Parents' Guide to

JFK

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Politician makes case for JFK murder as conspiracy.

Movie R 1991 206 minutes
JFK Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 3 parent reviews

jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
February 26, 2022
age 16+

Worth watching at least once.

This movie is long, but excellent. I learned a lot about Kennedy’s assassination from watching this movie, and with Oliver Stone being one of my favorite film directors, this is one of his best films. JFK’s assassination is much more detailed in this movie than I thought it was going to be, and it has many positive messages in it, too, such as accomplishing anything when you set your mind to it, just like Jim Garrison never gave up on the investigation depicted in this movie, as well as how important it is to defend your country and to have Justice served. All that said, Jim Garrison is a good role model. Despite all of this, though, there is lots of violence, including many, many angry verbal arguments, hand-to-hand fights, shootings, and actual footage of JFK being assassinated. There is also frequent and relentless language, with many uses of “f--k,” “s--t,” and many other expletives. There is some brief sex, some drinking, and lots and lots of smoking. Overall, this is a very well-made film that will intrigue Oliver Stone fans, people who love conspiracy theories, and history buffs.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
jalajs
jalajs Adult
January 26, 2018
age 15+

The best 'Conspiracy theory' Movie ever

Awesome cinematic tools used to depict the horrific event and best performances from the supporting and main leads to showcase the historical events in the best possible way to the audiences. RIVETING AND A MASTERPIECE for film-making!

This title has:

Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Two monumental questions remain about the death of President John F. Kennedy: Was his assassination the result of a conspiracy involving more than a single gunman positioned in the Texas Book Depository, and if so, who conspired to kill him? Filmmaker Oliver Stone answers the first question with an emphatic "yes" in favor of the conspiracy. For his answer to the "who," Stone turns to the real-life efforts in the late 1960s of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) and his quest to reveal the villains as well as the theory behind the plot.

The movie is filled with Garrison's dizzying assortment of suspects: from angry anti-Castro activists to organized crime figures, hangers-on, political heavyweights, even a cabal of menacing gay power brokers. And to oppose Garrison's crusade, there are the many in office who wanted to shut down the investigation and let the official government explanation (The Warren Report) prevail.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (6):

JFK is a well-made work of suspense, intrigue, and drama, all based on trying to solve one of the greatest mysteries of our time. Oliver Stone has tackled such enormous issues and larger-than-life subjects before. He's adept at managing a huge cast, complicated plotting, and weighty topics. JFK is no exception. He presents his case in a clear and decisive manner. He has enlisted an impressive group of supporting players (Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy Spacek, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Joe Peschi among many), as well as some of the world's greatest actors in cameo appearances (Walter Matthau, Donald Sutherland, Jack Lemmon). Is the theory plausible? Was Garrison a hero or a hack? Courageous or reckless? Whatever the audience comes away with, it's definitely worth a watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about an art form, in this case filmmaking, used as a powerful political tool. Was JFK successful at provoking thought about President Kennedy's assassination? What tools could you use to further verify or invalidate the film's point of view? Have you seen other movies that advocate a particular cause, or present a controversial issue? Other works of art (i.e. music, painting, literature)?

Movie Details

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