Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action romance has high body count, little consequence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Knight and Day
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Based on 42 kid reviews
Kids say this action-comedy is an exciting and humorous film with thrilling adventures, though it contains frequent violence, some mild language, and suggestive elements that might not be suitable for younger kids. While many find it entertaining for older children and teens, some reviewers caution that its level of violence may not be appropriate for kids under 12.
- action-packed
- mild language
- suitable for teens
- comedic elements
- caution with young kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
June Havens (Cameron Diaz) leads a normal life, loves restoring classic cars, and looks forward to going to her sister's wedding. Then, at the airport, she bumps into the dashing Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) and winds up on a strange, near-empty flight with him. It turns out that he's a secret agent, and she's been mistaken for one, too. Now Roy must take June through a myriad of complex chases and escapes, each involving a powerful new battery and the young scientist (Paul Dano) who invented it. The unlikely duo must also stay two steps ahead of FBI man Fitzgerald (Peter Sarsgaard), and June must eventually decide who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Will she ever reach safety again? And, more importantly, after meeting Roy, will she ever want to?
Is It Any Good?
Director James Mangold found his footing with his last movie -- 2007's brisk, well-told Western 3:10 to Yuma -- and he repeats the feat here with this romantic spy tale. He gives the material a cheerful, playful quality and focuses on the story's humor and romance, with the action and violence tucked into the background. The movie's high body count ultimately doesn't really hit very hard; there's a distinct lack of blood or gore, and very few consequences to the action (which makes for a fun movie, if a somewhat iffy takeaway for younger audiences).
By focusing specifically on June's point of view and deliberately missing some of the big action moments as she hides out or sleeps, Mangold and writer Patrick O'Neill give the movie an interesting perspective -- it's a choice that celebrates imagination over spectacle. And Cruise and Diaz both seem refreshed here -- both are at their charming best.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's violence. What impact does it have? How does it compare to violence in movies with a more serious tone?
Is June a strong female role model? At what point does she begin to take action on her own?
What role does trust play in the story? How does trust affect June and Roy's relationship?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 25, 2010
- On DVD or streaming : November 30, 2010
- Cast : Cameron Diaz , Peter Sarsgaard , Tom Cruise
- Director : James Mangold
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of action violence throughout, and brief strong language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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