Parents' Guide to

Friday Night Lights

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Powerful drama is so much more than a football movie.

Movie PG-13 2004 117 minutes
Friday Night Lights Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 13+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 14+

Had to turn it off

I read the reviews, and knew that other families had recommended the viewing age as 13. I thought if I was just quick on the FF button during the party scene, it would be okay for my children, who are younger than 13. But the first five minutes of the film were filled with swear words and sexual references. I'm sure the movie has a great message, but we'll have to revisit it in a few years.

This title has:

Too much swearing
age 13+

Pretty Boring

They go overboard with the romance and the videotaping is not good. It has more sexual content than football. I would not recommend this for children under 13. Doesn't really have an significant plot, it's almost like any other football movie just way more romance, that's it. It also illustrates underage drinking and harsh/violent scenes.

This title has:

Too much violence

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (5):

Director/co-screenwriter Peter Berg has produced a movie that has both immediacy and resonance, filled with moments of authenticity and insight. Friday Night Lights has an intentionally rough, gritty, bleached, documentary feel, but Berg is in complete control, with every shot a small gem of precision and mastery. Many of the performances are quite moving, and, as always, Thornton brings subtlety and natural honesty to his role.

Within a very traditional sports movie structure, Berg assembles a mosaic of gem-like moments that illuminate a much bigger picture. This is not a football movie -- it's a rich and meaningful story about people who play football and the people who watch them, with respectful and poignant insights, beautiful performances, and sensitive treatment of issues that touch us all.

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