I loved this movie! It was hillarious and serious at the same time. I wanted to see it again right after I saw it in the theater! I think it had a good message because it taught you to appreciate what you have.
The Blind Side
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Syrupy sports drama uplifts but glosses over deep issues.
Themes in this movie include: emotional abuse, family relationships, friendship, growing up
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Blind Side was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that this formulaic but uplifting family sports drama -- which is based on the true story of football player Michael Oher -- centers on messages about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. That said, it sometimes feels as if it glosses over many of the challenges that Oher and his "rescuer" (socialite Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock) must have faced. And while it alludes to the prejudice that exists in certain situations, aside from a scene or two, it skirts the topic instead of truly tackling it, and some scenes depict characters who are blatantly racist. Still, Oher’s life story in inarguably encouraging. While language and sexual content are quite mild, you can expect a couple of brief violent scenes, references to drug use, and social drinking.
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 motivates Leigh Ann to welcome Michael into her home. Was it a purely selfless move? Why does she later say that he changed her life (and not the other way around)?
- Why does Michael trust the Tuohys? What appeals to him about them? Does the movie adequately address the skepticism and prejudice that Michael and the Tuohys faced when they became a family?
- How accurate do you think the movie is? Why might filmmakers have changed certain parts of the story?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on The Blind Side
What’s the Story?
Before he became an All-American college football star and an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) was a brawny-but-tender teen attending a Christian school in Memphis with no roof over his head or family to support him. In THE BLIND SIDE, he's soon befriended by S.J. and Collins Tuohy (Jae Head and Lily Collins), children of wealthy fast-food franchise owner Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw) and his decorator wife Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock). Leigh Anne makes it her mission to remake Michael's life, inviting him into the Tuohys' home and, later, into the family itself. A real future for Michael appears on the horizon in the form of football, a sport for which his build and protective instincts seem perfectly suited. But first he needs to get his grades up -- and his head in the game.
Is It Any Good?
Based on a book by journalist Michael Lewis chronicling the real Oher’s experiences, The Blind Side manages to inspire despite its broad-strokes approach to characterization. Bullock’s winning effort paves the way; her Leigh Anne disarms both Oher and audiences despite a sassiness that edges on caricature -- there's real vulnerability behind Leigh Anne’s type-A façade. Aaron’s take on Oher is a little bit more textbook, but when he smiles, you forget for a moment that he’s playing a role and really imagine him as the young Oher, abandoned but not lost.
Director John Lee Hancock could have explored the challenges that Leigh Anne and Michael faced as they tried to meld their divergent backgrounds with more complexity. Did Oher have any doubts? Was everyone at the school really that embracing? Instead, Hancock goes for the superficial. But the film has plenty of heart, something Hancock appears to have a knack for (he also helmed The Rookie, an even more heartwarming drama based on a real-life athlete). Still, he’s in danger of too much sentimentality here -- that and condescension. The result is a straightforward and entertaining film, if you can ignore, yes, the blind spots.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros., Director: John Lee Hancock
Run time: 128 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references
Run time: 128 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/20/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references
Our Members Say
See all 62 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great film
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
A Must See For Everyone
The first thing that hit me about this movie was how we can be so self absorbed in the little drama's within our own lives, that we often forget to appreciate the little things, like a bed of our own.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
This movie was a lot better than three stars. This was a great movie but it was a little too inappropriate for younger kids.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
AMAZING not to sporty and promotes multi racial families :)
AMAZING MOVIE I personally can't stand sprt movies but i saw this one because of Sandra BUllock and im seriously glad i did this movie wasnt SPORTS SPORTS SPORTS it actually had a storyline Sandra Bullocks character wasnt someone you would talk to disrespectfuly but she had a heart of gold its a great movie it really shows that you dont need to share blood to be family
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Great movie with great discussion topics
I took my 11 and 7 year old girls to see this. Our family's well off in many ways and I often tell my children how lucky they are to have all the gifts that they have. This movie helped them to see the other side of life - about poverty, racism, life as a minority, etc, but also about the qualities of perseverance, hard work and sacrifice. My 7 year old found it intense in a couple places and there were some things that went over her head, but she really liked it. Knowing it was a true story made it even better.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good movie
we saw this movie today and we liked it.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
I thought it was really goood!!!! i had a fun time watching it!!!! It was a touching movie, but a little sad. For me personally! kids would enjoy it. Under the age of 11 won't really get it! But overalll very good!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Great Messages on real life situations
A feel good family movie that shows the importance of trying ur best. Perfect 4 Sandra Bullock fans.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
GREAT Movie!!!
Wow. This is the only movie for a couple of years that I actually plan on going to see again. It was AMAZING! It was beautifully done, and shows such compassion! It actually made me so happy (heartwarming taking effect here) I couldn't stop smiling. Seriously, this is an amazing movie-and we need more like it. If you haven't seen it...you really should. =)
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
great movie for young and old
This movie is appropriate for kids grade three and up. it is a heartfelt story that will touch everyone, young and old. there are life lessons to be learned and little violence. there is only one scene that might scare kids, a gang fight. on the whole though, a very well-made movie.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
really good
It's a really good movie and everyone I know who has seen it, likes it.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Awesome Movie!
This movie was great! I loved it. Nothing negative; the violence was either self-defense or football. Michael was wanting to remain passive, so he was a good role model in my eyes, plus he was honest. The positive message was about Michael's success with all his scholarships he got. Language isn't so much an issue; bad words are talked about as bad in the actual movie too, and just about everyone 10 and older most likely knows what us males have between our legs, so it's not very innapropriate. I liked the movie alot even though I quit football a few years ago since i had thought it was violent (even though i laughed at some of my injuries to make my teammates feel better if they knocked me over), but just because i don't love football doesnt mean I did not love the movie. It was great for just about everyone.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
I loved the movie and so did my family--husband and kids (16 and 11). I consider myself strict when it comes to deciding the appropriateness of movies I take my kids to. The "violence" in the movie is seconds long and not graphic. The affection between the husband and wife is also necessary--isn't that how children learn about what marriage is about? I thought the marriage was portrayed as healthy and stable--a couple who raised successful children. To make a long story short, the positive lessons of the movie far outweigh the minute negativities (that I consider a necessary part of the story).
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Excellent film, well acted, strong messages
I wasn't thrilled about going to this movie (another feel-good "chick flick"), but afterwards was very impressed. This is an excellent movie, and not the shallow, feel-good movie I expected. It feels real, deep, and the acting is fabulous. Sandra Bullock gives her best performance in this film, hands down. Of all the warnings given about this film (violence, language, allusion to sex, etc.), the only thing that made me cringe a little is the very beginning of the film, when real footage of Joe Thiesman's injury is shown (probably because I remember watching when that happened and being creeped out by it). Besides that, I found the movie fairly tame. I didn't feel like it tried to be all things to all people (yes, the African-Americans depicted in the film are largely impoverished drug-users, but that's the environment Michael Ohers grew up in, and the the white people are rich suburbanites, but, again, that was the Tuohys' world); it just presented a straight-forward, but very touching true story of real-life heroes.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good movie
lee ann does a good deed. a gangster says he will pop a cap in someones fat a**
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
It's age appropriate for people who are 1 or two years away from their teenage years.
It was a very good movie. It shows Michael Oher's life in great detail, and the problems he's faced.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
great for preteens, but very inappropriate language
I loved this movie, I thought Michael was a great kid and Sandra Bullock was a good role model. She was hilarious, but many of the characters swore and did drugs, which probably wasn't appropriate for my 8 year old sister (who came to see it).
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
perfect for pre teens teens and adults
i loved this movie so much i cried my eyes out they did a wonderful job picking out the people who played them the message of this movie is really just amazing
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Show your kids how blessed they are
Wow, this is one great movie! I choked up several times. It really shows your own kids how fortunate they are. The fact that it was based on a true story is icing on the cake.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
GREAT Review for a GREAT Movie
Love it, it is a movie that you just can't miss. This is a great story and the cast was perfect for the job. I think that the movie scent a great message that people from the Projects are just like people from the city, and anyone can accomplish anything! Exceptional Job, 2 thumbs up!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 76% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 66% | of parents say there are good role models |
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