Parents' Guide to On Swift Horses

Movie R 2025 117 minutes
On Swift Horses movie poster: Five strips show a different actor in each: Diego Calva, Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Sasha Calle

Common Sense Media Review

Tara McNamara By Tara McNamara , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Nudity, assault, language in 1950s tale of queer longing.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

  • On Swift Horses Trailer
  • On Swift Horses movie: Will Poulter, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Jacob Elordi sit chummily on a porch swing in the 1950s
  • On Swift Horses movie: Jacob Elordi and Diego Calva clink cocktail glasses while watching an atomic bomb test in the desert
  • On Swift Horses movie: Kat Cunning and Daisy Edgar-Jones at a 1950s racetrack holding hands while waiting to find out whether their horse came in

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

Set in 1950s California, ON SWIFT HORSES follows Korean War veteran Lee (Will Poulter) in his pursuit of the American Dream with his wife, Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones), and his drifter younger brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi). It turns out that Muriel and Julius share a connection deeper than either understand, and Muriel's curiosity about Julius' true nature leads her to learn more about her own, as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

With the sweep and sensuality of an epic 1950s romance like From Here to Eternity or Giant, this drama tells a love story that would never have made it to the silver screen in that era. But it's likely that many will feel a profound sense of gratitude for its existence now. With On Swift Horses, director Daniel Minahan has crafted a bold, breathtaking queer romantic drama that arrives at a time when the rights of queer folks (in the United States and many other places) are under relentless attack. The movie's story unfolds in the mid-century era that many romanticize as idyllic and then quietly dismantles that nostalgia. Through its beautiful excellence, the film helps to reveal the era's underlying ugliness—and in doing so, argues for empathy, acceptance, and freedom.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about On Swift Horses' sexual content. What values are conveyed? Is there consent? Do characters behave maturely?

  • How does Muriel experience institutional sexism? How does it impact her life? How have things changed since the 1950s? What things have remained the same?

  • Who or what is the antagonist or villain in this story? Does there need to be one?

  • Are smoking or drinking glamorized here? Are there realistic consequences for substance use? Why does that matter?

Movie Details

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

On Swift Horses movie poster: Five strips show a different actor in each: Diego Calva, Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Sasha Calle

What to Watch Next

See all

Growing Up Queer: Thoughtful Movies and TV Shows About LGBTQ+ Youth

See all

Movies and TV Shows That Capture Latino LGBTQ+ Experiences

See all recommended movie lists

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