Story

When shy 16-year-old Vivian (Hadley Robinson) discovers her mother’s (Amy Pohler) rebellious and feminist past, she teams up with new student Lucy (Alycia Pascual-Pena) to take on gender inequities at school. Armed with an anonymous zine, they call out sexism, racism and harassment.

Vivian and Lucy’s campaign causes conflict with Principal Shelly (Marcia Gay Harden), Vivian’s childhood best friend, Claudia (Lauren Tsai), and the captain of the football team, Mitchell (Patrick Schwarzenegger). It also challenges Vivian’s own sense of identity.

Themes

Feminism; gender-based violence and harassment; racial inequality

Violence

Moxie has no violence.

Sexual references

Moxie has some sexual references. For example, teenage boys sexualise and sexually harass teenage girls. They slap bottoms, force girls to sit on their laps and so on.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Moxie shows teenagers drinking alcohol.

Nudity and sexual activity

Moxie has some nudity and sexual activity. For example:

  • Vivian and Seth kiss throughout the story and talk about having sex for the first time.
  • Teenagers make out at a party.
  • A teenage girl alleges that she had been raped by her ex-boyfriend.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in Moxie:

  • MacBook laptop
  • Apple iPhone
  • JanSport backpack
  • Mario Kart video game
  • Doritos
  • Monster energy drinks
  • Google
  • Coca-Cola
  • Microsoft Surface Pro laptop
  • YouTube
  • Apple Air Pods
  • Beats by Dre headphones
  • The North Face jacket.

Coarse language

Moxie has some coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Moxie is a movie about young adults and identity, directed by comedian Amy Poehler. With strong themes of intersectional feminism and racial inequality, this movie provides a current and thoughtful exploration of gender and respect.

Because of its themes and plot, Moxie is likely to entertain viewers aged 13 and older. We recommend parental guidance for children aged 13-15 years because of the movie’s sexual references and themes of sexual violence and harassment.

The main messages from this movie are that standing up for important causes – especially those that affect vulnerable members of society – is an honourable thing to do. The movie also sends a very strong message that women deserve to feel respected and safe from harassment, discrimination and sexual violence.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:

  • being brave when you’re challenged by powerful people
  • staying true to yourself and your beliefs
  • supporting friends and vulnerable people.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like:

  • gender inequality and the systemic nature of sexual and gender-based harassment in society
  • the consequences of underage drinking and throwing parties without parental supervision
  • the consequences of vandalising property.

Supported By

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

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