Materialists parents guide: Is the Dakota Johnson movie suitable for kids?

Materialists is a word that by default can take your mind to shopping and luxury bags. But the movie is far from it. This 2025 Celine Song movie takes us to a new direction with the word. The movie stars Dakota Johnson and jumps head first into modern relationships and social pressure. It also shows how money influences the way people date. It’s witty and there are awkward moments that make you cringe as well as laugh.

Materialists might sound like something you could watch with your teen. But it’s definitely meant for a more mature audience. The movie has an R rating for language and s*xual content. The adult themes go way beyond your typical rom-com drama.

Materialists handles grown up issues like dating apps, financial inequality, and even harassment in the dating world. There are implied s*x scenes, use of strong language, and open discussions about consent and body image. It’s not very graphic. But the themes are heavy and meant for adults who can understand the nuance behind them.

It would be best to skip this movie if your child is under 15 years of age. Or it can be watched together with a discussion afterward. It is a movie that doesn't sugarcoat the messy parts of adulthood.

Materialists: Age rating and what parents should know

Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans in Materialists (Image via A24)

Materialists is about Lucy Mason, played by Dakota Johnson. She works as a matchmaker for the ultra rich in New York City. Her job is to pair powerful people with equally powerful partners. But her own love life is far from perfect. She reconnects with an old flame (Chris Evans) when she's already involved with someone new (Pedro Pascal). Lucy finds herself torn between her real emotions and the lifestyle she’s built around wealth and appearances. Through her choices, the movie explores how money and status influence relationships.

Materialists is rated R in the United States which means anyone under 17 needs a parent or guardian to accompany them. That itself says a lot about the kind of content it includes. The R rating comes mostly from strong language, s*xual references, and nudity. There’s a scene or two with characters in bed. Though nothing explicit is shown. The tone of the movie is realistic. So it's sort of like peeking into someone’s dating life. Still the dialogue often includes profanity. There’s also a storyline about a s*xual harassment that might be upsetting for younger audiences.

The movie also gets knee deep into issues that aren’t easy to explain to kids. For example, it talks about how people can be judged by their looks, careers, or wealth when dating. And how society sometimes goes for face value rather than emotional depth. Older teens or adults can analyze these topics. But it might just confuse or bore younger viewers. Plus, there’s social drinking, smoking, and a few references to drug use. All of that is shown in party settings. So even though Materialists is a smart and stylish movie, it doesn’t quite fit into the family movie night category.

Materialists is for viewers who are 15 and older. Teens that age can grasp the movie's ideas about power, attraction, and self-worth. Adults will probably see parts of their own lives reflected back. Parents who do choose to watch it with their teens might find it opens up meaningful conversations about consent, emotional honesty, and how relationships are changing in today’s world.