Bleeding Love Movie Review (2025)

Parents need to know that Bleeding Love is a father-daughter drama about the generational cycle of addiction. It stars Ewan McGregor and his real-life daughter, Clara. The story depicts how parental abandonment can lead to deep pain in kids, who may eventually turn to substances for relief. It's serious stuff, but laugh-out-loud moments are woven in throughout to keep it light. That said, drug use is explicit—characters snort cocaine—and there's underage drinking, but it's all depicted with an ugly desperation. (Smoking, on the other hand, is portrayed more glamorously.) The main character puts herself in increasingly riskier situations to get the drugs she craves, eventually to the point that viewers may be deeply worried that she's going to be assaulted or trafficked. A sex worker is depicted as a three-dimensional human being, and her job isn't judged. Frequent, very strong language includes "f--k," "c--t," "p---y," "d--kass," and more.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

a lot

One of the two main characters is a 20-year-old woman with a drug dependency. Her father is in recovery and explains the shift from indulging in drugs for fun to the complete loss of control of your life and behavior. While drug and alcohol abuse are depicted, the movie's focus is the negative consequences of both (including withdrawal symptoms). Characters get high, snorting/orally taking a variety of substances. Underage drinking. Passing out. Flashbacks to an overdose. References to being blackout drunk. A visit to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Smoking throughout by the two lead characters.

Language

a lot

Very strong language, including "asses," "bulls--t," "c--t," "d--kass," "hell," "p---y," "s--t," "shut up," and regular use of "f--k."

Violence & Scariness

some

The daughter acts self-destructively, which leads to harsh consequences. She gets into a car with a stranger (which is called out several times as being dangerous), and it's clear that there's an expectation of sex in return, with the insinuation that it will happen by force if necessary. Sexual discomfort is expressed through touching of her hair and face and dancing. Gun fired at a target for comedic purpose. Daughter has withdrawal symptoms, including vomiting. Father chases daughter through the desert when she tries to run away.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

very little

A sex worker propositions a man on the street. See "Violence & Scariness" for additional sex-related content information.

Positive Messages

some

Themes of family, healing, and reconciliation. Absent parents aren't around because they have problems, not because they don't love their kids.

Positive Role Models

a little

However late in the game he is, the father is doing what he can to make amends. Now present for his estranged daughter, he's helping manage a crisis and is willing to accept her rage for his absence.

Diverse Representations

a little

This story focused on a troubled female character and her broken relationship with her father was made by a female director, writers, and producers. The story takes place in New Mexico; while people of color are seen in supporting and background roles, primary characters are White. A sex worker is shown as a helpful, happy young woman with depth, history, and ambition; her job isn't glamorized, but nor is it judged.

Did we miss something on diversity? .