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Wanted

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 17.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Explosive action film is extremely violent.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 17–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The film revolves around a secret society of assassins who kill on the orders of a mystical "Loom of Fate" the group's ideology is based on the idea of "Kill one, save a thousand" -- i.e. eliminating people based on the hypothetical ramifications of their unknown future acts. Lead character Wesley vents many of the frustrations of the modern cubicle-dwelling office laborer, questioning the choice between tedious, anonymous conformity or exciting, violent transgression. The fact that he ends up going with the latter is presented as a positive choice.
  • Violence:

    Extensive, graphic, and bloody violence, including (but not limited to) lots of shootings (shown in great detail, with blood splatter and visible brain matter, and often reversed on screen and shown again for cinematic effect), stabbings, slashings (including blood and extensive tissue damage), beatings (including broken bones, shattered flesh and extensive blood), people being burned alive, dead bodies used for target practice, a shooting victim used as a human shield (with a firearm poked through what's left of the head), assassinations, rats used as delivery platforms for plastic explosives, a violent train wreck, car crashes, and a graphic murder/suicide.
  • Sex:

    Intense semi-clothed sexual activity; male and female rear nudity; discussions of condoms and "the morning-after pill." Crude discussions of sex. Characters have an affair.
  • Language:

    Language includes very frequent uses of "f--k," "f--king," "motherf---er," "a--hole," "s--t," "p---y," "horses--t," "whore," and more.
  • Consumerism:

    Brands seen on screen include Captain Crunch, Cheerios, Snickers, Power Horse Energy Drink, Capital One, Google, and more.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some cigar smoking; a character has a prescription for anti-anxiety drugs; some discussion of the "morning-after pill."
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Wanted

Parents need to know that this over-the-top action film -- which stars Angelina Jolie and is based on a series of comic books, both of which will up its appeal with teens -- is loaded with extraordinarily explicit, extensive, stylized violence, including lots of bloody shootings, beatings, and more (blood and brain matter splatter are shown). The movie's style owes a debt to The Matrix, but it's much more graphic than that sci-fi epic. The film also suggests that the central character's transformation from corporate cog to killing machine is a positive thing to be admired. Also expect lots of swearing, some cigar smoking, and some pretty passionate scenes (including male and female rear nudity).

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the appeal of action films. Why does violent entertainment have such a grip on the public imagination? Talk with your kids about the difference between real life and fantasy -- even teens. Point out that consequences exist -- even if it makes you feel humorless. The fact that violent movies stimulate parts of the brain bears some commentary from the parental units. Families can also contrast Jolie's positive public work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations with her professional work in violent action films. Do the two roles fight against each other, or are they simply different aspects of the same person? Which do you think is the "real" her?

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Our Members Say

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See all 55 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    In addition to- (look at the previous review)

    Also, Weasley shows his middle finger (very briefly, for about 2 seconds) It was not really meant for someone, Weasley was just happy about himself.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Excessive consumerism

    I love it!

    It was one of the best movies I have ever seen ( and I have seen a lot), but now as I rewatch it I realize that for most people my age, this movie is not appropriate. I am a very mature person, so I am an exception. There is a lot of close-up violence throughout the movie, lots of blood, and two brief but very graphic sex scenes. You see a lot of brands in this movie such as Google, Energy Horse Drink, Cheerios, and others, and that is just in the first 15 minutes of the film. I would like to say there are good role models and positive messages, but the characters do not care about each other whatsoever, betray their "friends", etc. SPOILER: Later in the movie, Fox is even sent to kill Weasley, and by that time the viewers are somewhat convinced that they feel something for each other. But, Weasley DOES realize that he has to destroy The Feternety, and that is the good thing. However, at the end of the movie, Weasley does not really know who he is, which means he has not learned his lesson. I thought the ending part was genious, though! (Because Weasley can't go into the loser life, but he is no longer a killer)

  3. I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    lost of killing 15 over

    great movie it doesnt beat the matrix anyway lots of action killing and shooting worth watching truth is that i say you probley would have to be 15 or 16 to watch it because of the intense killing and one nudity part but great flick.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    Great movie! But some pretty raunchy material. Constant usage of the F-word throughout. And quite a bit of blood and gore. Some brief yet fairly graphic and rowdy sex scenes. But really it depends on your kid, if you are like me and have seen movies like Sin City, Matrix, Braveheart etc etc. Then it should be fine.

  5. I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    BEST ACTION FILM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    preety viloent best action film ever!!!

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    acualy really good.

    i really liked this movie.content violance very intense bloody violance.sex two brief sex scenes and a womans butt is shown. language hard r language f-ck,sh-t,d-ck,and b-tch

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    The Best, Most Mind-Blowing Action Film Since the First Matrix!

    I loved this movie! It has brought a new generation of action to the new millenium. First, there was dodging bullets; now, there's curving bullets! i love it! Parents: this film is extremely violent with dozens of head shots and further depictions of gore. Purely awesome; adrenaline-boosting, but EXTREMELY violent and gory.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    ok

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    im 13 and its the BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!! i mean kids my age watch bloody movies like this one anyway and this ones actualy GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    stylish action movie not as bad as the book

    know the film does not have the same amount of sex and profanity as the book. however there is till a lot of profanity and violence there is brain mattter blood and all sorts of other graphic violence what makes wanted good is it's exciting

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Very good movie.

    This movie cotains strong graphic bloody violence throughout, coarse language, and 2 sex scenes (semi graphic). Fortunantly, it has nonstop action, and that would please many

  13. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    i watched this movie and it was a great film and alot of graphic violence, and a lot of language in it but not much. the chase in the beginning was a little bit violent, but when the guy came out of the building in glass and could be very scary and violent, so you better migt want to let your kids think about the movie.

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    it was awesome action but not worth the brief nudity and sex that was NOT needed to be shown for the plot to still run smoothly

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0

    the best

    this is my 2nd favorite movie

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

  17. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    The movie is excellent. Good for older teens and above. It contains excessive violence, strong language and also some sexual activity which is unsuitable for teens below 17

  18. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    wow really good movie and i think angelina jolia is hot but very violent and lots of swearing.

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    It was awsome

    I thought this movie was great lots of action now if you don't like blood and killing and that stuff don't see it but if you do it's awsome also about the sex there are 2 brief scenes of sex on a table and all you see is the mans butt and it is very brief there is a lot of language though but it is a great film

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0

    Not so great

    The dialouge was forced the plot hurruied and it required more than just a suspension of disbelif. The movie was a wannabe Fight Club. With slow motion fighting self naration and an air of self importance. Fight club is much better even if it is much darker

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