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Parents' Guide to

Jason Bourne

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Tense, violent spy action follows franchise formula.

Movie PG-13 2016 123 minutes
Jason Bourne Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 13+

Based on 13 parent reviews

John S.
John S. Parent of 11-year-old
September 6, 2016
age 11+

Common Sense Media should stick to parental advice

The main review of this movie is ridiculous and obviously written by someone who has a bias against quality action movies. This movie was fantastic! The story is well written, with great acting and just the right amount of action to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you love Jason Bourne movies you'll love this one. The only boring Jason Bourne movie was the one that didn't feature Matt Damon as the main character. This is a non stop thrill ride with a fair amount of violence but not too much gore. If you lean to the cautious side of parenting and don't allow too much violence, it may not be for you. Just know this doesn't contain any more violence than a super hero movie such as Iron Man. Common Media's review is out of line because it focuses more on the author's opinion of the movie rather than focusing on the warnings for parents. The reviewer was flat out wrong saying its not a good movie. AAA+++
4 people found this helpful.
Hendo H. U.
Hendo H. U. Parent of 10, 12 and 15-year-old
January 2, 2018
age 14+

Too confusing for kids, but probably best Matt Damon performance.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In JASON BOURNE, the titlular hero (Matt Damon) has been off the grid for years, surviving through underground fighting. His old colleague, Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), discovers a list of CIA Black Ops, which includes information about Bourne's father, as well as details about a new program. Bourne starts investigating, bringing himself to the attention of the CIA. Agent Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) wants Bourne brought in, but CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) -- who's cooking up a sinister plan with the help of a giant social network called Deep Dream -- wants Bourne gone. Meanwhile, an assassin with links to Bourne's past, simply referred to as "Asset" (Vincent Cassel), is on his trail. Can Bourne escape with his life?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13 ):
Kids say (33 ):

After the Jeremy Renner reboot The Bourne Legacy, star Damon and director Paul Greengrass return for this fifth entry; but you have to wonder, why did they even bother, when everyone looks bored? In earlier movies, Damon gave commanding physical performances, using his eyes and expression to take in his surroundings and calculate his next move. But in Jason Bourne, both the story and his motivations are more muddled -- is he seeking revenge, to shut down the CIA's illicit programs, or both? -- and Bourne is much harder to get behind.

Damon seems to be going through the motions, the other actors seem equally lost or bored, and behind it all, Greengrass turns in some of his sloppiest work. In the excellent The Bourne Ultimatum, Greengrass took care in establishing the physical surroundings of each action sequence. Here, the action consists mainly of chases, hurtling headlong into unknown territory, and the director's lurching, shaking camera leaves everything an indecipherable, gnarled mess.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Jason Bourne's violence. How intense is it? Does the relative lack of blood affect its impact? What is the impact of media violence on kids?

  • The movie brings up the conflict between privacy and security. How much privacy would you be willing to give up to attain a measure of security? What's the argument on each side?

  • What is Bourne's motivation? What's the end result of this? What does revenge accomplish?

  • What is Bourne's appeal? Is the fact that he's such a loner part of it? What is it like being alone?

  • How does this movie compare to the previous films in the series? To the books?

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