Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Clerks III
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Touching Kevin Smith threequel has very strong language.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Clerks III
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Clerks 3 ... Just like 1 and 2
Underrated
What's the Story?
In CLERKS III, Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) are well past 40 and have resurrected the Quick Stop, now co-owners as well as clerks. The adjacent video store has now become a THC shop, run by none other than Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). Dante mourns the death of his true love, Becky (Rosario Dawson), while Randal takes delight in riding new employee Elias (Trevor Fehrman), their former co-worker from Mooby's. During an argument, Elias prays for God to smite Randal, and, lo and behold, Randal has a heart attack. After making a miraculous recovery, Randal decides to finally do something with his life and sets out to make a movie about the Quick Stop. But as the production gets underway, egos clash and tempers flare, and things eventually come to a head.
Is It Any Good?
Writer-director Smith returns to his signature characters with more gravity and gratitude for this threequel, and even though goopy sensitivity isn't his forte, it offers warmth and smiles. Clerks III goes meta, re-creating some of the famous scenes from the original 1994 Clerks with Silent Bob acting as DP and explaining why the movie must be shot in black and white. It requires some serious suspension of disbelief, as there's no way that the actors (all around 50 in real life) could be mistaken for their 20-year-old selves. It also requires at least some knowledge of Clerks II (2006), a lightweight lark compared to this one, which introduced Becky and Elias.
Weepy moments like hospital scenes and graveside visits are a little out of Smith's wheelhouse -- as evidenced by his infamous Jersey Girl -- and they're flat, draggy spots in a movie that seems like it wants to be funnier. But even though its laughs are fewer and farther between than its predecessors', Clerks III seems like a genuine offering from Smith, rather than a cash-in sequel. His voice is by now very familiar, and it has a grateful tone here. He truly appreciates these characters and understands how they've contributed to his life. This is his love letter to them and to the fans who made them iconic. When we hear his voice speaking over the closing credits (a bold choice), it somehow feels like exactly the right thing to do.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Clerks III's depiction of sex. What values are depicted? Why do the characters refer to sex so frequently in their dialogue? What are they trying to say?
How does the movie handle death? Does it feel like a real experience, coupled with real emotions? Why, or why not?
How are drugs and alcohol depicted? Are there consequences? Why is that important?
How does the movie compare to the other two entries in the series? How have the characters grown or changed over the years?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 13, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: December 6, 2022
- Cast: Brian O'Halloran , Jeff Anderson , Rosario Dawson
- Director: Kevin Smith
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Indigenous actors, Latino actors
- Studios: Lionsgate , Fathom Events
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: pervasive language, crude sexual material, and drug content
- Last updated: March 6, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Goofy Comedy Movies to Watch with Tweens and Teens
Best Classic Comedy Films
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