Boogie Nights

  • Review Date: September 12, 2005
  • R
  • Genre: Drama
  • 1997
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Porn industry docudrama; not for anyone under 17.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie isn't meant for kids or teenagers. With its heavy emphasis on illegal substance abuse, promiscuous sex and violence (not to mention an ambiguous code of ethics that blurs right from wrong), the film glamorizes the high-profile lives of pornographers in the late 70s and early 80s.

  • Drug-abusing female porn star is portrayed as virtuous mother, drug-abusing male porn star deals drugs, commits robbery, and is depicted as movie's hero.
  • Gunshot suicide, gang-style mauling, close-range gun shots to the head.
  • Frontal nudity, simulated copulation and oral sex.

What's the story?

BOOGIE NIGHTS details the swift rise to "stardom" of one 17-year-old Dirk Diggler, who along with his teen-length physical endowment, soon takes over the adult film industry as it struggles on its last legs in the late 70s and early 80s. However, as the pornographic industry shifts away from big-budget screen releases to home video, Dirk and his film compatriots outgrow their stardom, and finances, almost as quickly as they got them. Relationships strengthened under the unblinking eye of the camera, constant music, and overabundance of drugs and parties dissolve in a fit of violence and self-despair for nearly everyone -- until an unforeseen happy ending in which everyone's problems are magically solved.


Is it any good?

 

Boogie Nights is not for the faint of heart. The film earned its R rating for its raw depiction of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and profanity. Interestingly enough, it makes no attempts to justify such social lechery, or even illustrate the all too common consequences of such actions, which may leave viewers confused as to what, if any, morals or lessons are to be taken from here.

Bottom line: Kids may be interested in seeing this movie because of the controversial topic, but parents should know that this material is not suitable for children and younger teens.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the obvious personal, social, and self-destructive ramifications involved with the dangerous lifestyle portrayed in this glitzy, disco-era culture of excess. It should also be explained that the film is a time-period piece of a halcyon, hazy period of innocence (the 70s) in American culture that has long since passed and can't, for a variety of reasons, be re-lived today.


This review was written by Jelani Harper
Teen, 15 years old
May 26, 2011
 
One of the best films of all time; no kids.

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Teen, 16 years old
February 8, 2011
 
Maybe for over 14,depends on the child really...
Well... A very good film,I liked it very much,it is very realistic. Very good acting. I was interested in this film for a long film but I wasn't sure so I never got round to it,but I watched it yesterday and it was VERY GOOD. It had a lot of swearing,violence,nudity and sexual activity.... Mark Wahlberg was great as always ,also starring Burt Reynolds and Julianne Moore who were also very good.

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Adult
May 31, 2009
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Parent of 13 and 16 year old
March 27, 2010
 
dancing is nice, and i like many people that like this film alot
i like this movie, has a lot of boobs! but you can fast forward through those scenes. mark whalberg is really cool

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Teen, 15 years old
May 27, 2010
 
Porn or Art?
I absolutely love this film! This is Paul Thomas Anderson's 2nd feature and quite possibly his best, tied with his 2007 masterpiece "There WIll Be Blood." But parents be warned, this film is about the porn industry. So expect full frontal male & female nudity, extensive masturbation/sex scenes, language and cocaine use. After the party's over in "Boogie Nights" lots of violence such as suicide and armed robbery take place. But this film does offer a positive message, if it weren't for the sex and drugs this would be the ideale movie for kids with a message of sticking with your family and school. And I do think this film is art, not porn.

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Parent of 17 year old
May 3, 2011
 
Masterpiece for 18++
incredible movie but not for kids at all

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Teen, 13 years old
January 15, 2012
 
An amazing film,one that will remain in a special place in many movie collector's collections.
EXTREME violence,sex and language=NOT FOR KIDS even though i saw this at 7,i couldnt understand it i saw it again when i was 13 and realized the movie had a special message in it after all although this is probably one of the most controversial movies ever made.

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Adult
January 9, 2012
 
Porn documental film meant for adults.
Boogie Nights really does portray the porn industry in a way which we all can agree on. Be warned, this movie contains very explicit sex and masterbation scenes between men and women with full frontal nudity, graphic close range gunshooting, and pervasive strong language, constant use of f**k, especially in the sex scenes. The main character is a cocaine addict, which shows other people do illegal drugs as well.

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This review was written by Jelani Harper
Studio:New Line
Director:Paul Thomas Anderson
Cast:Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg
Genre:Drama
Run time:156 minutes
Theatrical release date:October 8, 1997
DVD release date:April 7, 1998
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:strong sex scenes with explicit dialogue, nudity, drug use, language and violence

This review was written by Jelani Harper
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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