Why is “The Wedding Banquet” rated R? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “language and some sexual material/nudity.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes full male nudity with no visible genitals, an implied sex scene, several kissing scenes between gay and lesbian couples, discussions of being gay and coming out, a woman undergoing IVF treatments, discussion of expectations and tradition, many arguments, and at least 10 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.

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When a gay man’s (Han Gi-Chan) proposal of marriage is not accepted, he decides to help a friend (Lily Gladstone) by giving her money to undergo an IVF treatment, hoping that his partner (Bowen Yang) will change his mind and accept his proposal. Things get complicated when his grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung) arrives from Korea with great expectations. Also with Kelly Marie Tran, Joan Chen, Bobo Le, Camille Atebe, Jeffrey Liang, Emma Yi and Françoise Yip. Directed by Andrew Ahn. Several lines of dialogue are spoken in Korean with English subtitles. [Running Time: 1:42]

The Wedding Banquet SEX/NUDITY 6

 – A woman wakes up next to a fully nude man in a bed (we see his bare back, buttocks and legs, then his bare abdomen and chest and he holds his hands over his genitals; he then puts on his jockey-type underwear); the woman panics realizing that they had sex and gets up wrapped with the bedclothes (we see her bare shoulders).
► Two men lie in bed together and one man kisses the other on the cheek a couple of times. Two men lie in bed together and one is shirtless (we see his bare chest and abdomen); one man kisses the other and snuggles against his shoulder and chest. Two women embrace and walk together holding hands. Two women kiss after reciting vows at their wedding. Two men kiss while dancing on a dance floor. Two men kiss and embrace. Two women kiss after each taking bites of food and one tells the other, “I got some of your beans.” Two women embrace and one kisses the other’s hand. Two men hug.
► Four people scramble to remove any evidence of a person being gay from their home before a woman arrives (we see gay-themed books, magazines, pictures and movies). A man proposes to a man and he declines. A man proposes to a woman and she accepts. A woman wonders if a man is pansexual. A remark is made about a woman finding her daughter looking at lesbian porn. A woman takes a pregnancy test.
► A picture of a reclining nude woman is seen in a bathroom (we see the woman’s bare breast and abdomen and she appears to be self-stimulating). A woman drinks from a straw shaped like a phallus. A gala shows people dancing wearing costumes that reveal cleavage, bare abdomens and legs. A woman wears a low-cut dress that reveals cleavage. Shirtless men dance on a dance floor at a club (we see their bare chests, abdomens, shoulders and backs).
► People talk about “penis sperm vs. test tube sperm.” People talk about IVF treatments and that the sperm was very expensive.

The Wedding Banquet VIOLENCE/GORE 2

 – A woman is shown in a medical office as a doctor tells her that her IVF treatment “didn’t stick.” Two men argue and one man yells at the other. A woman confronts her mother about her behavior (that she doesn’t really “see” her). A woman tells her grandson that she knew he was gay but that she thought he would grow out of it so she sent him away. A woman talks about a man’s parents dying. A man worries about disappointing someone and letting them down. A woman talks about trying to manage expectations after an IVF treatment. People discuss a woman’s age and the possibility of failure with IVF treatments. A man argues with his grandmother about not wanting to join the family business.
► Four people scramble to remove any evidence of a person being gay from their home before a woman arrives (we see gay themed books, magazines, pictures and movies). Two babies cry and two women attend to them followed by two men.
► A woman in a medical suite has an IVF treatment and she gasps briefly during the procedure. A woman jumps on a man’s back during a wedding ceremony and he carries her around the area until she vomits on him (we see goo and we see it again later when a photo is published in a newspaper). A man and a woman spin around on a dance floor after drinking heavily and the woman seems to gag (we do not see her vomit). A woman jokingly sprays a man with a garden hose and he yells and laughs.
► People talk about a man being disowned.

The Wedding Banquet LANGUAGE 6

 – About 10 F-words, 17 scatological terms (2 mild), 12 anatomical terms, 3 mild obscenities, name-calling (hot mess, ghost, sham marriage, lesbian snake, preposterous plan, mess, stupid, honey, idiot, brat, not insane just American, gay hater), exclamations (jinx it, shut-up), 13 religious exclamations (e.g. God, Jesus, oh God, oh my God, God no, thank God). | profanity glossary |

The Wedding Banquet SUBSTANCE USE

 – People drink beer in a few scenes, people drink shots at a club, and a woman drinks a cocktail.

The Wedding Banquet DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Parenting, support of children coming out, IVF treatments, anti-marriage, anti-institution, traditional Korean weddings, legacy, happiness, inheritance, being disowned, guilt, expiring Visas, honesty, disappointment, marriage for a green card.

The Wedding Banquet MESSAGE

 – No one is good enough alone.