Dazed and Confused (R, 1993)

common sense media says

Plenty of drug use with very little consequence.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie features drug use and petty vandalism with little consequence. Overindulgence in alcohol leads to a fistfight, and overindulgence in pot-smoking leads to stupidity, but casual use of both results in an alluring sense of camaraderie.

Positive messages: Meanness is frowned upon, being laid-back rewarded.
Violence: A fist-fight, several paddlings, and gun fired.
Sex: Several references to sex.
Language: Frequent cursing.
Consumerism: The soundtrack is as popular as the film.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Extensive use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana with little negative effects.

More on Dazed and Confused

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the deleterious effects of drug and alcohol use not depicted in the film. Where are Randall and Mitch likely to be 5 or 10 years after the close of this movie? How often do high school kids party like this? What has changed since the 1970s, in terms of the enforcement of drug laws and our knowledge of the long-term effects of drug and alcohol use?

What's the story?

What's the story?

DAZED AND CONFUSED follows the activities of a group of Texas high-schoolers on the last day of the school year as they cruise around town, drink, and fall in love. Mitch, the bullied freshman, takes revenge on the bully (Ben Affleck). The star quarterback, Randall "Pink" Floyd, is forced to choose between his allegiance to the team and his allegiance to his friends.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

A classic coming-of-age tale that paints an unapologetically rosy picture of high school in the 1970s, Dazed and Confused manages to thoroughly entertain without saying much besides "boy, those were the days." Though conflict arises when characters briefly contemplate what comes after the last day of school, the film does not let such serious moments complicate the good time they experience.

Dazed and Confused helped to kick off the nostalgic preoccupation with the 1970s that continues to plague pop culture. This is not to say that the film is an empty paean to the era of bellbottoms and bongs. While Dazed and Confused is no doubt a '70s idyll, it owes its lasting popularity to spot-on depictions of timeless suburban rites of passage. The joy that Mitch experiences from transcending social barriers that seem etched in stone is contagious. With nearly every teenager on television caught up in a different brow-furrowing crisis each week, it's nice to be reminded that, on occasion, high school can be fun.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: Richard Linklater
Cast: Jeremy London, Matthew McConaughey, Wiley Wiggins
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: September 24, 1993
DVD release: July 1, 1998
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: pervasive, continuous teen drug and alcohol use and very strong language

This review was written by Elliot Panek
 
 

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What parents & educators say

11

Most useful reviews by all members

asecoolish
teen, 14 years old
 
its great and its very funny let me mind you this is a stoner comedy so there's a lot of (non graphic) drug and alcohol use involving teens there's some suggestive dialog but its not extreme there's a substantial amount of strong language and paddling against fresh mans but this is a kind of movie that you can just relax to and chill out to. and if you have this movie and haven't seen it then watch it and if you don't have it it would be a lot cooler if you did man. and if your teen is mature then let them watch this movie. IT A CLASSIC.

ac7193
teen, 17 years old
 
Funny, but not really that entertaining.
I thought that if you were high, you would enjoy this movie for what it is. If you're not you might get bored.

 
I love this movie! I first saw it when I was in the fourth grade. It's a great film that shows a bunch of teenagers in 1976. Great 1970's soundtrack, I even bought a copy after I saw the film. It's like an R-rated version of That's 70's Show. There's profanity and marijuana use, as well as some sexual content and a fight scene. Should be okay for anyone over the age of 10

 
this is a classic and every american over the age of 13 should see this

 
One of my favorite movies! got to see it!
If your into the 70's type of movies, then you will love this movie. Great for kids above 14 i would say. A lot of drugs and drinks go around but a wonderful movie.

ellcar_fairjudge
parent of 9 year old
 
Not a "stoner comedy"; It's an accurate character study for the '70s
Dazed & Confused is an excellent character study to show viewers about how high school may have been in a small town in the mid-70's. Students watching the movie can see the similarities and differences to their own school and friends. *Possible Spoiler Alert* Some scenes do depict excessive hazing of the soon-to-be new freshmen. And most importantly shows kids that teasing is not the end of the world. It does NOT cause long-term "trauma". As was in the film, hazing can be overcome not by violence, but by positive social means, such as afterward building a friendship between the parties involved (paraphrased quote from the film: "It'd be cool to show them it doesnt bother you that much"). A minor concern would be drug use the under-age drinking. It should be explained that experimentation is a part of life, and most people who do are not adversly affected in any major way (though the possibility of unfavorable short- and long-term effects should be discussed ). Another issue may be that, as a character study that takes place during a time outside of their own, younger viewers(10-14) may get bored or not follow the purpose of some of the scenes and activities that take place throughout the film.

Kookie101
teen, 17 years old
 

Plague
parent
 
Dazed and Confused
This funny classic is great for teens.

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