 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Blade Runner
- Review Date: September 20, 2005
- R
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1982
Common Sense Media says
A dark, philosophical sci-fi drama for older teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Blade Runner envisions a bleak 2019 Los Angeles that's dark, oppressive, polluted, steeped in fear, and features genetically engineered organic robots called replicants that look just like humans. It's a very violent film, with multiple fights and killings, some gruesome and disturbing. Characters are killed by gunfire at close range and in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Characters dangle over the side of skyscrapers; multiple fingers are broken graphically; people are gagged and choked; a man's eyes are poked out (how much is seen depends upon the version of the film). There are repeated close shots of bloodied corpses and dying characters. While there's no overt sex, it's implied, and there's some partial nudity (breasts), passionate kissing, and several scenes that border on rough or nonconsensual sex. Smoking is pervasive; multiple scenes show characters drinking, and the hero often turns to alcohol when he's under stress. Editor's note: Families should avoid the earliest version (1982) of the movie; instead, go with Ridley Scott's 1992 "Director's Cut" or 2007's "Final Cut," a remastered version by Scott with few changes from the 1992 release.
What's the story?
BLADE RUNNER is set in dystopian Los Angeles, circa 2019. Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former Blade Runner, is recalled from retirement to exterminate a gang of rogue replicants (a type of human android). Replicants were invented to perform slave labor on off-world colonies. Law forbids them to live on Earth. Despite their artificial intelligent makeup, a glitch has allowed them to develop human emotions and a lust for life. The longer they live, the more powerful their emotions. Unofficial replicant leader Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) leads a pack of them to Earth to find and convince their maker, Tyrell (Joe Turkel), to invent a way to extend their five-year lifespan. As they become more desperate to find Tyrell, they grow weaker. Grappling with an intense love for model replicant Rachael (Sean Young) but bound by his duty to uphold the law, Deckard must rethink his views on what it means to be human, as he hunts down and kills his android nemeses.
Is it any good?
Based on the short story Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick, Blade Runner is a deeply philosophical yet violent picture. While it may come across as an action/adventure science fiction film, the movie is, in actuality, very slow-paced and visually dense. Constant tension, sad music, bloody visuals, and menacing sound effects add to the dystopian mood. When it premiered in 1982, Blade Runner bombed at the box office. Critics decried its unnecessary voice-over and inconsistent Hollywood ending. Audiences were alienated by its lengthy pace. As rumors circulated of studio interference, a cult following emerged seeking director Ridley Scott's original ending. The director's cut confirmed their suspicions in 1993 when the film was rereleased, this time without its original voice-over and cheesy finale. After well-deserved acclaim, Blade Runner is now considered one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.
Families considering viewing this film should avoid the first-released version like the plague; instead go with Ridley Scott's original vision. In 2007 Warner Bros. released a 25th anniversary digitally remastered by Scott "Final Cut" version that played in theaters and is available on DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Children in their mid-teens with a strong interest in the science fiction genre are more likely to enjoy this film. However, it is not appropriate for teens under age 15.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the ethics of replicating humans. Replicants look and behave exactly like humans, but should they be treated as such?
How does Blade Runner's bleak urban vision of the future differ from that in other dystopian books and movies?
What do you think about the violence in Blade Runner? Is it effective? Artful? Over the top?
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Kid, 12 years old
October 1, 2009
AGE
A great sci fi flick starring Harrison Ford. Not for kids for obvious reasons. The film is dark and the violence is graphic and repetetive. Bare breasts are occasionly seen, and there are some sex references. Older kids should be able to handle this one.
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Teen, 15 years old
January 28, 2009
AGE
Certainly the best science fiction film of the 1980s.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Good, but violent.
This is an amazing movie. The scenery is just spectacular, same with the acting and special effects. Please note though, that the violence is pretty graphic, although there is not much of it. The sex is minimal, but the nudity in one scene is a little gratuitous. 15+ if you cry easily, but 13 or 14+ if you are really mature.
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Adult
July 17, 2009
AGE
Blade Runner is a timeless classic. The special effects were phenomenal for it's time and are up to today's standards. The story is both engaging and extremely thoughtful. This film creates a both realistic and believable look at the future and captures us into the movie. While not one of my favorites, this is a very well done film that I recommend, especially to sci-fi fans, but also, to any lover of good cinema. Parents should know that the atmosphere of this movie is very dark and there are some intense moment of violence. There is a scene where a man is shot twice and flies back in his chair very quickly, which will surprise many viewers. Other violent scenes include a man getting shot in the back of the head, with the front of his head bursting open, a mans face is crushed by another man, a woman is shot many times and breaks through many windows of glass in slow motion, another woman is shot and while yelling very loudly and writhing on the floor, she is shot again repeatedly, a man is bloodily beaten and has a couple of his fingers broken (with loud crunching sounds), and a man stabs himself in the hand with a nail. There is also a scene with a woman taking a shower where you see her bare breasts. As for language, in the final cut, there is one instance of the f-word, in other versions the language is PG.
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AGE
This movie surprised me!
I decided to just buy this movie based on a couple reviews on blu-ray. It surprised me because the video quality looked like it could've been made 6 months ago. I liked the film, but I thought that it could've expanded a bit more.
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AGE
This movie surprised me!
I decided to just buy this movie based on a couple reviews on blu-ray. It surprised me because the video quality looked like it could've been made 6 months ago. I liked the film, but I thought that it could've expanded a bit more.
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Adult
August 14, 2010
AGE
Iffy Sci-Fi Lacks Character
Though very cinematic in this edgy and dark futuristic world, it doesn't do very well with character development, which disappointed me. Only problems was that there was a nude woman, then she runs around in her underwear, and one use of the f-word.
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Teen, 17 years old
April 6, 2009
AGE
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Kid, 12 years old
August 17, 2009
AGE
still one of thebest sci fi movies ever
blade runner is a very violent sci fi classic that many films want to emulate but none ever will emulate a film that everyone who seen it will remember it forever and the director cut features long lost deleted scenes. and the extras are so in depth you learn lots of stuff that you wanted to konow and never wanted to know. overall A
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| Topics: | robots, space and aliens |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Ridley Scott |
| Cast: | Daryl Hannah, Harrison Ford, Sean Young |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 117 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 25, 1982 |
| DVD release date: | March 24, 1997 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence and brief nudity |
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