
Want more recommendations for your family?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration
Dark Blue
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent police detective teaches his partner.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
DARK BLUE is the story of a rogue police detective teaching a young partner how to do things his way. Eldon Perry, Jr. (Kurt Russell) comes from a family of lawmen as far back as anyone can remember. He learned from his father what he is trying to pass on to his new partner, Bobby (Scott Speedman) -- anything he can do to rid the world of one more bad guy is all right. Bobby is the nephew of Eldon's mentor and boss, played by Brendan Gleeson (Gangs of New York).
Is It Any Good?
Dark Blue is an ambitious movie. It takes a cop who is corrupt in an ends-justify-the-means sense and contrasts him with a cop who is corrupt in a what's-in-it-for-me sense and arranges for them to clash just as the jury in the first Rodney King case is deliberating on a verdict. But when this movie succeeds, it is not in its attempt at a broader statement about integrity and responsibility in a world that is racist and dishonorable. Its strength is in its fine performances and in its smaller moments. Its weakness is a climax that is both melodramatic and formulaic and its unfortunate resemblance to the flashier Training Day by the same screenwriter.
Dark Blue is not subtle. The cops who wear the uniform are the good guys and the bad guys are very, very bad. The quadruple homicide-robbery that puts the story into play is, even these days, shockingly casual in its brutality. And the last twenty minutes are embarassingly preposterous. But Russell, an underappreciated actor, gives a thoughtful, heartfelt performance that beautifully illuminates the movie's theme of decay and redemption.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how even people who abandon core values have their own value systems. Where do we see TK's limits? What makes him hit bottom and decide to change?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 21, 2003
- On DVD or streaming: June 24, 2003
- Cast: Kurt Russell , Scott Speedman , Ving Rhames
- Director: Ron Shelton
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: MGM/UA
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 116 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, language, and brief sexuality
- Last updated: April 3, 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
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