Common Sense Media Review
Extremely graphic, violent Vietnam War film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Full Metal Jacket
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 49 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a highly graphic and violent portrayal of the Vietnam War, featuring excessive profanity, disturbing imagery, and themes of mental anguish. While it is celebrated for its artistic merits and realistic depiction of the military experience, many reviewers strongly advise that it is unsuitable for children and recommend it only for mature audiences due to its intense content.
- graphic violence
- strong language
- adult themes
- not for children
- artistic merit
- realistic portrayal
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
The opening sequence of FULL METAL JACKET is a long series of scenes of Marine Corps basic training at Parris Island. It shows both the ways soldiers bond together and how they're driven apart by the brutal treatment they receive. Lee Emery is the drill sergeant to end all drill sergeants, and the soldiers under his command, who are soon known only by their nicknames -- Joker (Matthew Modine), Pyle (Vincent D'Onofrio), Cowboy (Arliss Howard) -- each react differently to the intense and often cruel training regime. Once in Vietnam, they are thrown into an unpopular war that they don't really understand, fighting an enemy who refuses to play by the rules.
Is It Any Good?
Although this is a film about the Vietnam War, it could just as easily be about current events. The ugly realities of war, and what soldiers have to go through before they even get there, are a timeless theme, and Full Metal Jacket looks at the whole picture.
There isn't a lot of plot -- the soldiers go from training to war and they fight for their lives -- but the relationships among the men and the extremity of the situation they're in are riveting. The film captures both the excitement and the tedium of war, but ultimately loses something by not having a stronger storyline and a stronger leading man. Modine is a good actor, but he is something of a cipher here. We don't know enough about him to care deeply for him, but he's the moral center of the film. It's a well-made film that is powerful and still relevant, but it somehow doesn't quite deliver what it seems it could. Also, it's way too violent for kids, so share this one with older teens only.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about movies centered on the Vietnam War. How is this one similar to and different from other Vietnam War movies?
How was profanity used to heighten the realities of soldiers going through boot camp and the rigors of warfare? What would have been lost in the movie without the profanity?
Were the graphic depictions of violence necessary for the movie, or could the story have been told just as effectively without the graphic violence? How did the graphic violence fit in with the overall themes of the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 1, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : June 12, 2001
- Cast : Adam Baldwin , Matthew Modine , R. Lee Ermey
- Director : Stanley Kubrick
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence
- 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