Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Imitation Game is a historical drama that explores the role that cryptologists and mathematicians played in World War II. Expect candid discussions about lives lost during war, accompanied by footage showing bombs falling and soldiers firing guns. A boy is also tormented by school bullies. Leading the team of scientists trying to break the Germans' Enigma code is Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a closeted homosexual who ends up being vilified for his sexuality. The subject of is handled fairly delicately and is discussed in mostly oblique ways, though characters do call him slurs, like "toff." Ultimately there are strong themes about the power of persistence and the fact that gender doesn't dictate intelligence or competency.

Sexual Content

Couples flirt in social situations. Sexual identity is a theme of the movie.

Violence

Bullies torment a classmate at a boys' school; they trap him under floorboards, tease him in the yard, and shove him around. Scenes of battle during World War II show bombs being dropped, buildings exploding, and soldiers firing at enemies. Professional arguments at work are laced with personal vendettas and implied threats.

Language

Some swearing; mostly British slang from the period. One character is labeled a "toff" and a "poof."

Social Behavior

Persistence pays off. Gender doesn't dictate intelligence or competency (the 1940s, specifically the Bletchley Project in England, helped usher in gender equality in the sciences).

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Social drinking and period-accurate smoking. A character makes a reference to taking drugs that cause chemical castration.