Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cold War thriller focuses on tension over action.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bridge of Spies
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 21 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a mixed bag, with some finding it slow and lacking in action, while others appreciate its historical context and strong performances, particularly from Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance. Many note the film's moral messaging and complex themes, making it more suitable for older children and adults, despite some moments of violence and strong language.
- action level
- historical context
- strong performances
- moral messaging
- suitable for older kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In BRIDGE OF SPIES, James Donovan (Tom Hanks) is a skilled insurance lawyer who's asked to take on an unusual, challenging case: defending a captured Soviet spy (Mark Rylance) at the height of the Cold War. And although his involvement with the case makes him unpopular, Donovan is determined to make sure his client gets a fair trial, even if he has to appeal the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. Then, when U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell) is shot down over the Soviet Union, Donovan must take on an even more difficult and dangerous assignment: Go to East Berlin to negotiate a prisoner exchange.
Is It Any Good?
Written by Matt Charman and Joel and Ethan Coen, this film crackles with crispness and clarity. Director Steven Spielberg knows how to keep viewers on the edge of their seats; case in point, Bridge of Spies' opening, which will leave you waiting for a big explosion or defining crash of the kind most often seen in espionage tales. But what happens instead isn't a prototypical setting-into-motion plot device but more a peeling of the proverbial onion skin, moving the plot through the first of many curves and hard lefts.
The period set design bottles 1950s/60s New York's essence, as well as Berlin in the latter half of the movie. If there's any quibble, it's that there's so much story to pack in that a few characters get the short shrift, notably Donovan's wife (ably played by Amy Ryan) and one of his law firm partners (Alan Alda). But ultimately one of the most compelling things about Bridge of Spies is that it truly feels of a different time, devoid of the usual pointed emotional cues and heavy backgrounding that clutter most movies these days. Which isn't to say that you won't be pulled into this spy drama, because you will be. Or that you'll figure out what's going to happen and what the film is about, because you won't. What you will find is a movie stripped bare to its essentials: the retelling of a story based on real-life events about how an insurance lawyer became instrumental in negotiating one of the most important spy-swaps of the Cold War.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Bridge of Spies depicts the Cold War. Teens: Did you know much about this period of history before watching? How could you find out more?
How accurate do you think the movie is to what actually happened? Why might filmmakers decide to tweak facts in some cases?
How did the movie's violent scenes affect you? Did they have more or less impact than those you've seen in more action-heavy thrillers? Why do you think that is?
Is Donovan a role model? Why or why not? Does he seem like someone who'd naturally be the subject of a big Hollywood movie?
How do the characters in Bridge of Spies demonstrate integrity? Why is this an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 16, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : February 2, 2016
- Cast : Tom Hanks , Amy Ryan , Alan Alda
- Director : Steven Spielberg
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : History
- Character Strengths : Integrity
- Run time : 135 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and brief strong language
- Awards : Academy Award , Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : October 9, 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