The Rockford Files

Review

Common Sense Media says

Classic 1970s detective series offers humor, mild violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this 1970s detective series features frequent violence, though it will appear tame by today's broadcast television standards. The show's characters frequently occupy grey areas of morality, but only for the sake of clever dialogue and plotting. The show's tone is relaxed and easy, in spite of the fact that it's set in a typically intense genre.

  • Positive messages1
    The series takes place in a world of low-end criminals and shabby private investigators; while the morality of these characters is often questionable on both sides, it is usually clear who is good, and what the show's protagonists stand for.
  • Positive role models1
    A large part of the series' charm is in the lead character's eagerness to avoid trouble and use deception to further his own goals. However, he usually does the right thing and takes risks to help those who are in need, even if he complains about it the entire time.
  • Violence2
    Produced in the 1970s, the show falls safely in line with network television content of the era. There is no blood or gore, but nearly every episode builds to a climax involving gun play, fisticuffs, or a combination of both. There are occasional on-screen deaths but again, these are extremely non-graphic in nature.
  • Sex1
    Occasional mild flirtation and kissing, but tame in comparison to today's network television dramas.
  • Language1
    Characters occasionally use terms such as "idiot" to describe each other.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    As befits a series that aired nearly 40 years ago, the show takes a more liberal attitude toward alcohol and smoking. Main characters indulge freely in social settings.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

Jim Rockford (James Garner) is hardly the kind of glamorous private investigator typically found on television. On THE ROCKFORD FILES, he works out of a ramshackle trailer parked near a beach in Malibu, taking second-rate jobs that enable him to do as little work as possible while still maintaining his slacker lifestyle. He always seems to owe somebody money and he never turns down a free meal. Inevitably, he's called upon to take risks and crack a few skulls to make sure that he gets paid and can return to his beach bum ways.

Is it any good?

 

It may be hard to appreciate from the perspective of today's highly evolved TV dramas, but The Rockford Files was a groundbreaking and critically significant series for the 1970s. Until Jim Rockford ambled onto the screen, TV detectives were hard-nosed, chisel-jawed champions of justice, as bland as the black-and-white shows they used to star in.

Jim Rockford represented a more complex, humorous take on the PI genre. His character made an indelible impression on the history of television, and the playful dialogue and plotting freed TV creators to explore more interesting territory on such notable 1980s series as St. ElseWhere and Hill Street Blues. Perhaps most importantly, the show remains immensely watchable, full of humor and unforgettable supporting players.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the show's occasional violence. How does it compare to today's television shows?

  • What kind of a "hero" is Jim Rockford? Is he a role model?

This review was written by Matt Springer

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Matt Springer
TV rating:NR
Cast:James Garner, Joe Santos
Genre:Drama
This review was written by Matt Springer
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More influential TV series
For kids who love drama
Browse more TV
 

vote now

Will you see The Rockford Files?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it