Tools for this page
Print

Prefontaine

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version
    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Legendary runner's story is compelling, tragic.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Pre is incredibly ambitious, competitive, and determined to win. Without the physical advantages of a tall body and perfectly proportioned legs, Prefontaine works harder to cross the finish line first. He can also be cocky, egotistical, and immature at times. But overall, Pre personifies the athlete who gives his all to his sport.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The sequence depicting the 1972 Munich Olympics covers the violence against the Israeli athletes from Pre and the American track team's point of view. The masked, gun-toting terrorists are shown from their perch on the Israeli athletes' balcony, and there is news footage explaining what happened to them. There's an accident that kills someone.
  • Sex:

    Passionate kissing, making out lying down and (clothed) in bed. Pre flirts and cheats on his first girlfriend.
  • Language:

    Standard swear words: "s--t," "ass," "piss," "God damn," "screw," "hell," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Very minimal, but one notable exception is that the Oregon track coach, Bill Bowerman, was the co-founder of Nike, and they show a very early pair of Nike runing sneakers. There are a few quick glimpses of magazines Pre was on, like the cover of Sports Illustrated.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Several of the scenes take place in a bar, where various college students and adults drink; a couple of parties feature beer; Pre gets drunk.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Prefontaine was written by Sandie Angulo Chen

Parents need to know that this is a biopic of the legendary young middle-distance runner and Olympian Steve "Pre" Prefontaine. There is standard PG-13 language and a few scenes of passionate kissing and making out. The most disturbing parts of the film revolve around the 1972 Munich Olympics, as the hostage-taking of the Israeli athletes is depicted from the perspective of Prefontaine and the other members of the American athletes. The masked gunmen are shown and gunshots are heard, but the film focuses on how the violence affects Pre and the track team, not on the violence itself.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about what disadvantages Prefontaine had to overcome to compete as an elite runner. What was his strategy to win? The film contends that in the 1970s, college athletes at the Olympic level suffered financially, so they could be considered "amateurs." Is that the case today? Parents can also use the film as a way to discuss the events at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the origins of Nike.
Did this review help you decide?

Are you going to see it?

Have you seen it? Review It!

More on Prefontaine

What’s the Story?

PREFONTAINE was the first of two films about renowned Oregon runner Steve "Pre" Prefontaine released less than two years apart in the late 1990s. Neither biopic -- the second is Without Limits -- was a commercial success, but both brought the legendary runner, who died in a car accident at age 24, back to the mainstream media's spotlight. In Prefontaine, director Steve James (Hoop Dreams) chronicles Pre's short life, from his working-class upbringing in Coos Bay, Oregon, to the last track meet he organized between the American and Finnish track clubs, as if it were a sports documentary, with his "aged" friends and family reflecting on his milestones.

Is It Any Good?

Pre is played by Jared Leto, who at the time seemed destined to be one Hollywood's A-list leading men. He's almost too pretty an actor to play the masculine, cocky runner, but he obviously relished the role. Pre isn't always the most likable character; he's so competitive he won't even allow children running with him to pass him, and he egotistically steals the glory from his fellow University of Oregon track athletes. Seeing him as a flawed, overly competitive athlete who can be a huge jerk is refreshing, however, when most sports movies glorify and idealize athletes and coaches.

Although the primary on-screen sources are Pre's final girlfriend Nancy Alleman (Amy Locane) and his assistant coach Bill Dellinger (Ed O'Neill), the best scenes are between Pre and head Oregon coach Bill Bowerman (R. Lee Ermey), a man deserving of his own biopic. Ermey, best known as the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket, is expert at playing coaches and officers, and his Bowerman is exactly the kind of no-nonsense, supportive man you'd expect to lead athletes to glory. Pre's personal quest for Olympic victory remained his one unrealized dream. According to the film, the horror of the Munich Games took its toll on Pre, who finished fourth in the 5K and never got another chance for the gold. James' film doesn't linger on what could've been, however. Instead, it rightfully focuses on Pre's unquenchable thirst for crossing the finish line first, which seems exactly what Pre would've wanted.

Movie Details

Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Director: Steve James
Run time: 107 minutes
Theatrical release: 01/24/1997, DVD release: 09/03/2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief strong language

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

What did you think about Prefontaine?

or

to post a review

Most Recent Reviews

    More Great Stuff For Your Kids

    • New in Theaters

      The Princess and the Frog

      The Princess and the Frog

      First African-American Disney princess is a good role model.

    • Tech Tip

      What parents need to know.YouTube and Your Kid

      What parents need to know.

    • Must See TV

      Team Umizoomi

      Team Umizoomi

      Super team teaches preschoolers real-life math applications.

    • Pick of the Week

      Bestselling Books

      Bestselling Books

      Popular new reads kids are buying today.

    • Download This

      Pickin' & Grinnin': Great Folk Songs for Kids

      Pickin' & Grinnin': Great Folk Songs for Kids

      Fantastic folk favorites perfect for family road trips.

    Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
    • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
    • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
    • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
    A screen name protects your privacy
    To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
    A screen name protects your privacy

    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    is
    until
    (optional)
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    Add another child

    We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

    Set-up your account
    This will never be displayed to others.
    Your email will never be displayed to others.
    Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

    Tell us your children's ages
    You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
    Why we ask for this
    We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    is
    until
    Add another child

    Choose a screen name
    It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
    A screen name protects your privacy
    Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
    I'm already a Common Sense member.
    Kids under 13 must use a screen name