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Parents' Guide to

21 Jump Street

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

TV-based buddy comedy is crude but hilarious.

Movie R 2012 110 minutes
21 Jump Street Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 15+

Based on 50 parent reviews

Daniel M.
Daniel M. Parent of 13-year-old
February 6, 2023
age 14+

Spoiler Alert! Still please read.

Now, this movie is one of my favorites. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum had an amazing performance playing idiot cops trying to fit in as teenagers at a high school. The swearing, many f-bombs sometimes used in sexual concepts but most kids know what that means already whether you like it or not kids learn about this stuff from friends or school. I know my kids know about sexual information from friends and I hate to say it but most kids who are way to young to know so much know all of the information about sex. For violence it is pretty basic. Not too bad. When there is really any form of violence it used in a comedic way. Like when Johnny Depp is shot and tells his friend about all his regrets as he dies. Or when the gym teacher is shot on the penis and it falls off. In a comedic way they show it lying on the ground but it's super fake and it's all a joke. Other than a split second of partial nudity there aren't any sex scenes. Yes, they talk about it but other then like not even a full second of them walking in on 3 people in a bedroom there isn't really anything. Drinking and Drugs are really basic also. They throw a drinking party and there are a lot of high schoolers but you're kids aren't going to see that and be like, "Wow maybe I should do that in high school!" You may think you're kids are irresponsible sometimes but they aren't dumb. Most kids know when to draw the line. Overall the movie is hilarious and I think a mature kid that wouldn't repeat the jokes to you or their friends could watch it. Thank You
McFly22
McFly22 Adult
February 11, 2022
age 18+

Hilarious-But not for kids

This movie is funny as hell. That being said, I'm really surprised by the amount of children who have seen this. I understand that we want to share movie nights and experiences with our kids but when did we stop caring about age appropriate material for children who are still developing their little brains? There are plenty of movies that are just as funny that have little to no vulgar language and sexual content. You aren't your children's friends- you're their parents. If you care about what your children are exposed to then this movie shouldn't be on your list. The content is just not child friendly. Let your kids be kids ffs. One day they'll be old enough to watch these kinds of movies with you but in the mean time allow them to share experiences with you that aren't full of sex scenes or content and disgusting language ABOUT sex and drugs.
See all 50 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) weren't friends in high school. Schmidt was sensitive and smart and not particularly sporty; Jenko was the opposite. But the police academy they both attended is the great equalizer, and they each learn from the other's strengths ... even though they're not particularly good at their jobs (Jenko can't even remember the Miranda rights). So off to 21 Jump Street they go to prove they have what it takes by busting a major drug ring. The job entails pretending to be in high school again, and Schmidt's worried that he'll be uncool once again -- and, worse, forgotten. But the world has changed a whole lot, and so have the "cool kids." Turns out that the ones who used to be on the sidelines are ruling high school in more ways than one.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (50 ):
Kids say (151 ):

This is how you remake a franchise. Rather than borrowing heavily from its '80s TV predecessor or mining the same, now-tired jokes as some other movies descended from previously known projects, 21 JUMP STREET is solidly in the present, even as it flashes back to the past. Its material is modern, its jokes whip-smart, and, as a result, it's a delight (as long as you're "mature" enough to handle the crude stuff, of course).

21 Jump Street's wit comes from the way that it pokes fun at high school and how its sociological makeup -- who's popular, who's not, what are kids these days up to? -- has changed over the years. The film actually twists some stereotypes on their heads. (The troubled kids are actually environmentalists and academically serious.) The drug plot is almost incidental, but not so incidental that it's a wash. It still propels the film forward and provides a great backdrop for the central theme to unfold: the friendship shared by the two leads. And Hill and Tatum have great chemistry, a main requirement of buddy cop movies. Both are in fine form. Who else is in fine form? Johnny Depp, who graciously makes a cameo that's hilarious and cheeky and satisfying. See this movie, stat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how 21 Jump Street portrays high school. Is it realistic? Is it meant to be? Teens: How does this school compare to yours?

  • Parents, talk to your kids about social struggles and drug use in high school. Does this film depict either/both accurately? What are the consequences of substance use/abuse in real life?

  • How does the movie compare to the original 21 Jump Street TV show? If you were a fan of the series, is the movie what you expected?

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