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Parents' Guide to

Blade Runner 2049

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Mature sci-fi sequel is almost as good as the original.

Movie R 2017 164 minutes
Blade Runner 2049 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 34 parent reviews

Marcus O.
Marcus O. Adult
January 24, 2018
age 16+

Sex & Nudity Timestamps for Concerned Parents

For parents wanting to know if their children should watch this movie, know that the most "iffy" parts about Blade Runner 2049 are the multiple scenes of both male and female nudity. These scenes aren't crucial to the story in any way and can easily be skipped. For those wanting to know where and why, here's a list: 24:00 - 24:10 A deceased male is laying down on a table, frontal nudity is shown 32:58 - 33:17 Nude statues, with both male and female nudity, are seen in cases 38:22 - 42:44 A nude female replicant falls out of a bag, full frontal nudity is shown 44:18 - 44:30 Blurred sex in the background, no nudity is seen 1:30:00 - 1:30:40 A woman undresses, sex is implied, no nudity is shown 1:31:08 - 1:31:14 A woman gets out of bed, her breast is briefly shown 1:41:12 - 1:41:22 Two female statues with breasts are shown 2:17:10 - 2:18:08 Nude female hologram's breasts and buttocks are shown

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
6 people found this helpful.
doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
May 29, 2022
age 16+

Feels like Philip K. Dick +

A well-paced mystery. They had me...I was all in except for the whole naked female droid that came off as gratuitous and unnecessary...it really stuck out too...super male gaze-y. The remnants of Vegas though was inspiring...in hindsight it also seems super obvious, but that good kind of obvious. I like to let the film sweep me away...I did not see the end coming until I was there. It was beautifully done. Glad they got Harrison Ford in the sequel before it was too late.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 34 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BLADE RUNNER 2049, a new breed of replicants has been created to serve without rebellion. K (Ryan Gosling) is one of them, working for the LAPD as a "blade runner." While on a routine hunt for one of the older, renegade breeds of replicant (Dave Bautista), K discovers clues -- a box buried in the ground and a date carved at the base of a dead tree -- that send him on a new mission. One of the clues is a carved wooden horse, which leads him to a woman (Carla Juri) who creates memories for replicants. From there, K tracks down former blade runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has gone into hiding. As K gets closer to the solution of his puzzle, powerful replicant maker Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) and his super-strong henchwoman (Sylvia Hoeks) attempt to bring him down.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (34 ):
Kids say (42 ):

Coming 35 years after the iconic original, Denis Villeneuve's sequel is a little heavier on spellbinding visuals than emotions or profound themes, but it still provides worthy food for thought. Villeneuve's best films -- Enemy, Sicario, Arrival -- are masterful at placing characters in unfamiliar or alien spaces and drawing memorable ideas and feelings from that clash. While Blade Runner 2049 doesn't quite reach that level, it still has many strong sequences that ponder themes of what it means to be alive -- or even human.

Certainly movies like A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Her -- not to mention the original Blade Runner -- probed a little deeper, but this sequel has more than its share of amazing, provocative moments. The spaces and images frequently clash; the cityscape and giant holograms or sculptures that are created by humans feel so inhuman at the same time. Images of wood and water also contribute to more primal themes. Not to mention that it's great to see Ford again, and he finds new levels in his old character. The movie's extreme length wears a bit, as does a slight detour into sillier, more ordinary sci-fi storytelling. And Leto overacts in an unappealing way. But these flaws are few, and the overall trip is well worth taking.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Blade Runner 2049's violence. How intense is it? Is it gratuitous or necessary to the story? How does it relate to the themes of the movie? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How does the movie portray sex and nudity? Is it part of loving, respectful relationships? Parents, talk to your kids about your own values regarding sex.

  • How does this movie compare to the original? What's different? What's similar? How has the Deckard character endured? Why do you think the first movie became so iconic?

  • The main character dreams of having a soul, of perhaps not feeling like an outcast. Have you ever felt that way? How did you change it?

  • What are some of this movie's themes? What's the value of life in this world?

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