Parents' Guide to

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Extreme "bad cop" depravity is definitely family-unfriendly.

Movie R 2009 121 minutes
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 16+

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
age 16+

From a College Students Viewpoint

I watched this with my girlfriend, we are both twenty, I was considering watching it with my nephew (16) but after pre-watching it, it is far too violent and doesn't make use of a bad situation (New Orleans) to show retribution or regret on the part of the main character, it just allows him to continue breaking the law. For adults alone: great movie, but make sure the kids aren't watching.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS will appeal to fans who know the work of German-born maverick director Werner Herzog. And indeed, the new film has much in common with some of Herzog's crazed past masterworks like Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) and Fitzcarraldo (1982). The drawback is that fans of equally crazed maverick filmmaker Abel Ferrara will compare it to the original 1992 film Bad Lieutenant and find the new one lacking (though the two films really have very little in common).

Ultimately, enjoyment of the new movie will rest on viewers' willingness to succumb to intense, loony, personal filmmaking as well as extreme subject matter with lots of drugs, swearing, violence, and sex). Those who do may find themselves laughing at the same time that their jaws drop to the floor at the movie's sheer audacity and envelope pushing. But those who don't may find the movie pointless or even offensive.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: November 20, 2009
  • On DVD or streaming: April 6, 2010
  • Cast: Eva Mendes, Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer
  • Director: Werner Herzog
  • Inclusion Information: Latinx actors
  • Studio: First Look Pictures
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 121 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: drug use and language throughout, some violence and sexuality
  • Last updated: June 29, 2022

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