Charlie Harper is an upcoming American indie romantic drama directed by Tom Dean and Mac Eldridge. The film stars Nick Robinson, Emilia Jones, Nicholas Cirillo, Carmen Ejogo, and Fred Hechinger. Running for 1 hour and 42 minutes, the movie tells a heartfelt story about love, ambition, and finding purpose during early adulthood. It first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 4, 2025, before its theatrical release on September 25, 2026.
The story follows Harper and Charlie after they leave their old lives behind to start fresh in a new city. While Harper works tirelessly to build a career as a chef, Charlie struggles to find direction in his own life. As career pressures and personal challenges begin to affect their relationship, the couple must decide whether their love is strong enough to survive. Produced by Temple Hill Entertainment and distributed by Row K Entertainment, Charlie Harper explores realistic relationships with an emotional and mature approach.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Charlie Harper |
| Genre | Romantic Drama, Comedy |
| Director/Writer | Directors: Tom Dean & Mac EldridgeWriter: Tom Dean |
| Starring | Nick Robinson, Emilia Jones, Nicholas Cirillo, Carmen Ejogo, Fred Hechinger |
| Runtime | 1h 42m (102 minutes) |
| Age Rating | R |
| Release Date | September 25, 2026 |
| Distributor | Row K Entertainment |
Charlie Harper Age Rating
Charlie Harper is officially rated R by the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) for language, some sexual content, and drug use. The movie contains frequent strong profanity, mature relationship material, and scenes involving alcohol and drug use. Although it has very little physical violence, its realistic portrayal of adult relationships and emotionally intense situations makes it more suitable for mature audiences than younger viewers.
An R rating means that viewers under the age of 17 should watch the movie only with a parent or adult guardian. Films with this rating often include strong language, sexual content, substance use, or other mature themes that may not be appropriate for children. Parents should review the content before allowing older teens to watch.
Is Charlie Harper Suitable for Kids?
Charlie Harper is not suitable for young children or younger teens. The film focuses on adult relationships, emotional conflict, career struggles, and personal growth while including frequent strong language, sexual content, and drug use. These mature themes are intended for adult audiences and may not be appropriate for younger viewers.
Older teens aged 16–17 may relate to the emotional story and realistic characters, but parents should be aware of the film’s mature dialogue, romantic situations, and substance use before deciding if it is appropriate.
Age-by-Suitability Table
| Age Group | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Ages 3–7 | No. Not suitable for young children. |
| Ages 8–12 | No. Not recommended for this age group. |
| Teens (13–15) | Not recommended due to strong language, sexual content, and drug use. |
| Teens (16–17) | Yes, with caution and parental guidance. |
| Adults (18+) | Yes. Suitable for mature audiences. |
Charlie Harper Parents Guide
Charlie Harper contains mature content that parents should consider before allowing teens to watch. While the movie is more emotional than action-packed, it includes adult situations, strong language, and substance use throughout its story.
- Sex & Nudity: The film contains romantic scenes between adult characters, including passionate kissing and implied sexual activity. Some scenes strongly suggest intimacy, although explicit nudity is limited. The sexual content supports the relationship-focused story but is intended for mature audiences.
- Violence & Gore: Violence is mild throughout the film. There are no graphic injuries, bloody scenes, or extended fight sequences. Most of the conflict comes from emotional arguments, heartbreak, and relationship tension instead of physical violence.
- Profanity: Strong language is used frequently during emotional conversations and stressful moments. Characters repeatedly use the F-word along with several other strong and moderate swear words. Frequent profanity is one of the primary reasons for the movie’s R rating.
- Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Adult characters are shown drinking alcohol in social situations, and the movie also includes scenes involving drug use. Substance use is portrayed as part of the characters’ lives and personal struggles rather than being glamorized.
- Frightening & Intense Scenes: The film contains emotionally intense moments involving heartbreak, separation, disappointment, and personal failure. Although there are no horror scenes or frightening creatures, some viewers may find the emotional drama upsetting.
Tips for Parents
Parents should consider watching the official trailer before deciding if Charlie Harper is appropriate for older teens. The movie can encourage conversations about healthy relationships, communication, career pressure, and responsible choices regarding alcohol and drugs. Because of the strong language and mature romantic themes, parents should carefully consider their teen’s maturity level before watching together.
Charlie Harper Official Trailer
Charlie Harper will be released exclusively in U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026, by Row K Entertainment.
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Charlie Harper?
A: Charlie Harper is officially rated R by the MPAA for language, some sexual content, and drug use.
Q: Is Charlie Harper suitable for teenagers?
A: Charlie Harper may be suitable for mature teens aged 16–17 with parental guidance, but it is not recommended for younger teens because of its strong language and mature themes.
Q: Does Charlie Harper contain violence?
A: Violence in Charlie Harper is mild. The movie focuses more on emotional conflict and relationship drama than physical violence.
Q: Does Charlie Harper include sexual content?
A: Yes. Charlie Harper contains passionate kissing, implied sexual activity, and mature romantic situations involving adult characters. Explicit nudity appears to be limited.
Q: Where can I watch Charlie Harper?
A: Charlie Harper is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on September 25, 2026.