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Friday Night Lights

(2004, Rated PG-13, Drama, Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Tim McGraw, Lucas Black)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    So much more than a football movie.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Diverse characters, but plenty of racist language and race is an issue in the final game.
  • Violence:

    Rough football skirmishes with bloody injuries; father is abusive to son.
  • Sex:

    References to "getting laid," some sexual situations.
  • Language:

    Brief strong language, the "N" word.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Underage drinking, and an adult character abuses alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Friday Night Lights

Parents need to know that this movie has some tense family scenes with an abusive father. Underage characters drink and a character abuses alcohol. There are sexual references and use of the phrase "getting laid." The football scenes are powerfully staged and very intense. Audience members may almost feel that they are the ones getting tackled. The movie is frank in its treatment of injuries, some graphic.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what it feels like for these 17-year-old boys to carry so much of their family's and the town's sense of pride. What is good about that? What is bad? Why was it so important to Don's father that he succeed? Why did he define success the way he did? Did his team's championship "carry him forever?" How do parents help their children learn what success means? If it is not football that defines success in your community, what does?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Louisiana
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0

    AWESOME!!!!

    The best high school football movie and show!!! it was really powerful and sad! ever1 should see this once!

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 2.0

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 2.0

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Incredible....

    This movie was one of the best movies i have ever seen. You don't have to understand football to enjoy this movie. There are some sexual refernces and scenes but they have nothing to do with the story so you can fast forword them. 10 and up.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 2.0

  7. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    massive

    wow i'm like a big football fan so i had to see this movie and it was even better than i thought it would be this is the best football movie ever

  8. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Oklahoma
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    Biggest Waste of my time...

    Okay, this movie is ONLY for people who are COMPLETE football fans - no one else will be able to understand any of it. I did not understand any of it, and would have enjoyed "Barney Goes to the Zoo" more. There are also explicit sexual situations in the beginning that takes place at parties where everyone is drunk.

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Must See for Avid Sport Parents

    This movie was amazing to me. Football in Texas is big, bigger than life, and it is amazing how the townspeople pin their own hopes and dreams on their boys. There are lots of things here to learn: don't live vicariously through your children, education first (Chavez vs Miles), beware of the pressure you put on your kids, new defn of "perfect", love, teamwork. Awesome movie but don't take kids less than 13 or 14 years old.

  11. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0

    More Than Talk

    This is a really good movie, but the Common Sense review failed to accurately warn about the sexual content. In addition to the talk about "getting laid", it also depicts two characters getting dressed just after they have had sex, and another two characters who are stripping down to have sex when they are interrupted. Both scenes stopped just short of being objectionable for viewing with our 13 year old, but I would have liked to have been warned.

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