15 Best Single-Use F-Bombs In PG-13 Movies, Ranked

The Motion Picture Association limits PG-13 movies to a single F-bomb, a rule that's been around for years. There are a few examples of PG-13 films with more than one use of the forbidden word if they're not used in a sexual context and jump through plenty of other hoops. Still, since there aren't many with multiple uses of the word — it's effectively a standard of the industry that limits filmmakers to a single F-bomb.

Because of this, most filmmakers who throw an F-bomb into a PG-13 film do so as creatively and humorously as possible. This is true of all kinds of films, from sci-fi and horror to drama and comedy. That said, a movie doesn't necessarily have to be funny to score a brilliant single-use F-bomb — many do so creatively regardless of the genre, and they're almost always amusing.

Of course, even if an F-bomb isn't funny, it's almost always memorable, and it's far more noticeable in a movie utterly devoid of R-rated profanity than something directed by Quentin Tarantino. These PG-13 films feature one brilliantly dropped F-bomb. Whether for comedic reasons, to make a point, or as a pivotal scene dividing one act from another, they're all excellent examples of single-use F-bombs.

In "(500) Days of Summer," Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) falls for Summer (Zooey Deschanel) despite their differing views on love. Tom's all for it, while Summer is about keeping things casual. Despite this, they eventually hook up, and predictably, Tom falls for Summer. This leads to problems in their relationship, mainly because Tom wants something more while Summer intends to keep things casual.

Tom works at a greeting card company as a writer, but his depression over his relationship comes through in his writing, which his boss, Vance (Clark Gregg), addresses after calling him into his office. He shows concern over Tom's work, and after Tom asks for some clarification on what he means, Vance picks up a greeting card and says the following:

"Here's something that you wrote last week: 'Roses are red, violets are blue — f*** you, whore.'" This is clearly not the direction the greeting card company wants to pursue, so Tom moves to the consolations department, where his dour mood might be better suited. This F-bomb injects some levity into an unfunny situation while expressing Tom's mood in a relatable way, fitting perfectly within the film's narrative.

"Kong: Skull Island" introduces King Kong to a new generation of viewers as the second film in Warner Bros. Pictures' MonsterVerse. The film is set in 1973 and follows a team of scientists and soldiers from the Vietnam War who travel to Skull Island to meet Kong. Like in the first "King Kong" film, they find all kinds of terrifying monsters and gigantic versions of otherwise innocuous creatures.

They also find Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), a WWII veteran who has been marooned on Skull Island for nearly 30 years. His time on the island granted Marlow a great deal of experience with the native islanders and gigantic species, so he's an invaluable guide. Soon after meeting the group, he warns them of the various terrors of Skull Island, leading to the film's one and only F-bomb.

He tells everyone to keep their eyes open, explicitly pointing to the trees. When asked why the trees are of concern, Marlow explains: "Ants. Big ones. [chirping sound] There's one. Sounds like a bird, but it's a f****** ant." The F-bomb isn't strictly necessary, but it's what a hardened veteran would say in such a situation, so it fits the character perfectly.

In the "Vacation" films, Clark Griswold's (Chevy Chase) penchant for losing his temper is a common theme. It happens in the first and second films, and it returns in a big way in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." The film sees the Griswold family host a horde of in-laws and extended family members for what promises to be a catastrophic celebration of Christmas, and it goes downhill quickly.

After Clark loses his cool upon receiving his Christmas bonus in the form of a Jelly of the Month club membership, a squirrel wreaks havoc throughout the house. When people try to leave, declaring, "It's over," Clark's not having any of that and insists people remain in the house. Instead, he tells them nobody is walking out the door, declaring, "We have a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here."

Before anyone can interject, Clark continues, "We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f*****' Kaye." Shortly after this, things settle down, but it doesn't take long for everything to blow up again, ending the film with a SWAT raid on the house, which is arguably the only way the Griswold family Christmas could conclude.

"The Wedding Singer" is a rom-com, to be sure, but it's so much more than that. It's also about dealing with depression, which centers on Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler). After he's left at the altar by his would-be bride, Hart has something of a breakdown and doesn't enjoy singing at weddings as much as he did before the fiasco.

Hart becomes friends with Julia Sullivan (Drew Barrymore), who's planning her own wedding. Despite his avoidance of weddings, he helps her utilize his contacts in the industry. This inevitably leads to the duo looking for a wedding singer, as Hart isn't up to the task, and they interview someone they immediately dislike. Before long, they have Hart singing a song he'd recently written.

After insisting it's not good and explaining that it's uneven, having written half before his breakup and half after, he goes on stage and sings. The song is truly uneven and goes from a love song into one dripping with loathing, expressed with the following lyric yelled into the microphone: "But it all was bulls***, it was a godd*mn joke, and when I think of you, Linda, I hope you f****** choke!" From there, it becomes expressively melancholy, ending in tears.

"Catch Me If You Can" tells the story of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio), a teenager who leaves home to become an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer. The only problem with his many jobs is that he skipped all the necessary education and licensing and cashed millions in fraudulent checks along the way, piquing the interest of FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks).

Hanratty's investigation begins by nearly catching Abagnale at a hotel, but some quick thinking and pretending to be a Secret Service agent enables his escape. Before any of that happens, though, Hanratty drives to the hotel with two colleagues, who joined his team as a sort of punishment. When they explain this to their new boss, Hanratty doesn't take kindly to their insinuation and offers to tell them a joke.

They're happy to listen, so Hanratty tells the following knock-knock joke: "Knock knock," leading to "Who's there," which ends with a simple, "Go f*** yourself." Hanratty smiles and continues driving to the hotel. Ultimately, the F-bomb establishes who Hanratty is and his no-nonsense approach to law enforcement, and it pays off later when he offers to tell his boss a joke.

"Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" is an apt title, as it perfectly describes the film. In the movie, Peter (Vince Vaughn) owns Average Joe's Gym, but manages it horribly. His inability to pay his bills or collect membership dues leads his competitor, White (Ben Stiller), to attempt a takeover so he can demolish it and build a parking structure for his business, Globo Gym.

Peter has only one recourse: Winning a dodgeball tournament. So he gathers his friends, and they train hard. Eventually, they make it to Las Vegas for the annual tournament, offering a $50,000 grand prize, which is enough to save the gym. Of course, White does the same, establishing the Globo Gym Purple Cobras. Ultimately, this leads to a final game between the two teams, but Peter doesn't show.

He arrives at the last minute, leaving the judges to determine whether the game can proceed. Chuck Norris casts the tie-breaking vote, and in the end, Average Joe's is allowed to play. Through some shrewd dealings and bets, Peter wins $5 million and takes over ownership of Globo Gym. White is utterly defeated and regains all of his lost weight. The film ends with one line, and it's exceptional. White looks at a drumstick and mutters, "F*****' Chuck Norris."

"Ready Player One" is an Easter egg-filled homage to popular culture. While the film differs significantly from the book, it manages to do more with less by adding a plethora of pop culture references in almost every scene. In the movie, Wade (Tye Sheridan) is one of the leading players in the virtual world known as the OASIS. He seeks a golden Easter Egg hidden inside the OASIS by its founder, Ogden Morrow (Simon Pegg).

Opposing him and everyone else are the Sixers, an army of indentured servants working for Innovative Online Industries hoping to find the Easter egg first. Whoever does will win the OASIS and Morrow's fortune, so the stakes are high. This leads to an all-out war inside the OASIS, and during the final battle, players throw out Easter eggs left and right.

One of Wade's friends throws him a weapon to try, which turns out to be Chucky from the "Child's Play" franchise. It immediately tries to kill Wade, but he throws the homicidal doll at a Sixer, who sees it coming. The film cuts to the man in the real world as he says, knowing he's about to die, "It's f****** Chucky!"