Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
1960s Western drama has adult themes, drinking, smoking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Hud
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In HUD, hard-working Texan rancher Homer (Melvyn Douglas) struggles with the potential loss of his cattle, while his arrogant, selfish son, Hud (Paul Newman), spends his time drinking and womanizing. As tension between the two hits boiling point, and a past tragedy comes to the fore, Hud's unscrupulous lack of values starts to affect everyone on the ranch -- including his hero-worshipping nephew, Lonnie (Brandon de Wilde), and their housekeeper, Alma (Patricia Neal).
Is It Any Good?
Nominated for seven Oscars, and winning three, this movie is a classic of its era. In Hud, Newman leans into his charming persona to create a character that is at once charismatic, cruel, and leering, a dangerous flip potentially waiting on the other side of each sip of whiskey he takes. None of his run-ins come as a surprise, as he attacks and alienates those around him one by one until he stumbles into his own predictably tragic end. Douglas is the likable moral compass of the piece, while Neal manages to add a fiery warning to her looks and dialogue as she gradually sizes up who Hud really is. Both Douglas and Neal walked away with Academy Awards for their performances. It's a little slow-going in places and moments of animal cruelty will likely be jarring for modern audiences. But this is a layered family drama with a captivating energy of unease that unfolds with skill in its stunning Western setting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Hud. Did any of it shock you? Is a certain level of violence expected in a movie like this? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
The film features some animal cruelty. How did you feel watching these scenes? Were they necessary to the story?
How was drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? How has our behavior when it comes to drinking and smoking changed from when the movie was set and filmed?
How did the movie portray sex? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about the clash between how the father and son lived their lives. What were some of the differences between Hud and Homer's beliefs and values?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 29, 1963
- On DVD or streaming : December 2, 2003
- Cast : Paul Newman , Melvyn Douglas , Patricia Neal , Brandon de Wilde
- Director : Martin Ritt
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Western
- Topics : Animals
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : BAFTA - BAFTA Winner
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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