Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, swearing, drugs, and more in gangster classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Goodfellas
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 39 parent reviews
Parents say the film is a powerful and gritty depiction of the mob lifestyle, highlighting themes of violence, drugs, and strong language that make it inappropriate for younger viewers, with many suggesting a minimum viewing age of 16. While some reviewers acknowledge the film's cinematic brilliance and educational value regarding harsh realities, they emphasize the need for parental discretion based on a child's maturity level.
- graphic content
- intense themes
- strong language
- suitable for older teens
- cinematic masterpiece
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 113 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag, with some praising it as a brilliant classic and others warning of its extreme violence, graphic language, and mature themes. While many consider it a must-watch for older teens due to its compelling storytelling and exceptional performances, others caution that its graphic content and portrayal of the mob lifestyle might not be suitable for younger audiences.
- extreme violence
- graphic language
- compelling storytelling
- mature themes
- must-watch for teens
- exceptional performances
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
From the mid-1950s as a young teen, to the 1980s as a broken, recovering drug addict in fear for his life, the real-life Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) was a member of the Mob. In Henry's words, "I belonged," and that to him meant everything. In lockstep with the icy, controlled violence of Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and the unbalanced savagery of Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), Henry traveled in style, breaking laws, abusing those he loved, untouched by corrupt cops and revered by fawning hangers-on. Only when Henry's mistakes, fueled by drug addiction and paranoia, led to certain awareness that his days in organized crime were numbered did Henry turn himself in to the FBI, rat on his friends, and talk his way into the witness protection program.
Is It Any Good?
This classic tale of mob life in New York City is a stunning, vivid look at the ugliness and depravity of a subculture that's been glamorized, sanitized, and romanticized in countless other films. This is the real deal. Nothing prepares an audience for the raw amorality and insanity of this crew. No movie has better shown how the "goodfellas" create a community wholly isolated from the rest of society by its own warped values and staggeringly amoral code. In scene after scene, Scorsese and his team bring this magnetic evil to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what all the violence in Goodfellas tells you about its characters. What happens when a close-knit group of people considers itself above the law?
Using Henry Hill and Karen Hill as examples, how do the filmmakers show the mob's influence on the values and behavior of its individual members? How does it change them?
What do you think the filmmakers are trying to say about peer pressure and going along with "the gang"? Why do you think there are no real "good fellas" in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 19, 1990
- On DVD or streaming : March 26, 1997
- Cast : Joe Pesci , Ray Liotta , Robert De Niro
- Director : Martin Scorsese
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 146 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic material, violence, and sexual content
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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