Is West Side Story Kid Friendly? Parents Guide

Wondering if Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (2021) is ok for kids? A stunning adaptation, the original story hasn’t changed much and West Side Story is not any more kid friendly than it was in the 1950s. However, it is more culturally respectful. West Side Story is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and racist themes. Here’s what parents need to know in this West Side Story Parents Guide.

West Side Story Parents Guide

Utter the word remake and most likely you’ll get a groan, especially from fans of the original work. However, Spielberg’s adaptation is better than the original. Yes, I said it.

Set in 1950s New York City, two street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks battle for control of the streets. When Tony (Ansel Elgort), a white Polish-American sees Maria (Rachel Zegler), a young, beautiful Puerto Rican girl at a dance, it’s love at first sight. However, Bernardo, Maria’s older brother and leader of the Sharks does not approve. 

Riff, the new leader of the Jets while Tony has been in prison, wants a rumble with the Sharks to decide who has control once and for all.

What is West Side Story Rated?

West Side Story is rated PG-13 for some violence, strong language, thematic content, suggestive material and brief smoking by the MPAA which means it may not be suitable for kids under 13.

Language

There is some profanity in English and Spanish in West Side Story including uses of a**, sh*t, bit*h, damn, a few uses of g-ddammit, and racial slurs including spic and Polak. There are also some pretty brutal insults thrown around including bastard, dickless, titty, and black pig. 

Mature Content

There are several passionate kisses as well as one scene with implied sex. Two characters are shown in bed together.

There is an attempted rape on a character that is hard to watch which may be a trigger to victims. 

One character is transgender and is made fun of whether he’s a boy or girl. 

There is a strong anti-Puerto Rican sentiment amongst the Jets with racist remarks and actions. There is also discrimination against the Jets for being poor and uneducated and products of drunks. 

While West Side Story may not have violence of a superhero film, there are fist fights, rumbles, and uses of guns and knives. Some close-up shots are emotional, especially for kids sensitive to violence.

Is West Side Story Appropriate for Kids Under 13?

For theater lovers, West Side Story is a remarkable musical to movie adaptation. It doesn’t try too hard to redo the original, but changes what needed to be updated. Is West Side Story ok for kids? At 2 1/2 hours long, it’ll be a stretch for kids.

West Side Story has a lot of heavy content which could be emotional for some children. It’s also not an uplifting, feel-good story for young ones. But the messages and commentary weaved throughout are important. 

First, the casting of actual Latinx actors and Puerto Ricans portraying Puerto Ricans is a welcome change. A good chunk of dialogue is in Spanish, and thank goodness there are no subtitles, a deliberate decision by Spielberg. I was still bothered by the use of “spic” several times throughout the film, because I don’t think you need slurs to indicate racism. However, the authenticity of Puerto Rican culture and respect towards Latinx humans was noted and appreciated as the original was horrendously stereotypical.

From the opening number to the closing shot, each aesthetic was spot-on. Justin Peck’s choreography is incredible, giving new energy to the movements and more elaborate dance scenes while also complementing the original choreography. 

I feel like a broken record reiterating the praise for newcomer Zegler, Rita Moreno as Valentina, Ariana DeBose as Anita, and Mike Fiast as Riff. All of the supporting characters were phenomenal. Perhaps the one weak link is Ansel Elgort. It’s not that Elgort was bad; he’s not. He was just unbelievable as a tough leader of a street gang who went to prison. His desire to change was believable, but it was almost a goofy portrayal of Tony. 

Moreno, who won an Oscar for playing Anita, is now Valentina, owner of Doc’s Pharmacy, who married a “Gringo.” Thus she’s stuck between helping Tony and also her people. She’s given a song from the original that was sung by other characters. Her rendition is tragic and heartbreaking as she yearns for hope. 

Some non-musical-loving teens may want to watch West Side Story due to Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars) and Fiast. He was the original Connor Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen. I was wowed by him then, and was wowed once again. He brings an edginess to Riff that was missing before and a side of resentment from his upbringing.

If you’re a fan of musicals, West Side Story does a remarkable job of making a classic even better. However, it also could have pushed the boundaries even further to rectify some of the wrongs from the first. Maybe I wish the story would have changed a bit or that someone would have saved Chino. Perhaps it’s just the dreamer in me. 

West Side Story Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Side Story Ok For Kids? I would recommend it for at least kids 13 and up due to violence and mature content. Listen to the soundtrack first to see how kids react.

Why is West Side Story Rated PG-13? For violence, strong language, and suggestive material.

How long is West Side Story? 2 hours and 36 minutes

Is West Side Story streaming anywhere? No, West Side Story is not streaming on any platform and can only been seen in theaters right now.