Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent but dry telling of real-life 1976 plane hijacking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
7 Days in Entebbe
What's the Story?
In 7 DAYS IN ENTEBBE, it's 1976, and German activists Wilfried Bose (Daniel Bruhl) and Brigitte Kuhlmann (Rosamund Pike) decide that they need to do something in the world, rather than just talk about it. So they join forces with Palestinian "freedom fighters" to hijack a plane that's traveling from Israel to Paris. They land the plane at Entebbe airport in Uganda, a country where Idi Amin (Nonso Anozie) rules and has agreed to help. As time goes on, the hijackers release some of the hostages, but it becomes clear to Wilfried that the Jewish passengers aren't among them; they're being separated, presumably for some darker fate. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (Lior Ashkenazi) knows that Israel has a policy of not dealing with terrorists; nonetheless, he agrees to negotiate. But at the same time, he approves a dangerous rescue plan. Will the hostages be saved before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
Based on real-life events, this dramatic thriller somehow lacks both drama and thrills. 7 Days in Entebbe concentrates on motivations rather than personalities, and its focus on details seems more dutiful than interesting. Director Jose Padilha made both the harrowing documentary Bus 174 and the surprisingly solid, action-packed remake of RoboCop; this film falls directly in between. But it lacks any kind of documentary-like immediacy or urgency; it doesn't really get inside the story. And it doesn't come anywhere close to a thriller; its approach is too dry and dull for that.
It's interesting to look at the success of thematically similar movies, like Argo and Zero Dark Thirty. The former managed to take a true story and make crackerjack entertainment based on it, and in the latter, high-powered, behind-the-scenes meetings are made tense and riveting. 7 Days in Entebbe, meanwhile, almost deliberately captures the boredom of the movie's dire situation, rather than its tension. Artistically, the movie attempts to draw parallels by cutting a performance of the Batsheva Dance Company in with the story, but even that feels forced. 7 Days in Entebbe is clearly intelligently written and competently directed, but, as it goes on, the effect is less emotional or thoughtful than it is distancing and clinical.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about 7 Days in Entebbe's use of violence. How did it affect you? Is it meant to be realistic? Is it thrilling or shocking? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Does this seem like a true story? Why might filmmakers decide to change some of the facts in a movie based on real life? How could you find out more?
The hijackers are described as both "freedom fighters" and "terrorists." How can their acts be seen as both good and bad?
How does the movie depict smoking? Why was smoking more common during the '70s? Does the movie make it seem glamorous?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 16, 2018
- On DVD or streaming : July 3, 2018
- Cast : Rosamund Pike , Daniel Bruhl , Eddie Marsan
- Director : José Padilha
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Director(s) , South American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Focus Features
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 106 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, some thematic material, drug use, smoking and brief strong language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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
Suggest an 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