Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Mud

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Poignant coming-of-age tale has some edgy content.

Movie PG-13 2013 130 minutes
Mud Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 3 parent reviews

TheLastWild
TheLastWild Parent of 9 and 12-year-old
March 26, 2022
age 12+

Gritty and heart-warming

We really enjoyed this gritty tale. It portrays authentic relationships, with all their imperfections, with a lot of warmth and humour. The plot cleverly allows the viewer to see Mud both through the eyes of 14-year old Ellis as well as with a greater measure of objectivity. The boys are a convincing blend of jaded and innocent, trusting and streetwise. Ellis responds to situations wanting to do the right thing, and his idealism and steadfast belief that love conquers all is tested as the plot winds its way to a predictable, yet heart-warming ending. There is some crude language, mild suspense, fist fighting, a shoot out and some references to sex including some irritating objectification of women. A previous review suggests that the lack of good role models in this film might be problematic. I disagree; I found it a great starting point for conversations about how people are rarely all good or all bad, and that what defines us is sometimes how we step up to meet challenges, or sit with dilemmas. In the case of Mud the character, it is also a good portrayal of a charismatic instigator, embodying a number of complex paradoxes (a resourceful survivalist vs. incapable of self-care, laid back vs. pathologically intense, loving vs. violent), and how our perceptions of a person can be clouded by what we want to believe about them, as opposed to what may be quite obvious to others. If I were to issue any warnings, it would be to anyone who may find male aggression in relationships a trigger: there are two scenes where Ellis' dad is overbearing and aggressive toward Ellis and his wife, one scene where a female character is assaulted (hit) by an intruder and the unnerving intensity with which Mud experiences his attachment to "the love of his life", foreshadowing a possible 'star-crossed' lovers ending.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
snowview
snowview Parent of 13-year-old
August 19, 2013
age 16+

Not for under 16

I did not think this movie was a good choice for my 13 year old boy. It portraits woman badly, as not worth a mans trust, and likely to lead them on. The language and smoke was disturbing. I think it was more for children over 16.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Fourteen-year-old Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and his best friend, Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), have made an awesome discovery on a remote island off of the Arkansas Delta where they live: a beautiful boat nestled perfectly in a large tree. But when they climb the tree and scope out the boat, they discover that someone has already claimed it -- a mysterious unnamed man (Matthew McConaughey) who asks them to bring him food. At first they're hesitant, but Ellis convinces Neckbone that it's the right thing to do. During clandestine subsequent visits, the boys discover that the man's name is Mud and that he killed a man to save the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), whom he's expecting to join him so they can run off together on the trapped boat. Back at home, Ellis deals with a crush on a senior girl and parents on the brink of divorce, while Neckbone, an orphan, lives with a charming womanizer of an uncle (Michael Shannon). When bounty hunters and the family of Mud's victim descend on the town, the boys face the consequences of aiding an escaped murderer.

Is It Any Good?

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

MUD is the sort of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll. Writer-director Jeff Nichols -- himself an Arkansas native -- has established himself as an actor's director with this independent drama that's so impressive you'll find yourself quoting the best parts to other people. Clearly Nichols has a soft spot for his home state, because he depicts it -- the poverty, the Piggly Wiggly, the rough-knuckled residents -- with tender, loving care. Even the perilous snakes swimming in the river are given both a symbolic and literal importance in the story. And what a simultaneously unique and age-old story it is: boys learning about what it means to be a man from a man who's both wise and dangerous.

The joy of watching Mud is threefold: the lush cinematography, the fabulous script, and the poignant portrayals from not only McConaughey, who delivers a career-best performance, but also the boys and the supporting cast. Sheridan's Ellis, the heart of the story, is a true Romantic who falls under Mud's spell because he yearns to believe that men will do anything to protect their love -- unlike his father (Ray McKinnon), who has apparently "given up" on his mother (Sarah Paulson). Lofland's Neckbone, on the other hand, is the movie's comic relief and voice of reason. The always amazing Sam Shepard has a pivotal role as a retired Marine sharpshooter who knew Mud as a boy, and Witherspoon pulls off a much tougher, sadder character than she usually plays. A touching story with terrific acting, Mud is everything that's good about independent films.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the similarities between Mud and other stories about kids who befriend enigmatic older characters, like Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird. How does the movie contain elements of both a Southern Gothic and a coming-of-age story?

  • In what ways does Mud's setting influence the boys' personalities? How are they different than the people they consider "townies"? What does Ellis' father mean about enjoying the river while he can?

  • There's a lot of talk about love and relationships. What relationship models do Ellis and Neckbone have in their lives? Are any of them positive? Why is Ellis so heartbroken about Juniper and Mud's relationship? What are his views on love?

  • Do you think Mud is a man worth helping, or not? On the one hand, he's a criminal and a known liar, but on the other, his actions seemed justifiable by his love. The filmmaker, like the boys, doesn't judge Mud too harshly -- but what about you?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

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.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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