Our take
The Roses is rated R for language, drug use, and sexual content. This satirical marriage drama stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a couple whose perfect life curdles into bitter warfare. Dialogue includes constant f-word use, drinking, joint smoking, and repeated suicide references played for dark comedy. Adults only; the emotional cruelty hits hard
Story (may spoil tone)
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo: successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids. But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing – as Theo's career nosedives while Ivy's own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.
AMU ages are independent editorial opinions. They are not legal classifications and are not issued by the Classification Board, the MPAA, or any other official classification body. Official labels on this site, such as PG or R, come from those bodies or our data sources, not from AMU. AMU guides are not a substitute for official classification. Cuts and details can differ by version. Use them as one input only. You decide what is right for your family.
Details
Violence Verbal cruelty, property damage, and a gun confrontation in marriage wa…
Verbal cruelty, property damage, and a gun confrontation in marriage warfare
Language Relentless f-word and harsh insults in almost every argument
Relentless f-word and harsh insults in almost every argument
Sex / nudity Sexual content and affair tension in an R-rated marriage satire
Sexual content and affair tension in an R-rated marriage satire
Drugs / alcohol Heavy drinking, hangovers, whiskey tumblers, and joint smoking
Heavy drinking, hangovers, whiskey tumblers, and joint smoking
Frightening Relationship dread and emotional sabotage feel painfully tense
Relationship dread and emotional sabotage feel painfully tense
Self-harm / suicide Repeated suicide references and suicidal ideation in dark comic dialogue
Repeated suicide references and suicidal ideation in dark comic dialogue
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons A gun is brandished; graphic gore is not the focus
A gun is brandished; graphic gore is not the focus
Dangerous behaviour Bitter marital one-upmanship models toxic conflict patterns
Bitter marital one-upmanship models toxic conflict patterns
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Therapy sessions and emotional breakdowns drive the satire
Therapy sessions and emotional breakdowns drive the satire
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Grief and illness references surface in side-character dialogue
Grief and illness references surface in side-character dialogue
Talk after watching
- A couple competes to destroy each other politely. What makes conflict toxic in relationships?
- Dark comedy treats pain as a joke. When does satire help or hurt?
- Therapy scenes appear but trust breaks down. How do people ask for help before things snap?