Movie
Black Swan
2010 • R
A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake."
Content advisory
LGBTQ+ Characters/Relationships
Unrated — There is notable same-sex sexual content involving a main character. However, the film does not strongly frame this as stable LGBTQ+ identity representation; it is more tied to desire, fantasy, and the protagonist's psychological state. _Feels like: Parents should know LGBTQ+ content is present and significant in one scene, though it is not handled as straightforward representation._
Language
moderate — Strong language is present but not constant. Parents can expect several uses of profanity, including the f-word, along with other harsh insults and sexual language. _Feels like: The language is R-level but not as relentless as in profanity-heavy adult dramas._
Mature Themes
heavy — The movie deals heavily with mental illness, self-destructive perfectionism, sexual pressure, controlling parenting, and emotional instability. Its central story is about psychological collapse, with themes that are very adult and potentially distressing for younger viewers. _Feels like: Even beyond the sex and violence, the emotional intensity and mental health themes make this feel unquestionably adult._
Scary/Intense Content
heavy — The film is intensely disturbing, with psychological horror, paranoia, hallucinations, and grotesque body imagery throughout. It uses jumpy editing, mirror effects, and identity-fracturing visuals that can be very frightening even without traditional horror monsters. _Feels like: For many viewers, this feels scarier than some horror films despite being marketed as a psychological drama/thriller._
Sexual Content & Nudity
heavy — Sexual content is strong and clearly adult, including nudity, masturbation, and explicit sexual situations. The film also includes same-sex sexual content and sensual scenes tied to the protagonist's psychological unraveling. _Feels like: This is one of the main reasons the movie feels firmly R; the sexual material is significantly stronger than a typical PG-13 psychological thriller._
Substance Use
moderate — Characters drink alcohol at clubs, parties, and dinners, and there is some recreational drug use. Substance use is not the central theme, but it is shown directly and contributes to impaired judgment and risky behavior. _Feels like: This is fairly typical R-level adult-party content rather than a heavy addiction-focused film._
Violence & Gore
moderate — There is not much conventional action violence, but the film contains several intense injury and self-harm moments that can be upsetting. Bloody scratches, body-horror-style imagery, and a stabbing scene are shown with disturbing detail, though some moments are tied to the character's unstable perceptions. _Feels like: This feels solidly R-level because the violence is psychologically intense and includes bloody, disturbing imagery rather than frequent combat._