Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
More violence, drugs, and language in gritty British sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
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Where to Watch
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Adulthood
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ADULTHOOD is set six years after the events of Kidulthood, and Sam (Noel Clarke) has been released from prison following the death of Trife. Trife's girlfriend Alisa (Red Madrell) is raising their child alone, Mooney (Femi Oyeniran) is trying to make a new life for himself at uni, and other characters are all attempting to move on in their own way. But there's no escaping the repercussions of the past, and the death still hangs heavy for Trife's friend Jay (Adam Deacon), who's hellbent on violent revenge. Meanwhile, Sam initially tries to end the cycle of violence, but is seeking retribution of his own.
Is It Any Good?
Kidulthood hit hard from the opening scene, and while this continuation of the drama is a little less impactful, it starts to bring in messages about the cyclical repercussions of violence. In Adulthood, characters are mostly trying to step away from the events of the past and get on with their lives, but Trife's death still hangs heavily in the air. Sam's release from prison sets in motion another chain of events heavy with a tragic inevitability. He claims he wants to end the cycle of violence, but near the end, Sam sets in motion another fated sequence that will, in turn, come home to roost in the next movie, Brotherhood. There are moments where characters show more honesty and vulnerability here, making them more fully formed than the wayward delinquents of the original. Clarke steps confidently into the limelight into a more prominent role, though his dialogue can be a little overwrought at times. But fans of the first movie will likely be intrigued to check in on the characters in what is a fittingly gritty, disturbing, and often bleak sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Adulthood's messages. What do you think the movie says about cycles of violence, the nature of revenge, and the difficulties of breaking away from the past? How had characters changed since the last film? What pulled them back to old habits?
Discuss the film's violence. Was it shocking? Thrilling? Both? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a film like this?
Are drinking, smoking, or drug use glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences for their use? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 28, 2020
- Cast : Noel Clarke , Scarlett Alice Johnson , Adam Deacon
- Director : Noel Clarke
- Studio : Independent Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language throughout, drug use and brief sexual material
- Last updated : July 30, 2026
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