Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cannabis use, sex, language in so-so midlife-crisis comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Nuked
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Jack (Justin Bartha) and Jill (Anna Camp) are college sweethearts who've been together for 20 years. Their friends gather to celebrate the couple's 40th birthdays, where Jack surprises the group with a special gift: A chef will prepare a gourmet meal for them in which all of the dishes are infused with cannabis. But as the characters let loose and get NUKED, they receive an alert: A ballistic missile has been launched and is heading their way.
Is It Any Good?
This silly comedy might amuse adults on a "Netflix and chill"-type night, but it's not likely that teens will gain much from watching. They're more the targets of Can't Hardly Wait, an ensemble comedy about kids gathering for a party on graduation night, addressing their hopes and worries about the future. Nuked is basically the flip side of that premise, with its focus on adults getting together to celebrate turning 40 and coming to terms with their decisions—and disappointments—of the previous two decades.
And then there's the partying. While the reality is that this group of adults isn't doing anything illegal—and is arguably being relatively responsible by using substances while at a friend's house with people they know well and trust (and they will be spending the night)—that's not what teens are most likely to take away. Chances are it's the characters' delectable, cannabis-elevated dinner that could linger, given how enviable the movie makes it look. Are there laughs in Nuked? Some. But does living like you're dying mean not wasting time with an insipid movie? Totally.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drug use, drinking, and vaping in Nuked. Is it glamorized? How is the character who doesn't drink or do drugs depicted? Why does that matter?
Setting a film or TV show in one large house is pretty common. Why do you think one-location setups are popular with filmmakers?
What does the film have to say about people's reliance on tech and devices? Do you think watching this movie could change viewers' relationship with their phone?
How does communication change when the characters are alerted that they're facing impending doom? Why is communication an important life skill?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 11, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : July 11, 2025
- Cast : Justin Bartha , Anna Camp , Lucy Punch
- Director : Deena Kashper
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Quiver Distribution
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 86 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 18, 2025
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