Lone Survivor
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Brutal, powerful, ultimately moving true Navy SEAL story.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Lone Survivor
Community Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Extremely disturbing, but one of the best movies out.
Report this review
One of the best war movies ever made!
Report this review
What's the Story?
In 2005, a team of four Navy SEALs is sent on a mission called "Operation Red Wings." Their task is to take out a high-ranking Taliban leader, who is hiding somewhere in an Afghanistan mountain range. The SEALs -- Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg), Matthew Axelson (Ben Foster), and Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch) -- locate him, and settle in to wait for nightfall. Unfortunately, three goatherders accidentally discover them; Murphy decides to let them go and to abort the mission. Unfortunately, before they can reach safety, the alerted Taliban begin a brutal chase and shootout. A lone man escapes, but is discovered by some Afghan Pashtun villagers. Wounded and exhausted, his fate is now in their hands.
Is It Any Good?
Nothing in writer/director Peter Berg's career would indicate that he had this kind of intense, moving, and brutal movie in him. Not even The Kingdom, another story inspired by the wars in the Middle East. LONE SURVIVOR starts off with some Navy SEAL training footage and ends with photos of the real participants, but in-between, the movie is purely visceral, generating adrenaline, alarm, and even tears.
Berg manages to avoid high-minded seriousness while still respecting the material. The actors build genuine chemistry and warmth with their discussions of personal lives and things back home; viewers can understand who they are. Berg avoids too much camera-shaking in his depictions of the bloody battle, emphasizing pain, shock, and scrambling. A tumble from a high rock, for example, is absolutely vicious. He builds adrenaline without tipping too far into either excitement or horror. And the ending is genuinely touching, and genuinely earned. You can't look away.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the movie's intense, brutal, bloody violence. What effect did it have? Did it seem realistic? Was it necessary in telling this story?
How does this movie make the Navy SEALs look? Do they come across as warriors or regular people? Does it make you want to join them? Do you think that's the intention of the movie?
Would you say that this movie is an anti-war movie or a pro-war movie, or somewhere in-between? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 27, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: June 3, 2014
- Cast: Ben Foster, Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch
- Director: Peter Berg
- Studio: Universal Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 127 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody war violence and pervasive language
- Last updated: February 25, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate