Parents' Guide to

Good Time

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Vivid but violent crime movie about wounded souls.

Movie R 2017 100 minutes
Good Time Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Chris_Richards
Chris_Richards Parent of 12-year-old
May 6, 2022
age 9+

Really Great Film, CSM and IMDb are over doing it

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS 13+ IN MY BOOK NOT 9+ HOWEVER IT NEEDS TO BE LOWERED Really good, as far as strength of the rating I think this and IMDb are being over sensitive. First of all there is one sex scene and should not be a 4 and rather 3 max and the drugs aren’t all that bad mainly talk of them actual scenes of use but you would hear far far far worse stuff on the news about drug content then this. The violence is maybe only a little worse than a marvel movie, if it weren’t for the 1 sex scene and swearing this could’ve been a hardy pg13 I’ve showed my kidsworse pg13s. I would say is ok for 13 and up easily and maybe a mature 12 y/o. It really comes down to what you have showed your kids classics like The Godfather, Psycho or The Terminator are much worse then this will ever be.

This title has:

Too much swearing
3 people found this helpful.
Luke F.
Luke F. Parent of 14-year-old
May 6, 2022
age 12+

Amazing Film, A Must Watch

It was pretty great I showed my 14 year old this and my personal favorite Safdie Brothers Film Uncut Gems. It’s safe to say he loved both of them. In comparison to Uncut Gems this isn’t nearly as bad the violence is toned down a lot of notches and the sex was basically removed. The drug content it mentioned was fine and was nothing I don’t hear on the news each morning or I’m sure my son doesn’t hear on TikTok. The violence is yes bad but this is probably the most anti-crime film I’ve ever seen. The violence is uncomfortable if anything not disturbing like Uncut Gems. I talked to my son a little after this he said it was very un-encouraging to do anything of that sort and he didn’t mind it. The sex scene however is nothing you wouldn’t find in a Pg13 movie. There was a good amount of profanity which is probably the most compelling reason not to show this to your kid but isn’t even half of the profanity I would hear in a day of college.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In GOOD TIME, Nick (Ben Safdie) is being interviewed by a therapist, attempting to get to the bottom of his cognitive disability, when his brother, Connie (Robert Pattinson), bursts in and takes him away. They've planned a bank robbery, and it's time to go. The robbery seems to go well, and they walk out with a bag of money, but then the dye packs go off, staining their clothes and faces. As the brothers attempt to escape, Nick crashes through a glass door. He's arrested and sent to the hospital. Connie tries to raise the money to bail him out, but the dyed cash is no good, and his girlfriend's credit card doesn't work, so he plans to break his brother out. Over the course of a long, complex New York night, Connie meets several strange people, concocts a plan to retrieve hidden acid and sell it, and tries to stay a step ahead of the law.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (6):

Directing brothers Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie have created an ode to intense 1970s New York crime cinema, but with their own vivid, confined close-up take, bathed in artificial, carnival colors. More than just an homage, Good Time feels bracingly fresh, rooted in honest-to-goodness desperation. (The brothers share a wounded past that's unspoken but powerful.) Good Time doesn't necessarily transcend its genre limitations, but within those limitations, it's superb. The movie's unexpected backgrounds, such as a shut-down amusement park at night, or a stranger's apartment, spring up as a result of the characters, rather than as empty decoration. And the film's great, ominous, wailing score adds more unspoken tension.

Better still, the characters -- including a whacked-out, drunken, would-be drug dealer, a young girl staying up too late, and a frazzled security guard (Oscar-nominee Barkhad Abdi) -- feel like they actually live in the corners of the story; they seem to have been there long before it began. Jennifer Jason Leigh is great in a small role as Connie's harried, distracted girlfriend, and Ben Safdie is astounding as Nick. But it's Pattinson, shaking off the last of his Twilight-drenched past, who gives a Pacino-worthy performance full of street smarts and fast talk, but with a human soul. Iggy Pop's shockingly gorgeous closing song sums it all up perfectly.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Good Time's violence. How intense does it feel? How do the filmmakers achieve this effect? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • How are drugs portrayed in this movie? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?

  • How is sex portrayed in this movie? Are women objectified? Are the women too young?

  • Why is Connie such an interesting character, when he makes so many bad decisions? How does Connie compare to Pattinson's character in the Twilight movies?

  • How does the movie treat its character with a cognitive disability? Is it compassionate? Understanding?

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

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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