Eleanor the Great is a 2025 American drama film marking Scarlett Johansson’s first outing as a director. Written by Tory Kamen, this tender yet provocative character study follows Eleanor Morgenstein, a spirited 94-year-old Floridian who moves to New York City after the death of her best friend, Bessie, a Holocaust survivor.
Grieving and lonely, Eleanor mistakenly attends a Holocaust survivors’ support group, where she begins to recount Bessie’s traumatic past as her own. This morally ambiguous choice sets the stage for an unlikely intergenerational friendship with Nina, a 19-year-old journalism student also navigating loss.
Eleanor the Great Age Rating
Eleanor the Great is rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some language, and suggestive references. The classification reflects mature subject matter that may require parental guidance for younger teens, including grief, trauma, and ethically ambiguous choices. However, the film avoids graphic content and relies more on emotional complexity than overt intensity.
Language
Mild to moderate profanity is present. Characters occasionally use words like “damn,” “hell,” and one or two stronger words used in emotional contexts. The language is not pervasive and is used sparingly to underscore character frustration or realism in dialogue. There are no slurs or hate speech.
Sexual Content & Suggestive References
There are a few brief suggestive references, often played for humor or mild embarrassment. These include Eleanor’s candid remarks about aging, dating, or bodily functions, but nothing explicit or sexualized. There is no nudity or sexual activity depicted on screen. The content is mild and not central to the plot.
Thematic Elements & Emotional Intensity
The core themes include grief, loneliness, moral ambiguity, aging, and inherited trauma. Eleanor’s choice to retell Bessie’s Holocaust survival story as her own raises ethical questions that the film addresses without judgment. While no graphic depictions of the Holocaust are shown, the weight of this history is deeply felt through dialogue and survivor testimony.
Characters deal with loss, displacement, and emotional vulnerability. The film explores the difficulty of facing the end of life, the fear of being forgotten, and the search for meaning in one’s final years. Despite the heaviness of some material, the tone often shifts toward warmth and humor, especially in Eleanor and Nina’s interactions.
Violence or Disturbing Content
There is no physical violence or scenes of abuse. Some emotionally intense moments occur when characters discuss the Holocaust, death, and survivor trauma. The film handles these discussions with care and without graphic imagery. Eleanor’s emotional unraveling and the moral weight of her choices may be unsettling for some viewers, but there are no scenes designed to shock or frighten.
Is Eleanor the Great Appropriate for Teens?
Ages 10–12: Not recommended. Although the film contains no graphic content, its emotional themes, historical references, and nuanced moral exploration are likely to go over the heads of younger viewers and may raise complex questions without easy answers.
Ages 13–17: Recommended with guidance. The PG-13 rating is appropriate for most teens, particularly those mature enough to engage with layered character work and ethical dilemmas. Teens studying history or journalism may find the film especially resonant, and the intergenerational relationship at its core can spark meaningful conversations about grief, storytelling, and legacy.
What Parents Can Do
Watch alongside your teen to facilitate conversations about grief, ethics, and the responsibility of preserving others’ stories.
Clarify historical context, especially for teens unfamiliar with the Holocaust, to help them grasp the emotional weight of Eleanor’s actions.
Use the film as a discussion tool for themes like loneliness, ageism, and how we process loss at different stages of life.
FAQs
Q: Why is Eleanor the Great rated PG-13?
A: The rating is for thematic elements, including grief, historical trauma, and some mild language and suggestive references.
Q: Does the film depict Holocaust violence?
A: No. While it discusses the Holocaust, it does not depict it graphically. The subject is approached respectfully and through dialogue.
Q: Is there any sexual content or nudity?
A: No sexual activity or nudity is shown. There are a few suggestive references made in a light, humorous tone.
Q: Can my younger teen watch it?
A: Yes, with guidance. While not inappropriate, the themes may require context and maturity to fully understand.
Q: Where can I watch Eleanor the Great?
A: The film premiered at Cannes and is expected to have a limited theatrical release in the U.S. and internationally in late 2025.