THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
Beautifully made, deeply romantic, and intended for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
This is a very well-made, well-acted drama about teenagers facing cancer, love, suffering, and limited time. Shailene Woodley gives a strong performance as Hazel, while Ansel Elgort is believable as Augustus. The film also includes supportive family relationships, prayers, Scripture, and serious questions about God, the afterlife, and the purpose of life.
But the romance carries a significant cost. The teenagers are consumed by their affection, curse frequently, and engage in sexual behavior, including implied fornication. The film also mocks a Christian support-group leader and presents a humanist alcoholic as its villain.
Adults who can thoughtfully evaluate those elements may find the film moving and worthwhile. It is not appropriate for children or young teens. WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY is the practical answer.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESHazel Grace has lived with cancer for years, and her parents encourage her to attend a support group in a church basement. There, she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor who has lost a leg but is now cancer free.
The two become friends after bonding over Hazel’s favorite book, whose author may hold answers to questions they both carry. As their relationship deepens, Hazel’s health becomes increasingly uncertain.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this film is excellent in its craft. It is well made and well acted, with strong performances from Shailene Woodley as Hazel and Ansel Elgort as Augustus.
The movie has a linear structure and relies mostly on dialogue, since its main characters are sickly. Even so, the source review finds it entertaining throughout.
The Worldview
The film presents a mixed worldview, combining romantic ideas with strong Christian and biblical elements. It takes suffering, death, love, and purpose seriously. Augustus speaks positively about God, the afterlife, and angels, while Hazel admits uncertainty. A pastor reads Scripture and prays, and a recording of Anne Frank speaks positively about recognizing life’s blessings and thanking God.
The film also gives a strong example of family through Hazel’s loving and supportive relationship with her parents. At the same time, it makes fun of the Christian support-group leader and the church basement. The romance becomes central enough that the characters can seem consumed by it, even while facing painful realities. Its spiritual perspective is therefore not consistently biblical.
The film’s longing for meaning in suffering points toward a hope Scripture grounds in God rather than romance alone: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light mixed pagan worldview with strong Christian, biblical elements, including some prayers, Scripture read, character argues for God and the afterlife saying it gives purpose to life, church, cross, main characters have a pivotal conversation in a church sanctuary, and a voice recording of Anne Frank talks positively about how God wishes to see people happy, but Christian support group leader is presented as a silly man, some Romantic elements where main characters are consumed with their affection toward each other, the villain makes a joke that he will pretend to pray with a humanist attitude; 15 obscenities (including one “f” word), 25 profanities, and some crude language of talking about being a virgin and cancer in private parts; boy throws things on the ground and breaks them in anger but not to harm anyone, also characters are sickly and can hardly walk up stairs; young teenage boy touches girl’s breasts, implied fornication when teenagers sleep together; girl in underwear, teenagers shown lying on each other without clothes but bedsheets are over them; drinking and villain is an alcoholic; teenage boy pretends to smoke but never lights the cigarette; and, main characters have great relationship with their parents, mention of a divorce.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film places romantic love at the center of life under suffering. What kinds of love does Scripture call us to pursue, and how do they differ?
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 · Matthew 22:37–39Augustus argues that belief in God and the afterlife gives life purpose. Where does Scripture say lasting hope comes from?
1 Peter 1:3–4 · Colossians 1:27Hazel’s parents support her through prolonged sickness. What does faithful family love look like when someone is suffering?
Galatians 6:2 · Romans 12:15The film includes prayer and Scripture while also making fun of a Christian leader. How should Christians respond when believers or church communities fail to reflect Christ well?
Matthew 7:1–5 · John 13:34–35The Final Word
This is an excellent, moving, well-acted film with meaningful questions about suffering, faith, family, and hope. Its frequent profanity, sexual content, and overpowering romance make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family options, see.
