Parents' Guide to

Unfaithful

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Not for kids, but some adults will like it.

Movie R 2002 124 minutes
Unfaithful Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 4 parent reviews

aliceinMovieland
aliceinMovieland Adult
May 1, 2020
age 18+

Excellent. But NOT for kids.

Excellent movie with superb acting. Adults only!
undertakernumber1fan
undertakernumber1fan Adult
April 17, 2011
age 17+

glorified porn movie is all this one is

this is a glorified porn movie without the porn rating. one sex scene after the other. one violent scene were the husband kills the lover. very coarse language the F word is used quite frequently. I wouldnt advise this movie for anyone under 17

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on Claude Chabrol's La Femme Infidel, this story of obsession, betrayal, and jealousy centers on happily married Edward (Richard Gere) and Connie (Diane Lane, who seem to have everything until the wife is drawn into an affair. After a chance encounter with Paul (Oliver Martinez), Connie finds she can't stay away from the seductive Frenchman. At home, Edward knows something is wrong. As his wife primps in private and shies away from his advances, his suspicions mount. Finally, after Connie is spotted in a restaurant with Paul, he cannot avoid the truth. A private detective produces all the details, and Edward goes, broken-hearted, to the apartment of his rival.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (1):

Adults may consider Unfaithful a worthwhile portrayal of emotional suspense, told with director Adrian Lyne's characteristic visual flair. But it's not for kids -- it's a shocker. None of the plot elements are novel, but the seduction is handled very smoothly, without a lot of the emotional short-hand that would leave the story hollow. In fact, the strength of this film is its very down to earth emotional perceptiveness.

The movie makes us constantly aware of the currents of affection that run between the characters, yet the best scene in the film is the confrontation. Neither knows exactly what to do, and it's in this strange emotional limbo that a tragic choice is made.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the title. The film is symmetrical -- the wife is unfaithful in the first half, the husband in the second. To whom is the husband unfaithful? What "happens" in their final conversation? What is forgivable?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate