Common Sense Media Review
Twisty heist film with violent action, language, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Play Dirty
What's the Story?
Parker (Mark Wahlberg) is a criminal with a checkered past involving the mob in PLAY DIRTY. When his latest heist goes wrong and his entire team is murdered by a mysterious Latin American woman known as Zen (Rosa Salazar), he gathers his old team together to get back his money and avenge a friend. This means teaming up with Zen, and going against the mob, a Latin American armed band, and more.
Is It Any Good?
Shane Black's latest thriller could have used some editing to focus the action, condense the carnage, and shrink the length. The fast-paced fights and chases in Play Dirty are occasionally breathtaking (a racetrack scene and fall to a ravine come to mind), but they overwhelm at two-plus hours. Likewise, the characters are overly slick and scripted. And while they may be très cool, they are also gratuitous killers whose repeated, point-blank assassinations undermine empathy for their cause and dull their sometimes-witty rapport. A jazzy, classical Hollywood score is a highlight.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the violent actions in Play Dirty affect your appreciation for the characters. Are you able to empathize, for example, with Parker's vendetta or Zen's altruistic goal of helping her people?
What was the most exciting action scene in this film? What captured your attention? How do you think it was made? Where could you find more information?
Does this film remind you of any other movies you've watched? Explain.
If you've read the Parker novels on which this film is based, how does it compare? What can books do that movies cannot, and vice versa?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 1, 2025
- Cast : Mark Wahlberg , Rosa Salazar , LaKeith Stanfield
- Director : Shane Black
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Prime Video
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship
- Run time : 125 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, pervasive language, some sexual content and nudity
- Last updated : October 2, 2025
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