CYRUS
A funny, touching relationship comedy best left for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
CYRUS is a funny, touching comedy about John, a divorced man who begins a relationship with Molly. Their happiness becomes complicated by Molly’s 21-year-old son, Cyrus, who still lives with her and secretly tries to break them apart.
The filmmaking is engaging and realistic, and the actors make the characters sympathetic. The movie also carries a light moral subtext supporting a more traditional view of marriage and family. But it surrounds those positive elements with strong foul language, sexual innuendo, nudity, alcohol use, and a non-Christian worldview.
Because the film has real dramatic and comic merit but is not suitable for children or young teens, watch it only at home if you are a discerning adult.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJohn is a divorced man who reluctantly attends a party hosted by his soon-to-be-remarried ex-wife. After an awkward evening, he meets Molly, who appreciates his honesty about his loneliness.
John and Molly quickly begin a relationship, but Molly’s adult son, Cyrus, still lives at home. The unusual closeness between mother and son creates tension as John tries to find his place in Molly’s life.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means CYRUS is an especially engaging comedy, even though its content and worldview require discernment.
The situations can be absurd and unlikely, but directors Jay and Mark Duplass shoot the film in a realistic style. That approach allows the actors to develop their characters naturally. The result is droll, funny, and touching, with an honesty between John and Molly that makes them endearing and sympathetic.
The comedy grows out of awkward relationship situations, while the dramatic scenes give the story emotional weight. The conflict over Molly’s affection comes to a head at John’s ex-wife’s wedding in a very funny scene.
The Worldview
CYRUS presents a modern world of relationship dysfunction. Its characters are more pagan than Christian, and the movie contains no positive mentions of God. A wedding ceremony with a female pastor holding an open Bible provides a positive reference to the Bible, along with some biblical and moral elements.
The film suggests that single motherhood is not ideal when a mother has men stay overnight before marriage. It also implies that children need a father; otherwise, they may become too attached to their mother and act out negatively, even as adults. These ideas support a more traditional view of marriage and family, despite the film’s liberal, pagan sensibilities and profanity.
The movie does not present a fully biblical worldview, but its light moral subtext recognizes that people cannot completely escape the values God has revealed. Scripture teaches that marriage is meant to be honored: “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (Hebrews 13:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong, slightly mixed, pagan liberal worldview with a wedding ceremony with a female pastor holding a Bible open and some biblical, moral elements implying that a more traditional view of marriage and family is best, plus the light feminist element of a female pastor; about 34 obscenities (many “f” words) and three light profanities, plus some obscene gestures during a secret argument; some fighting and punching in one scene and older man threatens to knock 21-year-old man out if he tries to start something at his ex-wife’s wedding ceremony; implied fornication in two scenes, adult son interrupts mom and boyfriend while she just stripped down to her slip and sat on boyfriend’s lap and some light innuendo but nothing explicit or graphic; upper male nudity in a couple scenes, rear male nudity in one scene and woman shown in a slip and with a towel around her after a shower; alcohol use and drunkenness in one scene; no smoking or drugs; and, lying, young man hides the shoes of his mother’s new boyfriend, young man tries to break up his mother’s romance.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
John and Molly’s relationship is complicated by family boundaries and past wounds. What boundaries help relationships become honest and healthy?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 4:23The film suggests that children need a father and that family roles can become unhealthy when boundaries disappear. What does Scripture say about the responsibilities of parents and children?
Ephesians 6:1–4 · Psalm 127:3–5The story raises questions about marriage, sex, and living together. Why does the Bible call believers to honor marriage and pursue sexual purity?
Hebrews 13:4 · 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5The wedding includes a Bible and moral language, but the characters are not presented as clearly Christian. How can Christians recognize truth in a story while also discerning its worldview?
Philippians 4:8 · 1 John 4:1The Final Word
CYRUS is a four-star comedy with realistic filmmaking, funny situations, and genuinely touching characters. Its strong language, sexual material, nudity, alcohol use, and pagan worldview make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.
