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Parents' Guide to

Greyhound

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Intense WWII combat in the Atlantic; brief language.

Movie PG-13 2020 92 minutes
Greyhound Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 10 parent reviews

MisterTV
MisterTV Parent of 14 and 18+-year-old
November 19, 2023
age 14+

Great war movie with limited visible bloodshed

An excellent war movie that brings alive the events in the Atlantic Ocean. The tension is almost constant although actual harm to people seen is minimal. Tom Hanks once again sets a good example of a decent man leading in hugely challenging circumstances. We watched it as a family and our only criticism is that the dialogue was sometimes hard to pick up given so much background noise. Only 90mins long too. A really thought-provoking experience.
oceansidevettech
oceansidevettech Adult
April 3, 2022
age 10+
This movie is probably one of the best war films I’ve seen. What’s nice about it is it’s realistic but not grotesque. There are torpedos, machine guns, shots fired, cannons, artilleries and explosions. There’s a scene where 3 soldiers are laid to rest in the water. Viewers don’t see the bodies; they are covered. One body gets stuck but eventually is respectfully placed in the water. There is swearing as to be expected in a war movie. This isn’t a Disney feel good, but this isn’t a movie that’s terribly upsetting. It opens up great discussions. For example, someone online noticed that most of the soldiers were white. Why is that? The movie may not be 100% historically accurate, but it opens the door to some good questions. I think this could be shown in schools without too much of a problem. This movie is not rated R; it’s rated PG-13, which I believe is appropriate. The only downside of this movie is it cannot be viewed anywhere but Apple TV. That really sucks for those who don’t have Apple TV.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

GREYHOUND (the name of the film's ship) is told from the viewpoint of Captain Krause (Tom Hanks, who also wrote the screen adaptation). In his first assignment in charge, Krause is the captain of this U.S. Navy Destroyer, in service as escort to a large convoy of Allied ships carrying supplies and armaments across the Atlantic in early 1942. Based upon C.S. Forster's novel The Good Shepherd, the movie is a fictionalized account of one event in the Battle of the Atlantic, a conflict that began in 1940 and continued through 1943, the longest ongoing battle of WWII. In an area of the Atlantic called "The Black Pit," the convoy is out of range of friendly air cover and must face off with a Nazi "wolf pack," a fleet of deadly Nazi submarines that patrol the area. In a matter of only a few days, the clashes are frequent and deadly. Aware of the great responsibility he carries, the captain lets his spiritual faith guide him and calls upon an enormous reserve of knowledge and skill to lead his crew on this dangerous mission.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (12 ):

Suspense accelerates, the stakes get higher, and the explosions gets closer in this visually artful, wonderfully performed look into the hearts and souls of WWII's fighting Navy service members. Greyhound can be added to the expanding catalog of Tom Hanks' "everyman" movies in which someone who at first seems ordinary and unassuming is called upon to be indomitable and rises to the challenge. As in Captain Phillips, Sully, Charlie Wilson's War, Bridge of Spies, and more, Hanks brings quiet truth and emotion to his characters. Director Aaron Schneider and his team deliver a timeless story about the strain and poignance of war. There's no pause for backstories; characters develop in the moment. There's no place for artificial conflict among team members; everyone works together. Other than the cryptic scenes in which Krause's significant other is introduced and quickly dispensed with and the arch radio transmissions from a Nazi tormenter, the movie rings true.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence shown in Greyhound. How much actual human death is shown during the battle sequences? Why do you think the filmmakers chose to focus on those witnessing the tragic events rather than those being killed and wounded? Was their concept effective? Why or why not? Did you feel the horrors of war as it unfolded?

  • Captain Krause was shown as a religious man. How did that aspect of his life help define his character? What valuable character strengths does the captain rely upon to lead his crew? Pick one of those traits and show why it was important.

  • Were you surprised by the ages of most of the Navy service members on the Greyhound? Did it feel realistic? Many other war movies show the combatants as fully grown adults. How does the portrayal of the very young make the misery of war even more poignant?

Movie Details

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