Parents' Guide to

Eye in the Sky

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Riveting thriller about drone strikes and their human toll.

Movie R 2016 102 minutes
Eye in the Sky Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

openminded_dad
openminded_dad Adult
May 4, 2016
age 13+

Thought-provoking

I don't want to spoil the film for anyone thinking of going to see it, but you should know that the bulk of the film is not at all violent. There's a military mission, but it's mainly about surveillance and about decisions that go into determining when, where, and whether to launch missile strikes from drone aircraft. For those concerned about violence, I would consider the movie VERY safe, especially compared to movies like American Sniper or Planet of the Apes. There's some bad language, but probably less than you'd hear in a day at a middle school anywhere in the U.S. I didn't see anything about the movie that would justify an R-rating. It was very comfortably PG-13 and more importantly, I think it could serve as an impetus for some compelling discussions in your homes. I plan to take my 13-year-old to see it.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
randolphm
randolphm Adult
April 9, 2016
age 14+

Thought Provoking

This is a great movie for parents and educators who want to take the time to discuss the film after the theater lights come up. The different role each individual involved in the decision plays shows that war is not something easy or that anyone should take lightly. The black and white of when to use force is much clearer when you do not have the lives of innocent civilians hanging on the decision. Because of the diversity of their roles, there is value to each person weighing in on the decision. Almost every person in the movie is a role model.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A British general (Alan Rickman, in his final role) and colonel (Helen Mirren) are on the hunt for an Englishwoman who's joined a militant terrorist group in Kenya. Using on-the-ground operatives and drones, they're able to track her and her accomplices to a house in Nairobi. The Americans want her and her cohorts captured, too; they're also on the U.S.A.'s hit list. As both countries work feverishly behind the scenes to coordinate a drone attack, the American pilot (Aaron Paul) and co-pilot tasked with controlling the weapons spot a young Kenyan girl (Aisha Takow) selling bread in the kill zone. Should they shoot?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

Taut, tense, and tightly paced, EYE IN THE SKY is a disciplined and illuminating examination of what military officials and news organizations often refer to as "collateral damage." But instead of miring the film in overwrought plots and death-defying CGI-riddled stunts, the filmmakers take a concept -- drone warfare in terrorist strongholds -- and bring it to the human level by filtering it through the eyes of the military and high-level government officials who must tussle with international relations and local politics to arrive at decisions that result in taking human lives.

Equally important are the experiences of the soldiers who actually pull the trigger and the civilians caught between insurgents and those trying to stop them. Rickman, who died before the film was released, reminds us why he'll be so missed, while Mirren and Paul, as the British colonel and the American pilot tasked with controlling the drone, go toe-to-toe in what's essentially a master class in finely tuned acting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Eye in the Sky's violence. How does it compare to what you've seen in other movies about war? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • What does the movie have to say about the use of drones in war? Is it for or against them? What complicates the issue? How does the film address the human cost of war?

  • How does the film depict the high-level decisions being made about drone strikes? What did you learn that you didn't know before? How do politics and public relations influence decisions like the ones made here?

Movie Details

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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