Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, drugs, strong language in uneven DJ comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Banger
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BANGER, a DJ (Vincent Cassel) gets wrapped up in a mission to take down a drug dealer. Along the way, he will have to convincingly befriend a rival in order to get into the target's inner circle. What could possibly go wrong?
Is It Any Good?
This film feels undercooked and unsure of itself. Director So Me perhaps tries to do too much in Banger, and the script and generally thin plot can't hold everything together. The film also can't decide on what it wants to be—comedy, crime thriller, heartfelt drama, love letter to the genre, or critique of the genre—and perhaps choosing one would've made for a movie with more of an identity. Instead, this movie jumps around genres, never really committing to any one in particular, even its supposed main genre of comedy. Many of the depictions of the gangsters seem like caricatures and follow stereotypical representations of Eastern European and Russian "villains." And many of the DJs in the film are seemingly mocked and have embarrassing characteristics. This last point is emblematic of the unsureness of this film in how it either lovingly depicts DJ culture or snidely makes fun of it—it seems like Banger confusingly wants to do both.
This movie also is desperate to clarify that it has some awareness of how DJing actually works. Most of the moments that seem to want to genuinely represent some positive aspects of DJ culture and musicians generally come off as mockery. This isn't a gritty, organic, and realistic look at a DJ who once had the spotlight, gets wrapped up in drug culture and the wrong people, has to rely on his skills in order to save his daughter who also somehow got caught up in everything, and so on. Instead, this movie is supposed to be a comedy, but it's one that isn't quite sure who it wants the target of its humor to be. Is it DJs? Is it electronic music lovers of all genres (because they like DJs)?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in comedic dramas. Does the violence in Banger help make the film funnier? More dramatic? How do some scenes of mild violence and danger take on humorous tones in this film?
Do you feel this film realistically represents and portrays DJ culture? How so or not so?
Is the character of Scorpex particularly interesting? What do you think makes him watchable (or not)?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 2, 2025
- Cast : Vincent Cassel , Laura Felpin , Mister V , Alexis Manenti
- Director : So Me
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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