Lone Survivor

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Lone Survivor Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Brutal, powerful, ultimately moving true Navy SEAL story.

R 2013 127 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 14 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 33 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Lone Survivor tells the true story of a 2005 Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan gone terribly wrong. It features brutal, bloody violence, with guns, shooting, gory wounds, and many deaths, including major characters. The men use some sexual innuendo, as well as very strong language, including "f--k," "s--t," and "c--k." The movie is very intense, yet also very moving. It shows training footage and photos of real SEALs, including the real participants in this story. It also goes into a little detail about the Afghani tribe that rescued the last survivor, despite the danger they faced in doing so. Some parents won't mind bringing teens to this movie to demonstrate the bravery, heroism, and teamwork of the SEALs, but other parents may be worried that teens will want to head to the recruiting office afterward.

Community Reviews

NotGenerocityReviews
NotGenerocityReviews Adult
April 16, 2022
age 14+

Extremely disturbing, but one of the best movies out.

I just watched my first rated R movie today. Not including Terminator. This is truly a top 2 movie that I've ever seen. I watched it with my dad. This movie says the F words 171 times. So it's not exactly a PG movie. And to make things worse for kids, the movie has a ton of blood, super frickin realistic injuries that all people will find disturbing, multiple times where the main 4 soldiers are thrown down a huge hill to avoid a bomb, but they end up crashing into trees and breaking tons of bones, having one seen with someone getting decapited (they don't show it), the main guy at the end cuts off skin with a knife, shows many people getting shot in the head, many close up of brutal and disturbing imagery, and there are clips of the kinda Main Character sitting all bloody and beat up at the beginning and end. This is not a light hearted, family friendly movie. Please don't show your kids this unless you know what's in it. Overall a great movie that an easy 10/10 for me. There is 1 problem, but thats kinds Hollywood's fault. This is a must watch, but not for the weak of stomach or heart. If you even have a slight weak stomach, then I wouldn't consider giving this a watch.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
jcmcdowell
jcmcdowell Adult
September 11, 2021
age 17+

One of the best war movies ever made!

I just saw this movie tonight, and it is truly one of the best war movies ever made! It does not hold back on the graphic violence, but the violence is not gratuitous and unnecessary. This movie is based on a true story, and it has lots of positive role models, like the main character, Marcus Luttrell, who refers to his fellow soldiers as his brothers. He is the only American soldier survivor in battle, and when he is saved by people who are not American, the positive message is on the kindness of strangers. It is a sad movie, but it shows the horrors and struggles of war, and the beginning of the movie reveals the discipline soldiers have to go through in order to fight well while in the military, including having a strong mentality to help them not give up or die easily. I recommend it to older teens and adults because of all the violence and language, but it is a must-see for mature audiences!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 14 parent reviews

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

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