuses. They kiss each other on the cheek. *Three couples in this movie cheat on each other, which includes sex, kissing, dating and avoiding telling their spouse. *There are a few breif kissing scenes in the movie other than the heavier ones, but they aren't that long. (NOTE: Most of the sexual scenes are with Cher and Nicholas, and the whole time Cher is engaged to another man). --- Violence: *A man threatens to kill himself with a kinfie while he yells and knocks down things. *A woman slaps a man acros the face two times and then yells at him. *A man knocks over a table after a fighting scene and he pulls a woman off of a chair fairly hard. *Some fighting scenes and mentions of death. --- Language: One or two uses of s**t, one use of b*tch and a few milder things. --- Drinking: *The Italians have wine and other drinks, but they drink with responsability and they never get drunk or use alchohal in a bad way. There is pretty much no smoking and absolutly no drugs at all.
Anastasia Beaverhausen
Anastasia Beaverhausen Adult
September 17, 2021
age 11+

A Lovely Movie (but. . .TW)

Sex: 4/10--An engaged woman cheats with her fiance's brother, a short sex scene and implied sex scene, an older man cheats on his wife and she, in turn, cheats on him. A professor attempts multiple times to get with his student. Violence: 2/10--A man loses most of his hand in an accident, threatens to commit suicide, is slapped in the face several times Swearing: 2/10--It is kept to a minimum most of the time, some words like slut and prostitute Drinking: 6/10--Scenes take place in a bar, celebratory champagne, wine and champagne in restaurants
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

This award-winning comedy stars Cher as Loretta, a 37-year-old accountant who long gave up on passion after her first husband was killed by a bus. She chalks it up to bad luck; she wasn't married in a church; she didn't have a ring; her husband didn't propose on his knee. Her current boyfriend (Danny Aiello), whom she likes but doesn't love, has asked for her hand in marriage, and she has accepted. But he implores her to speak to his estranged brother (Nicolas Cage), a request that will start a chain of events that will change her life forever. Meantime, her father and mother may be on the outs, and a full moon presiding over the film is bringing out the daredevil in everyone.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (4 ):

MOONSTRUCK is a playful creation with refreshing and charming twists and turns, so far removed from the formulaic fare often packaged as romantic comedy. There's a reason it reaped so many awards -- writing, acting -- at the 1988 Academy Awards. First, there's the premise, which could've easily veered into melodrama but instead found life as an offbeat meditation on passion. Then, there's the ensemble -- so strong from the bit players to the lead, especially the captivating Cher. (Cage borders on hammy, but appeals, anyway.)

But it's also juxtaposed with moments of affecting reality (a man cheats on his longtime, devoted wife, played with such dexterity by Olympia Dukakis), which rescues it from maudlin. It also makes you think about how easily being moonstruck turns into being complacent, and how one can't rely on a celestial being, beautiful or not, to make an earth-bound relationship last for all time. That takes work.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Loretta's decision to marry Johnny: If she didn't love him, as she says, why did she want to marry him?

  • There's a lot of talk about luck in this film: Do you believe in it? What role does it play in this movie?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: December 18, 1987
  • On DVD or streaming: June 30, 1998
  • Cast: Cher , Danny Aiello , Nicolas Cage , Olympia Dukakis
  • Director: Norman Jewison
  • Inclusion Information: Female actors
  • Studio: MGM/UA
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 102 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG
  • MPAA explanation: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
  • Last updated: June 20, 2023

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