Best of the Best
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Best of the Best
Best of the Best (2026) is a PG-13 coming-of-age comedy film directed by Lena Khan, streaming on Netflix. The movie follows childhood best friends Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia) as they embark on their freshman year at UCLA and join the highly competitive collegiate Bollywood-fusion dance team, UCLA Agni. The narrative explores their journey through rigorous four-hour nightly rehearsals, intense choreography battles, and the cutthroat road to the US National Championship, which puts their friendship to the test. The film is intended for a teen audience, focusing on themes of friendship, competition, and self-discovery within the vibrant world of collegiate dance. While featuring South Asian representation and praised for its dancing, parents should be aware of the inclusion of sex scenes, mild profanity, and implied substance use.
Things to Consider
Romance and Sexual Content
The movie includes explicit sex scenes, leading to a parental warning that it is not safe for viewing with children or parents. However, graphic nudity and sexual violence are explicitly stated to be absent.
CringeMDb.com reports, 'Yes, Best of the Best contains sex scenes' and 'No, Best of the Best is not safe to watch with your parents or kids because it contains sex scenes.' It also issues a 'Warning: the sexual content content in this movie may involve children or teens.' Nudity is listed as 'NO' and Sexual Violence as 'NO'.
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Profanity
The film contains some mild profanity, indicated by at least one instance of a strong curse word in the available transcript. As a PG-13 film, moderate use of language is generally expected.
Substance Use
There is an implied reference to casual substance use, specifically hookah smoking, within the film's dialogue, though no graphic depictions of drug abuse or heavy intoxication are described.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The film portrays a 'cutthroat' and 'fiercer' competitive dance environment, where characters like Maya are described as 'alienating' and 'meddling,' leading to conflicts within the team. This suggests instances of mild disrespect and competitive behavior among peers and towards the challenges of the competition.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
No explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes are found within the film's content. While there was commentary mentioning a 'largely-queer cast and crew' involved in the production, viewers have noted a lack of on-screen queer representation in the movie itself.
Violence
There is no evidence of graphic physical violence, brutal attacks, or sexual violence depicted in the film. The plot focuses on dance competition and interpersonal dynamics rather than physical conflict.
Witchcraft & Occult
There is no indication of witchcraft, occult practices, or supernatural themes in the movie. The plot is centered on a realistic dance competition environment.
Scary & Intense Content
The movie does not contain scary or intense horror elements. The primary source of tension comes from the competitive nature of the dance world and the challenges to the characters' friendship, rather than frightening visuals or situations.
Anti-Christian Themes
There are no identified anti-Christian themes or content that mocks or insults Christian beliefs. The film's narrative is secular, focusing on dance, friendship, and competition.
Best of the Best (2026) presents a secular worldview centered on ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of excellence in a competitive environment. The core themes revolve around the challenges and triumphs of navigating a demanding collegiate dance team, highlighting the complexities of friendship under pressure. While the film showcases dedication and the pursuit of a goal, the inclusion of sex scenes directly contradicts biblical values that uphold sexual intimacy exclusively within the covenant of marriage. The competitive nature, though common in secular narratives, could be viewed through a Christian lens as emphasizing self-reliance and worldly success over humility and serving others, depending on how the characters' ambition is portrayed. Character morality appears to be a mixed bag, with characters like Maya being described as 'alienating' in her pursuit of success, which suggests a focus on individual achievement that might not always align with virtuous, community-minded behavior. The film's 'cutthroat' environment could imply that vice (e.g., intense rivalry, selfishness) might be implicitly rewarded as a means to achieve victory, rather than virtue. There is no clear indication of moral accountability or redemption themes such as sacrifice, forgiveness, or grace, as the narrative seems primarily focused on the competition itself. Family values are not explicitly detailed, though the protagonists are college students, suggesting a focus on peer relationships rather than familial ones. Faith is not depicted or referenced in any meaningful way. Overall, for Christian parents, the film offers a look into a specific cultural and competitive world. However, the explicit sexual content is a significant concern, directly conflicting with Christian teachings on sexual purity. The film's emphasis on intense competition and potentially questionable character behaviors might also warrant discussion regarding biblical principles of humility, integrity, and loving one's neighbor, even in rivalry. Parents would need to discern if the positive messages about perseverance and friendship outweigh the areas of concern.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
PG-13. The film contains sex scenes, which may involve children or teens, and some mild profanity, making it generally unsuitable for younger children. It is best suited for teenagers and up, given the mature thematic elements alongside the competitive dance storyline.
Good to Know
The film has a PG-13 rating and is available on Netflix. Parents should be particularly mindful of the explicit sex scenes mentioned by review sites, which may be a significant concern for younger or more sensitive viewers.
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