This movie may have some highly graphic war scenes, but the message is amazing. This has to be one of the war movies ever.
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The Patriot
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Many graphic battle scenes, not for all teens.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–16
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
About The Patriot
Parents need to know that this is a very violent movie, with many graphic battle scenes, vividly portrayed. A character commits suicide when his family is killed. There are some gentle sexual references in a scene depicting the colonial custom of "bundling bags" for courting couples.
Read our full review by Nell Minow
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the real origins of the Revolutionary War. They might want to look up Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox, who, like the fictional Benjamin Martin, defeated the British soldiers by using his knowledge of the local topography and by staying away from open-field battles. It is also worth talking about the notions of rules within wartime, as shown in the negotiations between Benjamin and Cornwallis. How do enemies agree on rules? What should those rules be? Why did Benjamin refuse to give his name? Why did Cornwallis care about limiting the damage to civilians?
Our Members Say
See all 21 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Must be mature to watch
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Although a bit violent, a must see for all Americans.
A must see for all Americans. The Patriot shows what was sacrificed by the men who fought in the American Revolution in order to secure our independence and our freedom. It is quite violent. There is a good bit of blood and gore(obviously not for the squeemish), but if you can handle that, you can handle this movie. The message this movie puts across is 100% good.
- I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Graphic Violence, but Uplifting Messages...
When I came on this page and saw that parents rated this movies as "iffy ages 12+", I was very surprised. While not as bad as other R-rated films, this movie shouldn't be shown to anyone under the age of 14. That said, though it is violent, it is filled with positive messages of bravery, acceptance, and loyalty. This is a very violent film. Countless people are shot throughout the entire film, most with accompanying blood that sprays or spurts. One man has his leg taken off by a cannon ball (brief shot of the bloody knee), and another is decapitated by a cannon ball (it's in slow-mo; the cannon takes the head off, and you see the rest of the body for a brief moment before it cuts away). A man gets a tomahawk in the head, and another is bayoneted through the throat at close range. However, random soldiers being shot isn't the violence parents need to be most concerned with. Many major characters are killed, one of which is a child. Children are repeatedly threatened through the movie, with guns, torches, and the like. In one heartwrenching scene, a whole town is brought together in a church that is later burned. You see the screaming, crying people trying to break loose, and flames consuming the outside of the church. While no burning is actually seen, I think that it is this intense, emotional scene that given the movie its R-rating. No sex or language to speak of. Highly recommended.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Amazing revelutionary war story
One of the best war movies of all time. Shows one man's courage too stand up for a good cause.
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Good acting, deep story, minimal swearing, but tons of violence
This is an incredible movie. This movie truly shows what the revolutionary war was like for us who were not there when it took place. However, this is one of the most violent films you will find around. For example, a guys head gets blown off by a cannon ball, blood guts and gore galore, Benjamin hacks a red coat to pieces, off camera but you can see the blood, because of the fact an officer killed his son in cold blood, Col. William Tavington and the red coats burn a Church with all the towns people in it, John Billings shoots himself in the head because Tavington killed his family and burned there house, and there are many more examples of violence. Now, with all that negative stuff said, this is a really good movie, the acting is incredible, the story is deep, and there is minimal swearing. 4 out of 5
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Pretty Good
I usually dont like war movies,historic movies,I mean,but I've loved this one. I hate mel gibson,I watched this movie because of heath ledger,and he was fantastic. Its not so violent as everyone says...
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
sweet
one of the my favoites
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Inspiring...
A good movie that shows the Revolution as it actually was! The violence came in decent amounts, but didn't take away from the story at all! The movie was very emotional, I teared up at least twice! Overall, this was a movie that every American citizen should see sometime in their life!
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
I still LOVE mel gipson
great movie!!!! much cleaner than braveheart great movie!!!!! 14+
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!
this is my favorite movie of all time...probably because it was the real first action intense REAL story i saw when i was younger. but now that im older its still my favorite movie and i watch it 3 times a yr usually. i LOVE the story and i cry every time! mel gibson is simply amazing of course, and i swear, i have NEVER EVER seen a better villian than col. tavington. this movie has some awesome scenes, but i definatly wouldnt let kids under 10 see it. the best part would have been the end, when gibson runs up the hill with the flag, i STILL have shivers run up my spine though i must have seen this movie a million times! my favorite ever!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
violent
historically accurate. a lot o violence.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Incredibly boring and gory
This movie was very historically acurate, but I'm not sure that it was worth watching all the gore in order to get the story. This was the only major drawback. If you like historical movies, you'll like it.
- I rate this title off for age 13 and give it
i hated it
it was a horrible movie and i think it should be NC-17 because it is very bad in violence
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
I Cheered!
This film should have been rated PG-13. Sure, the war scenes are graphic, but there is no "senseless" violence; but a rather enlightening depiction of the extreme difficulty & sacrifices that our forefathers were willing to endure in order to ensure freedom for their children & future generations. It is also quite accurate, as evidenced by the historical book: "The Life of Patrick Henry".
We consider this film a "MUST SEE" for parents who desire that their children learn about REAL US HISTORY, & the morality & faith behind the decisions that shaped our great nation.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 67% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 67% | of parents say it's too violent |
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