Parents' Guide to

American Pie

Movie R 1999 110 minutes
American Pie Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Heather Boerner , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Ultra-raunchy sex comedy is a teen fave -- beware.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

Any Positive Content?

  • American Pie Movie: Scene #1
  • American Pie Movie: Scene #2
  • American Pie Movie: Scene #3

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 23 parent reviews

Alessandro L.
Alessandro L. Adult
May 14, 2024
age 15+

The Awkward Sex Talks Made it Relatable

I like this film because it does kinda relate to me. The opening with Jim preparing to masturbate and getting caught by his mother reminds me of one moment in high school where a girl and I were actually in the midst of sex, but my mother walked in on us funnily enough, while she was embarrassed, she had the courtesy to let us finish. afterwards, I told my female friend to stay in my room cause my mom wanted to talk to me. long story short: the talk wasn’t as awkward as Jim and his dad, but it basically amounted to “You’re a teenage boy, puberty is making your hormones crazy, I get it, I’m not angry, just try not to get your girl pregnant & keep your fun times in your room and I won’t have any problems. also if her parents get mad at you two, you’re on your own.” I found it funny that my mom was actually understanding instead of trying to shield me from sex. almost the complete opposite of the film! anyway, while the jokes haven’t aged well, I still think it’s a good movie. just don’t go in expecting positive messages at the end and it’ll be a fun experience!

Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 10, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
May 27, 2024
age 16+

See all 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In AMERICAN PIE, Jim (Jason Biggs) is among the least experienced of his friends. He hasn't gotten to "third base," which his friends describe as feeling like "hot apple pie." While Jim is busy experimenting with scrambled porn and, well, his mom's baked goods, he and his buddies make a pact to lose their virginity before graduation. That means they've got to meet girls, break down their girlfriends' defenses about sex, and convince their classmates that they're more experienced than they are.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (23 ):
Kids say (52 ):

More than anything, American Pie exploits teen anxiety about sex. One boy, Chuck Sherman (Chris Owens), spends the night at a party talking to a girl and getting close to her, then turns around and acts like they spent the night having sex -- much to the girl's anger. Then there are are the pricelessly funny sex talks between Jim and his dad (played with virtuosic dorkiness by Eugene Levy), and the performance anxiety of boys and girls trying to figure out how to relate to each other -- or not -- among the pressure from their friends to have sex and the pressure from their parents not to have sex. It's funny precisely because it's uncomfortable.

AMERICAN PIE upholds the tradition of horny teenage sex comedies made famous by the R-rated Porky's. The film is likely to entertain teens who are already thinking about sex, and its gross-out humor will appeal to fans of There's Something About Mary.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what teens think of sex, how many of their friends they think are having sex, and what parents think of teens having sex. It's also a good opportunity for parents to answer whatever questions teens may have, both about values surrounding sex and about safe sex.

  • Parents may also want to put an over-the-top comedy like this in perspective. The antics of these sex-crazed teens come at you fast and furiously, making some of the laughs mostly about the shock value. What other movies and TV shows reach for a laugh this way? (Jackass and South Park are a good start to the list.)

  • Do you think some teens will feel pressured about sex before they're ready by watching a movie like American Pie? Or do you think it's just a funny situation comedy?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate