Let's be real for a second. If you saw the first movie, you already know the vibe. Mac and Kelly Radner are back, but instead of Zac Efron’s chiseled abs and a fraternity house, they’re facing off against a group of girls who just want the right to party. It sounds harmless enough, right? Well, if you’re looking at a neighbors 2 parents guide, you’re probably wondering if the "sorority" aspect makes it any softer than the first one. Short answer: No. It’s actually arguably cruder.
Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have this chaotic, relatable energy as parents, but the movie itself is a minefield of hard-R comedy. We’re talking about a film that opens with a very graphic gag involving morning sickness and doesn't really slow down from there.
Why the Neighbors 2 Parents Guide Matters More Than You Think
Ratings are weird. The MPAA gave this an R rating for "language throughout, sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use." That’s a massive umbrella. Does "graphic nudity" mean a fleeting glance or a full-on sequence? In this case, it’s mostly male nudity used for comedic shock value, specifically during a tailgate sequence that gets out of hand.
The plot follows Shelby (Chloë Grace Moretz), a college freshman who is fed up with the sexist rules of Greek life. See, in the real world, sororities in the U.S. actually aren't allowed to throw parties with alcohol in their houses—only fraternities can. The movie uses this real-life fact as the catalyst for the girls starting "Kappa Nu." They move in next door to Mac and Kelly, who are trying to sell their house, and the war begins.
Breaking Down the Substance Use
If you're sensitive about drug portrayals, this movie is a lot. It’s not just a beer-sipping college flick. There is heavy marijuana use. It’s everywhere. It’s treated as a casual, everyday hobby for both the "villains" and the "heroes." There is also a scene involving the theft of a large quantity of weed, and various gags centered around being high.
Alcohol flows like water. Every party scene—and there are many—features underage drinking, shots, and beer bongs. It’s the "Animal House" lineage, just updated for 2016. If your teenager thinks this is a documentary on college life, you might have a long talk ahead of you.
The Raunch Factor: Language and Sex
The dialogue is a constant stream of profanity. I’m not exaggerating. F-bombs are used as nouns, verbs, and adjectives in nearly every sentence. It’s conversational for the characters, but for a younger viewer, it's a total saturation of "strong language."
💡 You might also like: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
When it comes to sexual content, it's mostly verbal or visual gags rather than explicit sex scenes. There's a recurring bit involving a toddler finding a specific adult toy, which the movie plays for laughs over and over. It's awkward. It's meant to be. But as a parent, sitting next to a 12-year-old during that? Absolute nightmare fuel.
- Sexual Dialogue: Constant jokes about anatomy, sexual orientation, and hookup culture.
- Visuals: Scantily clad party-goers, suggestive dancing, and the aforementioned male nudity.
- The movie tries to be progressive—and it is! It tackles feminism and social justice—but it does so while being as filthy as possible.
Is There Any Value Here for Teens?
Surprisingly, yes. Beneath the layer of bong hits and air bags going off, there’s a genuine message about double standards. The movie points out how "frat culture" is often predatory and how women are often relegated to being "props" at parties. Shelby and her friends want a space where they can be themselves without being hit on or judged.
That’s a cool conversation to have with a 16 or 17-year-old. You can talk about why those real-world sorority rules exist and the power dynamics on college campuses. But you have to wade through a lot of literal garbage (there’s a scene where they pelt a house with trash) to get to that message.
Honestly, the "adults" in the movie are just as immature as the kids. Mac and Kelly are terrified of being "old" and "un-cool." It’s a pretty honest look at the anxiety of aging, even if that look is wrapped in a "Cops" parody.
Violence and Pranks
It’s "slapstick" violence, but it has teeth. People fall off roofs. Things explode. There’s a scene involving a car carcass and another involving a high-speed chase on scooters. It’s all played for laughs, and no one is ever seriously hurt, but it’s high-energy chaos. The pranks are mean-spirited. They’re designed to ruin lives and property values.
The psychological warfare is real. One character gets manipulated into thinking their friends hate them. It’s that specific brand of "Rogen-esque" humor where the emotional stakes are weirdly high while the characters are doing something incredibly stupid.
📖 Related: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Comparing the Prequel to the Sequel
People usually ask if the second one is "cleaner" because it stars women. It's not. If anything, the gross-out humor is dialed up. The first movie was about a specific type of male bonding and rivalry. The second is about the transition into adulthood and the fear of being replaced by the "new" generation.
- Language: Equally foul.
- Drugs: Slightly more frequent in the sequel.
- Nudity: The first had more "accidental" nudity; the second has more "confrontational" nudity.
The humor is very fast. If you blink, you’ll miss three jokes about 90s pop culture or social media. This makes it feel "younger" than the first film, which might be why more kids are asking to see it.
How to Handle a Viewing Request
If your kid is under 15, this is a hard "maybe wait." The sheer volume of drug references and the "toddler with adult toys" gags are a lot for middle schoolers.
For older teens, it might be a "watch with them" situation. It sounds cringey, I know. But if you’re there, you can point out the satire. You can laugh at the absurdity of Seth Rogen trying to act like a functional human being.
Wait for the "Heads Up" Moments:
The opening scene is an immediate litmus test. If you can't handle the "bodily fluids" joke in the first three minutes, just turn it off. It doesn't get "better" or more sophisticated.
The movie also handles some LGBTQ+ themes very well. Dave Franco’s character has a storyline involving a proposal to his boyfriend, which is treated with genuine sweetness and is one of the few "pure" moments in the film. It's a nice contrast to the otherwise cynical humor.
👉 See also: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
Final Actionable Advice for Parents
Don't rely on the "Sorority" title to mean it's a "girl-power" movie in the vein of Legally Blonde. It is a hard-R comedy that happens to have a feminist subtext.
Steps to take:
- Check the "Parents Guide" section on IMDb for a literal count of swear words if you're on the fence. It’s in the hundreds.
- Ask your teen why they want to see it. If it's because of Chloë Grace Moretz or Selena Gomez (who has a small cameo), explain that their roles here are very different from their "Disney" or "YA" days.
- Use the "Sexist Rules" plot point as a conversation starter about real-world campus safety and gender equality.
- If you decide to let them watch it, maybe skip the first five minutes to avoid the most graphic "gross-out" gag of the film.
Basically, it's a movie about growing up—for both the 19-year-olds and the 30-somethings. It’s messy, loud, and frequently inappropriate. Just like real life, but with more air-bag pranks.
The most important thing to remember is that this movie is designed to push buttons. It wants to be offensive. If your household has a low tolerance for "toilet humor" or casual drug use, this is an easy pass. If you're okay with a bit of chaos as long as there's a decent heart at the center, you might actually find it a better watch than the first one.
Before you press play, make sure you're ready for the questions about "escrow" and "sorority charters" as much as the questions about the weed. It's a weirdly educational movie in the most dysfunctional way possible.