Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent Tom Cruise sequel has a high body count.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say that the film is a mixed bag, with many feeling it doesn't quite live up to its predecessor. While some enjoy the action and Tom Cruise's performance, others criticize the plot, pacing, and character development as lacking, resulting in a disappointing sequel to a beloved original.
- mixed reviews
- action scenes
- weak plot
- character issues
- disappointing sequel
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Tom Cruise is back in the title role in JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK, a sequel to 2012's Jack Reacher. This time around, Reacher's old friend Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders) is accused of espionage. It's up to Reacher to find out the truth. The former military cop realizes both he and Susan are being hunted by a shadowy weapons contractor and uncovers a plot that stretches from Afghanistan to New Orleans. Could it reach all the way to the top of the U.S. Army chain of command?
Is It Any Good?
This action sequel is an odd mix of thrilling and inert: It's entertaining enough, and the fight sequences are heart-pumpingly good, but the pacing is sometimes glacial and the plot predictable. The leads keep Jack Reacher: Never Go Back from going completely off the rails. Say what you will about Cruise, but he's as charismatic as ever -- and therefore compelling. No one has mastered a steely gaze like he has. Smulders bristles with contained energy, making for the perfect partner, and Danika Yarosh -- as the teen they both assist -- holds her own.
Still, Reacher is a joyless character. He barely cracks a smile -- which, in a way, serves the plot. But you can't help longing for a glimpse of the Cruise of yore who could tap into a well of cocky naughtiness (Cocktail, Risky Business) to balance the brooding. It's as if Cruise isn't allowed to have any fun at all, even in scenes that are meant to be flirtatious (though still brooding, given the character). In a film that's not especially original, the patented Cruise charm could very well have lifted it out of its doldrums.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fight scenes in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. How do they compare to what you've seen in other action movies? Is the violence presented as justified? Do you agree?
Reacher uncovers a nefarious plot that goes all the way to the top. How are the people in power abusing their authority? What's a law-abiding person supposed to do when the authorities can't be trusted?
Talk about the subplot revolving around a teen: What role do drugs play in her situation? How does she respond to her circumstances?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 21, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : January 31, 2017
- Cast : Tom Cruise , Cobie Smulders , Robert Knepper
- Director : Edward Zwick
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of violence and action, some bloody images, language and thematic elements
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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